I was driving home the other day and my engine temp kept rising up. It went all the way to 230 degrees with the AC running. Before that occured it was running about 205-210 degrees. I decided to take out the thermostat last night and see how it was going to run temp wise. As of right now the car is running around 190-201. I might have to buy a 180 T-stat. So what are your engine temp running so I can find out where I should be. Thanks for your help.
If you had the OEM t-stat in, then what you stated is normal. You may want to check your coolant level though.
I did top off the coolant last night also after I took off the factory t-stat so thats good. I think the factory t-stat was not opening so thats why my engine temp was running so high.
That is a very good possibility. When I first bought the Charger, I would occassionally see 230 - 238 temps. lol Do yourself the favor and get the 180 t-stat.
The stock t-stat is what, 205? 210? The car will not run cooler than where the t-stat opens. Once you get over the t-stat temp it's all fans (or wind from going down the road). Assuming everything is OK, and you saw 230 before, then you would still see 230 even with the 180 t-stat UNLESS you change something else too. Like the turn-on temp for the fans. Coolant circulating in the block only (t-stat closed) doesn't do much of any cooling. With the t-stat open and fans off the heat exchange is to the air through the radiator. If you're cruising down the highway we have enough capacity that your fans shouldn't kick on at all and just the wind going through the radiator is plenty. If you're not moving very fast then the fans may be needed. We got plenty of cooling capacity (fans included). I've never heard of anyone overheating (where you have to stop or backoff to prevent a boilover). So what you were seeing was conditions that turned on the high speed fans (low speed wasn't enough). I'm forget what the turn-on threshold is for the fans stock. 219 and 229? or 230 something? Summary: A lower t-stat (by itself) will not change the max temps you're seeing. A lower t-stat will allow operation at lower temps if the fans are adjusted accordingly. No one has exceeded the cooling capacity of our cooling system.
I you go to AutoZone ask them to search for part no. 4128 They will start with "what car do you have?". Don't go that route. It will NOT show up as being for our cars. The box will probably say "Valucraft". The t-stat inside will have Motorad and 4128 stamped on it. It opens at 185.
I put the new 180 t-stat in last week and now the car runs perfectly 190-205 thanks for all your help.
Same exact results with me. I know the physics of it say otherwise, that unless you have a fan mod you won't see lower temps but that's not what happened with me. I would routinely see upwards of 220, now it barely hits 200. One of the best and easiest mods I ever did.
hey no problem..........nto sure how i helped you but i know i did somehow.........lol......glad ur car is better now
