T Stat question

[retiredfireman]

Ok , so I have the mods listed in my sig.( switching to an 18" Magnaflow tomorrow), and am awaiting the DS tune for the '12.
I still have the stock thermostat, and the truck never runs past the halfway point on the temp gauge.
1-What is the temp rating of the stock one?
2- What temp rating have most switched to?
3- What benefits are there of changing it.
4- If I do go to change it, which one do I get-P/N etc..?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hemi450hp]

The stock t-stat is 205*. Most guys swap this out for a 180* thermostat. It is not a required mod, but it is 1 that I highly recommend. These motors run much better when cool, and most tuners even prefer that you have one with the more aggressive tunes.

Now for the negatives, you will get a little worse gas mileage with the 180 stat, and it is going to take longer for the truck to heat up in the winter...so the inside of the truck is going to be chilly in the mornings.

 

[retiredfireman]

That's cool.(ha)

What is the part # for the 180?
thanks

 

[Hemi450hp]

Jet #10183
CST #41680

Both are basically the same thing, but the CST is cheaper.

 

[09SMOKINHEMI]

Ok , so I have the mods listed in my sig.( switching to an 18" Magnaflow tomorrow), and am awaiting the DS tune for the '12.
I still have the stock thermostat, and the truck never runs past the halfway point on the temp gauge.
1-What is the temp rating of the stock one?
2- What temp rating have most switched to?
3- What benefits are there of changing it.
4- If I do go to change it, which one do I get-P/N etc..?

Thanks in advance.

so if you're switching to an 18" magnaflow, what are you doing with your 24"?

 

[2serious]

Quick question why do they take longer to heat up when a lower thermostat is put in?

 

[dtru1222]

Quick question why do they take longer to heat up when a lower thermostat is put in?

Coolant is what warms your heater core. Less heat to the heater core, less heat out of the vents.

It just takes a little longer to warm up your cabin in the winter.

 

[Chewy]

The T-stat mod is one I will NEVER do again in my DD. I did it to one of my trucks in the past and WOW it took FOREVER for it to blow HOT air. TOTALLY not worth it IMO. At least not in a cold snowy state!

The engine heats up just as fast to 180º, but when it opens and it hits that cold radiator, it cools VERY quickly and closes and opens. This causes your HEATER to blow cool air. Not cold, but cool.

 

[retiredfireman]

so if you're switching to an 18" magnaflow, what are you doing with your 24"?

I am waiting for them to get the part in now, I planned to take it home with me in case someone is interested.
I figured it would be a cheap pick up for someone who wants to change the muffler and not spend a ton of cash.
Interested?

 

[2serious]

Coolant is what warms your heater core. Less heat to the heater core, less heat out of the vents.

It just takes a little longer to warm up your cabin in the winter.

So it wouldn't take longer for the truck to get to 180 just that the heat comes out is not as hot as a truck with 205 thermostat. Hence taking longer to heat up the cabin. Ill keep my 205 for now I like hot hot heat. Thanks

 

[09SMOKINHEMI]

so if you're switching to an 18" magnaflow, what are you doing with your 24"?

I am waiting for them to get the part in now, I planned to take it home with me in case someone is interested.
I figured it would be a cheap pick up for someone who wants to change the muffler and not spend a ton of cash.
Interested?

very interested..... PM me if you want to chat about it

 

[dtru1222]

So it wouldn't take longer for the truck to get to 180 just that the heat comes out is not as hot as a truck with 205 thermostat. Hence taking longer to heat up the cabin. Ill keep my 205 for now I like hot hot heat. Thanks

Correct.

I dont know how cold it gets in Long Island but its been getting down to the 30's here in TX and it still takes the same amount of time to warm up the cabin. If you have a remote start then you dont even have to worry about it.

 

[dtru1222]

The benefit I noticed was that my truck was more consistent with power. Some times it felt powerful, then others it felt weak. Now it is always running strong.

 

[jlb]

Long Island NY doesn't get cold enough to have a problem with a lower temp T-stat. I am living in NYC right now, and we haven't even seen snow yet this year, or ice. Just some mushy white stuff fell from the sky once, and they said it was snowing, but I think that was just a rumor

Even in colder climates if you just throw on a bra, and let your rig warm up for a few minutes before you race off (or have it plugged in) it shouldn't make much difference in the cabin. You are only talking about a 25 degree difference in the temp of the water running through the heater core +/-

 

[dogcar3]

Long Island NY doesn't get cold enough to have a problem with a lower temp T-stat. I am living in NYC right now, and we haven't even seen snow yet this year, or ice. Just some mushy white stuff fell from the sky once, and they said it was snowing, but I think that was just a rumor

Even in colder climates if you just throw on a bra, and let your rig warm up for a few minutes before you race off (or have it plugged in) it shouldn't make much difference in the cabin. You are only talking about a 25 degree difference in the temp of the water running through the heater core +/-

I can never run on full heat as-is, I would get cooked out. Even on the 20* F days, I still run my heat at about the 2 o'clock position once the engine reaches operating temp.

 

[Ranger]

Ive always heard good things about the 180 T-stat its a very popular mod with the hemi's but I heard somewhere something about the lower t-stat not being good because the reduced temps keep the motor from atomizing fuel as efficiently or something like that... is this true? maybe thats why you get worse fuel mileage because not properly burning fuel?

 

[dtru1222]

Ive always heard good things about the 180 T-stat its a very popular mod with the hemi's but I heard somewhere something about the lower t-stat not being good because the reduced temps keep the motor from atomizing fuel as efficiently or something like that... is this true? maybe thats why you get worse fuel mileage because not properly burning fuel?

Yes, the higher temps burn fuel more efficiently but the engine runs better when its cool.

Like the other guys said, I dont even turn my heat to full blast either. Turn it to full hot, set the fan on the second setting and in a couple of minutes I have to turn it down because its too hot.

 

[retiredfireman]

thanks all for the food for thought, I may sit on this one for a bit.

 

[Hemi450hp]

On the next cool morning, go out and get on your truck while the engine is cold...then do it again on a warm afternoon when the engine is hot. You will be ordering your 180 stat that afternoon...haha.

These motors perform so much better when cool, so the performance outweighs any negatives IMO.

 

[TheSatinPumpkin]

no issues getting heat quick on the low setting w/ my 180 t stat and e-fan. 5 minutes on lowest and i am all ready switching the vent to point down to my feet only. Of course my winter is mostly 18-34F temps i think.

A/C is another story.