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Armin
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
01:32:06

Subject: 180 TS, Why?
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Why the 180 Thermostat mod? I replaced my rattling timing chain on my 97 3.9L without knowing about the tensioner mod (Now the rattle is back again but that's another story). I went back in with a 165 Thermosat and the heater wouldn't get warm enough in the winter so replaced it with the stock 190.
Now I'm seeing these 180 mods, what's up?




N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
06:36:13

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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I'm wondering why you went with the 165 "mod."





Dak 94
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
09:38:30

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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If you live in new york it might not pass emissions test runing with a cold thermostat Dont know about other states



Therm
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
11:24:57

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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165 is too cold. even a 180 must open at 180 to 185 for the engine to benefit from it.



N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
12:00:00

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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"even a 180 must open at 180 to 185 for the engine to benefit from it."

Can you explain this benefit?



Armin
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
12:18:53

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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I put in a 165 because Auto Zone offered 3 different temps, 165 being the coldest. I figured the cooler the better--silly me, now I know 165 isn't even warm enough for Texas winters.
But my question was, why a mod to 180 from the stock TS?



therm
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
13:40:27

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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some 180's actually open at 174 or so and this is too cold for the engine to develop the power that it is susposed to. chrysler engineers have determined that the 3.9 runs better at 180 to 185. the 195 is used for emmisions purposes.



Jake
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
13:51:19

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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Mopar engineers and motorheads,in the case of the 3.9, discovered the motor will make better power around 180 degrees than 190+. A 165 is too cold for the engine to make its best power by keeping the head temp too low. A 165 may not cool as well as a 180 since there is less residual coolant time in the radiator meanng the coolant moves through the radiator too soon(and fast)and cannot dissipate the heat. Remember, a thermostat is not either open or closed, but varies the amount of circulation depending on the coolant temperature. Selecting the correct thermostat helps retain cylinder head temperature making better power without over cooking things. Naturally, air temp plays a big part in cooling, so installing the correct thermostat for the type of climate in your area is important. In our case, a 180 on the average will do the job.
During the summer months, I use a 180, but in the winter, I switch to the 192. Temps will vary from the high 90s in summer to 0 in the winter.




N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
14:49:24

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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So are you saying that a vehicle won't or might not pass emmisions tests with a 180?



Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
15:35:08

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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It may not. A cooler temperature tells the ECM to run richer, which gives more power but higher emissions. It may pass, but if it fails, you will end up changing a thermostat that's a PITA to get at.



what?
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
17:01:56

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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took me all of 5 minutes to change it when it went bad?
where you get this?
Oh yeah even I who am not a mechanic had the RIGHT tools to do the job.



N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
19:30:48

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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"took me all of 5 minutes to change it when it went bad?"

Either you have a 3.7 (not sure you even do that one that fast) or you don't have airconditioning. Either way no one, not even an experienced mechanic, does a thermostat change in 5 minutes.

Raising a big BS flag on that one.



EF
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2005
09:00:00

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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Got that right! Toughest mod I've done is the thermostat. Spent 15 minutes just looking for the screw I dropped. "What" must have small hands.



stevebdak
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2005
10:41:29

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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The problem with running the 165 degree TSTAT is that the PCM runs on preprogrammed settings until the temp of the engine gets above 165, then it starts using readings from the sensors. With the 165 degree TSTAT, the PCM stays on its preprogrammed settings which runs rich. This is why when trying to run at 165, your MPG takes a big drop.



Armin
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2005
11:51:03

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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It was not very easy to change--especially not to electively go back with a 180. A 180 might be better for the Texas summers, but I'm not gonna bust it apart again unless I decide to put a tensioner on that blasted timing chain.



N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2005
13:14:40

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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It's not a 5 minute job, but it's not all that time consuming. If you think it is difficult then a timing chain tensioner is way beyond that.



Armin
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2005
13:37:44

RE: 180 TS, Why?
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Not to say that it's terribly difficult, but that it's not worth the trouble unless it's causing a problem or if I'm already tearing into that area for something else. I've done the timing chain before and it was an all-day job. Not ready to tackle it again anytime soon.



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