180* thermostat: yes or no?

[Bo0osted]

Hi guys,

I remember a discussion before about using 180* thermostats. Some said it didn't make a difference while others said it did. What's the consensus on this?

[bogey]

I don't think it makes any difference. Once everything is heat soaked, the thermostat is open all the time. If it opens at 180 vs 190, it is not likely to keep the engine coolant any cooler. (especially with a stock radiator)

My cars oil temp runs at about 180 when cruising on a cool day. Up to 210-220 when being pushed hard in 100 degree weather. Water temps follow this very closely. If you are pushing the engine hard, temps will go over 190 and there is no difference between a 180 vs 190 thermostat.

[chuckerants]

I don't think it makes any difference. Once everything is heat soaked, the thermostat is open all the time. If it opens at 180 vs 190, it is not likely to keep the engine coolant any cooler. (especially with a stock radiator)

My cars oil temp runs at about 180 when cruising on a cool day. Up to 210-220 when being pushed hard in 100 degree weather. Water temps follow this very closely. If you are pushing the engine hard, temps will go over 190 and there is no difference between a 180 vs 190 thermostat.

I'm about to replace the 195F with a 180F this weekend. I'll you know.

[Bo0osted]

cool... keep us posted!

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I put a 160 in the 99 once and regretted it. Even on hot days rolling down the road with the Koyo55, it ran cool enough for the ECU to run rich. :(

I now have been running the 180 for a long time. Not sure it makes a lot of difference out her this time of the year 113F but really lets the engine run nice in cooler weather. What you have to look out for is not to run too cool in the winter as the ECU has a switch (160-170F) where it thinks you are still in the warm up stage and adds fuel.

[Race Grandpa]

I put a 160 in the 99 once and regretted it. Even on hot days rolling down the road with the Koyo55, it ran cool enough for the ECU to run rich. :(

I now have been running the 180 for a long time. Not sure it makes a lot of difference out her this time of the year 113F but really lets the engine run nice in cooler weather. What you have to look out for is not to run too cool in the winter as the ECU has a switch (160-170F) where it thinks you are still in the warm up stage and adds fuel.

Tom,

Is 60 degrees your "cooler" weather?

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

:) we do get down in the 60 in the winter. A typical high for the day in the dead of winter is in the 70s. We sometimes have overnight lows in the low 40s but it almost always gets back to the 70s by mid day. Nothing like short sleeves and top down on New Years Day. ;)

[Mark]

Nothing like short sleeves and top down on New Years Day. ;)

I've done that here many times. But there's usually a layer or two on top of the T-shirt ;) . Back when the Miata was my daily driver, As long as it was 40+ degrees and sunny, the top went down. You sure get a lot of crazy looks but man is it refreshing. The wife and I even went one year and picked up the Christmas Tree with the Miata. Tied to the cockpit brace and the frankenstein bolts, it made an awesome windblocker!