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Thermostat questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter King Cobra 22
  • Start date Start date Nov 29, 2005
K

King Cobra 22

New Member
Feb 29, 2004
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Nov 29, 2005
#1
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #1
My car runs on the cool side even in hot florida with the stock H/C/I.

I was wondering will my car run hotter with the new H/C/I?(TrickFlow kit)
If so I was thinking about getting a 180 thermostat.
I talked to a mechanic and he told me that running a 180 degree stat would waste more gas and would not be good for the motor.I could get problems like oil sludge yada yada yada.He told me engines run better when it's a little on the hotter side like a 220 degree stat.
Whats the truth here? I'm very confused.
And Will I waste more gas?
 

legalize420

Active Member
May 21, 2005
1,541
1
37
South Florida
Nov 29, 2005
#2
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #2
im in florida and i use a 180 with no problems
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
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Nov 29, 2005
#3
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #3
So this guy is recommending a stat that is 20-25*F hotter than stock. Your low speed fan would never shut off once the car reached temp.

No offense, but that is some horrible info.

You need to look at what temps your car runs at, not the stat rating. But a 180 allows the ECT to get into full fuel trim, and that is what matters IMHO. I also run a 180, as do most folks on here.

Good luck.
 
W

wytstang

Mustang Master
Mar 14, 2004
4,988
4
78
Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(
Nov 29, 2005
#4
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #4
180 stat here for the last 3 yrs. no problem.
 
K

King Cobra 22

New Member
Feb 29, 2004
175
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Nov 29, 2005
#5
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #5
HISSIN50 said:
So this guy is recommending a stat that is 20-25*F hotter than stock. Your low speed fan would never shut off once the car reached temp.


No offense, but that is some horrible info.

You need to look at what temps your car runs at, not the stat rating. But a 180 allows the ECT to get into full fuel trim, and that is what matters IMHO. I also run a 180, as do most folks on here.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

He was mostly talking about cars in general.

Like you said most people here run a 180 stat and when I brought up thermostats to this mechanic he told me my car would run better at a higher temp(not too high) basically recomending me to keep the stock stat which I believe is what something like a 200? Instead of getting a 180 stat.
 
W

wytstang

Mustang Master
Mar 14, 2004
4,988
4
78
Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(
Nov 29, 2005
#6
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #6
Stock stats are 192 (our cars)
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Nov 29, 2005
#7
  • Nov 29, 2005
  • #7
KC, I guess we should ask: where do you live (climate-wise)? And what engine-temps do you run at right now? And In the summertime? If you live in a cold climate, do you drive the car in the winter? (give folks a temp range that your car sees, and how well it does in those extremes).

In trying to figure out what the guy meant, here is where he may have been coming from:

I would use a stock stat if I had to drive in the cold winter.

The other thing he might have been thinking of was that many many folks think that if a little is good (a 180), more is better (a 160). This is not so, and if he was talkin about 160's, I agree with him.

So I guess more info about your personal set-up would help folks to figure this out and maybe help ya make a good decision.

Good luck.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
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Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Nov 30, 2005
#8
  • Nov 30, 2005
  • #8
Get a 180, make sure your fans come on (test with code reader) and be done with it!!
RC
 
K

King Cobra 22

New Member
Feb 29, 2004
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Nov 30, 2005
#9
  • Nov 30, 2005
  • #9
HISSIN50 said:
KC, I guess we should ask: where do you live (climate-wise)? And what engine-temps do you run at right now? And In the summertime? If you live in a cold climate, do you drive the car in the winter? (give folks a temp range that your car sees, and how well it does in those extremes).

In trying to figure out what the guy meant, here is where he may have been coming from:

I would use a stock stat if I had to drive in the cold winter.

The other thing he might have been thinking of was that many many folks think that if a little is good (a 180), more is better (a 160). This is not so, and if he was talkin about 160's, I agree with him.

So I guess more info about your personal set-up would help folks to figure this out and maybe help ya make a good decision.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

For my climate I live in Florida. I don't know the exat temp my car runs at but by going from the gauge It runs on the cool side of the gauge no matter what temp it is outside.Summer time is usually 90+ degrees and winter is usually in the 40's (coldest).

If my car is running cool maybe I wouldn't need a 180 stat?
Will I run hotter with new H/C/I?
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Nov 30, 2005
#10
  • Nov 30, 2005
  • #10
The stat should regulate temps to its rating, so it does not really matter. As you can see, other guys in FL use the same stat (as do I, in the desert. Temps of 115*F to freezing and below).

Most important with the HCI is that you dont want to take a chance on running alum heads too hot. I would use a 180 on the HCI, even if in a milder climate. That is just me - others might vary.

Good luck.
 

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
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Boca Raton, Florida
Dec 1, 2005
#11
  • Dec 1, 2005
  • #11
HCI will generate more heat. A 180 stat, the fan coming on early (instead of 210), 60/40 mix (water/coolant) and a bottle of water wetter should easily knock 20 degrees off. To go even further then that I would suggest an aluminum radiator. My car runs at about 180 degrees all the time with all this in 90+ degree Florida weather.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Dec 1, 2005
#12
  • Dec 1, 2005
  • #12
VibrantRedGT said:
HCI will generate more heat. A 180 stat, the fan coming on early (instead of 210), 60/40 mix (water/coolant) and a bottle of water wetter should easily knock 20 degrees off. To go even further then that I would suggest an aluminum radiator. My car runs at about 180 degrees all the time with all this in 90+ degree Florida weather.
Click to expand...
I didnt know your car was running
RC
 

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
14,679
424
154
Boca Raton, Florida
Dec 1, 2005
#13
  • Dec 1, 2005
  • #13
94GTLaserRC said:
I didnt know your car was running
RC
Click to expand...


When it was running. That with a blower to boot.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
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89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Dec 2, 2005
#14
  • Dec 2, 2005
  • #14
VibrantRedGT said:
When it was running. That with a blower to boot.
Click to expand...
Get Her Runnin' already!!!!
Then take a drive by!
RC
 

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
14,679
424
154
Boca Raton, Florida
Dec 2, 2005
#15
  • Dec 2, 2005
  • #15
Almost done, should be soon.
 

ProKiller

Founding Member
Apr 26, 2002
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PA
Dec 2, 2005
#16
  • Dec 2, 2005
  • #16
i run a 180 don't go any lower. something else that guy might be thinking about is the sensors. most sensors only start to be accurate once they reach a certain temp. Rick at AFM told me that the sensors for us don't work properly if they are too cool.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Dec 2, 2005
#17
  • Dec 2, 2005
  • #17
VibrantRedGT said:
Almost done, should be soon.
Click to expand...
 
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