Which Thermostat... confused...

[ShuggsRR]

So I did a search and read old stuff and I now see im lost.

I read to not use a 160 with stock chip and cat.
I read to use a 160 with a stock chip.
I read 180 is better for stock
I read that 180 is ok but 160 is better.
I hear that 160 is better only with Ultimate chip
I hear 160 is fine for emmissions.
I hear 160 isnt good for emmissions.

Man there is alot of info here on thermostats and its conflicting.

Any help?
Stock Ty. Stock exhaust, cat, chip, etc Stock.
Should I change the thermostat?

 

[Captain Morgan]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

The biggest downfall to the 160* stat is you wont be as warm in the winter time, past that its fine.

In the summer months, a 160* stat isnt going to keep you at 160* anyway so it will run a little warmer and basically erase all the BS on your list above.

 

[ShuggsRR]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

ok thanks. So I guess Ill get the 160.

Just doing the stock modifications to the truck. (what an oxymoron)

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

Only thing besides what morgan mentioned that I can think of would be emissions.. I think with a 160 you won't pass the sniffer.. at least around here it would make it harder I guess

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

I use a 160, I have passed sniffer tests with it. Its probably not the best for emmisions. I never notice any change in fuel mileage with the 160 either.

 

[SY2932]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

I use a 160, I have passed sniffer tests with it. Its probably not the best for emmisions. I never notice any change in fuel mileage with the 160 either.

Me too until after I got collector vehicle status. Now I an exempt from emissions.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

Only thing besides what morgan mentioned that I can think of would be emissions.. I think with a 160 you won't pass the sniffer.. at least around here it would make it harder I guess

i cant pass with the 160 or the 195 in my truck, so I couldnt tell ya :lol:

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

Yea same here man.. I've been paying my way thru for as far as I can remember

 

[SY2455]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

With the stock chip I have always past the smog test here in Calif with a 160* thermostat. In the summer time it runs 175* to 185* In the winter it runs 165* to 175* and I have to do my smog test in Jan or early Feb before the 10th. The only thing I do is turn down the fuel pressure to 34lbs to pass the smog test. But I will be installing a Ult. chip soon and will have to find what will work with it.

 

[vortecfiero]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

you mean we gotta use a thermostat?





J/K

they are so easy to change.. I keep a crappy 160 which runs about 140 to 150
for play time and pop in a 195 for emissions ...
oh for the tree huggers .. I pass with the 160... but for repeatability.. i test with the 195.

 

[turbodig]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

So I did a search and read old stuff and I now see im lost.

I read to not use a 160 with stock chip and cat.
I read to use a 160 with a stock chip.

There are temp thresholds in the stock chip that won't work well with a 160.
It does run, but not the way it's supposed to.

If you're going to change the thermo on a 100% stocker, go with a 180.

I read 180 is better for stock
I read that 180 is ok but 160 is better.
I hear that 160 is better only with Ultimate chip
I hear 160 is fine for emmissions.
I hear 160 isnt good for emmissions.

Man there is alot of info here on thermostats and its conflicting.

Any help?
Stock Ty. Stock exhaust, cat, chip, etc Stock.
Should I change the thermostat?

Emissions is a crap shoot. It depends greatly on the emissions standard you're being held to, and the overall state of tune of your truck.

That being said. A 195 thermostat will almost always outperform a 160 or 180 on an emissions test. Typically, fuel economy is also better with a 195, but we're only talking about .5 MPG or so.

I ran some tests on it to determine the performance impact years back, and the results were sporadic. Sometimes it helped, others it didn't. Any performance gain that is there is probably less than the typical deviation from run to run due to driver, ambient conditions, etc.

The answer depends a lot on the intended use of the truck.

 

[ShuggsRR]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

Dig, so what you are saying is that for a driver that would get the occasion drag strip use or stoplight race, you wouldnt mess with it?

Thanks!

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

Dig, so what you are saying is that for a driver that would get the occasion drag strip use or stoplight race, you wouldnt mess with it?

Thanks!

I went with a 180 and that sounds exactly like how my truck is used.. except the occasional drag strip is more like weekend money races

 

[hatrik8]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

:2cents: I went 180 because I need to pass emissions and didn't want to risk the 160. I also need some heat if it gets cold because of my location.

 

[turbodig]

Re: Which Thermostat... confused...

Dig, so what you are saying is that for a driver that would get the occasion drag strip use or stoplight race, you wouldnt mess with it?

Thanks!

For the ever-so-slight benefit that you'd get, no.