What Temp Thermostat Are You Running ?

on a Dauntless?
always ran a 160 with the 2G
now moved on to a holley 390 and motor ran too cold so I switched to 180 now ...but on cool days it's running 160...... should I bump it to 190? more engine heat means a better fuel burn?


and what would the MAX temp be for a sort of stock 225?

 

I generally run 180 t-stats in Buick motors. Most of the year a 160 seems too cool around here. I have tried 195 but they seem to get behind on really warm days and take too long to cool back down.

 

If i remember right, my 180° thermostat starts to open at 180° and is fully open at 192°, which is about where my 225 (with aluminum radiator and electric puller fan) runs all summer in the desert. I'm not sure about max temp, but mine has been 220°+ for short periods when my fan was on a switch and I forgot to turn it on. Doh!! Now it's wired to run whenever the ignition switch is on.

 

I tried a 195 in my V6 in a quest for better heater function....the engine temp fluctuated all over the place. Went back to a 180, and all is well. Now I just run a "farmer thermostat"...half the radiator blocked with a piece of cardboard in the winter.
None of this seemed to have any effect on how the engine ran.

 

Tried a 160 and it ran way too cool. Now back to 180. It gets a little hot at over 100 degree days on uphill climbs but the electric pusher fan cools it right down.

 

I run a 160* and do the same in winter for heat

 

I'm worried if I put in a higher one that then it will be TOO hot on long, super slow runs which we like to do .....

 

So is it rich?...............180 is pretty average , but I've never seen a Jeep that didn't heat up some when Idled down and tugged on in the woods........even more so at altitude! If your not concerned about keeping your toes warm nothing wrong about running at 160........and since you live a play in the desert most times I would just leave it there and do as Doug suggested and keep a piece of cardboard in the Jeep , Ya know like the Bud 24 wrapper.

 

no it runs fine terry ,,, just thinking more engine heat would be better .....but to lazy to switch it out and compare

 

I run a 180 with an electric fan switch at 195. Slow in 80 degree it runs 180~195 up to 200 before fan cycles once. Driving down the road at more than 35MPH average speed it runs 170~175 with no fan on. Big aluminum radiator.

 

Aside from which t-stat is right for you, your statement has me wondering. We live in the same county so I don't see there should be much difference. Why is it running at 160 with a 180 thermostat? It should warm up, hit around 180, open, and with sufficient cooling capacity not much exceed that under normal operation. But why is it not getting up to operating temperature? Is it stuck open? If it's installed upside down don't ever admit to it.

 

160 here. But, my 231 has run hot since day one. Gets to operating temp in a matter of minutes even with the electric fan turned on. I only run it in the summer, really. Pretty steady at 195-200 sitting in traffic in the summer. 180 while cruising.

 

Steve I don't see any issue with running the 160.........if you want a few more degrees , block the radiator a little..........if you go to 180 then it will creep up to 200 + especially on the days its 80-90 degrees outside. The opposite would be if your running it in 30 degree weather in the morning and only warming to 60 degree during the day then put a 180 in it............I would much rather have a Jeep in California that ran Cool rather than Hot!

 

tarry I agree
Joe ,it's installed right and I pulled it to boil check ,,,,,why does it run at 150/160 when it has a 180 in there......???

 

are the thermostat and the temperature sender in the same location?

 

Maybe verify your radiator temp with an infrared gun?

 

Yea. Maybe your temp gauge is off.

 

I'm looking to get a aluminum radiator with elect. Fan any ideas or where you got yours from, combo KIT? OR separate pieces?

 

Do a search...Champion makes some good, cheap aluminum radiators and sells them on ebay. Patrick has some good pictures of his in a thread on this site. I've had mine installed for a few years now without any problems.

 

I got my radiator and fan from champion out in Oregon. They are on eBay as well.

The fan I have, has slide-able tabs and does not work well for mounting. However the fan works and so does the radiator.

Just ask how the mounts are set up for their combo kit.