pros/cons of cooler thermo for pre 98's

[greenasgrass]

i have a 97, can you guys with the pre 1998 fbods (3.8 if possible) please list pros and cons of installing a 180 or 160 deg thermo, and if you are planning on keeping the cooler one in. i did do a search, but didnt find this model year specific info that im interested in. thanks! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[nikkev]

Well,not year specific,but usually there isn't really any harm in a motor running cooler.However,you won't really see any benefits from a cooler thermo unless you use a manual fan switch or a Hypertech to change your fan settings.But it's not going to hurt anything to install just a thermo.Good luck.
Kevin

[Infernal]

I disagree. On the highway you'll run alot cooler than with the stock stat.

[MustangEater8251]

Pros- My car runs alot cooler, doesn't really heat up nearly as much

Cons-I got my hands dirty installing it. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[vampyr]

I was woundering about this also. Will this throw a ses light because the engine is running cooler than the computer thinks it should? the only reason that I ask this is I have the manual fan switches and if I leave them on till the car drops below "normal operating temp" it throws a code.

[MississippiMaro]

One of the cons of running cooler is that in the winter (above the mason-dixon line :D ) you want your car to run a little hotter, it actually runs better when it heats up. I live in a southern climate (Mister-Sippi) so i want it as cool as possible. i run a 180 stat in a 3.4

[greenasgrass]

so no one thinks putting a 180 deg thermo in a 97 3.8 would cause any problems, like running rich?

[BlitzPuppet]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by greenasgrass:
so no one thinks putting a 180 deg thermo in a 97 3.8 would cause any problems, like running rich?<hr></blockquote>

Yes the car will run rich if you have a cooler thermostat. I replaced my themostat a while back cause it was stuck open...have no clue what the shop installed but I usually run at 175 at about 35 on roads, sooo it might be a 160*, but I really have no clue.

[ September 17, 2002: Message edited by: BlitzPuppet ]</p>

[greenasgrass]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by BlitzPuppet:


Yes the car will run rich if you have a cooler thermostat. I replaced my themostat a while back cause it was stuck open...have no clue what the shop installed but I usually run at 175 at about 35 on roads, sooo it might be a 160*, but I really have no clue.

[ September 17, 2002: Message edited by: BlitzPuppet ]<hr></blockquote>

does everyone agree with this? what exactly does running rich do?

:D

[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: greenasgrass ]

[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: greenasgrass ]</p>

[Dominic]

You wont run rich with a 160 - the PCM compensates for the temp. The main thing is to keep the heads cool - it prevents knock and increases thermal efficiency. With a 160 stat your temps will be around the 170-180 range crusiing [img]smile.gif[/img]