i see alot of you guys have replaced the factory thermostat with a lower temp one. besides the obvious benefits,why should i do this on my magnum? i have noticed when i run it hard the temp pushes 215.
for the exact reason you posted!!! common exercise is to change to a 180 t-stat. these cars run hot, so the sooner we can open the t-stat and bring the temps down, the better. cooler cars are happy cars!! note - if you also have a predator handheld tuner, you have the option to lower the fan setting temps to come on sooner and really allow the car to stay cool!! my car runs around 183 when moving, rarely gets to 190 when idling in traffic. (now that i fixed my fans!!!)
yes.. and get the Jet 180 stat.. it fits better than and does not pinch the gasket like the 4128 products.. and there is no need to trim the stat either to get it to fit correctly..
Second on that, it fits right. easy change, don't even have to drain the system if you are careful. But, if you don't reprogram the fan temps changing the stat is pointless as the fans will wait to cool the radiator until the higher, stock temps and the system will act like the higher stat is in place.
1 gallon zip lock baggie will do it. Positioned carefully under the t-stat housing when you break the seal on it. Be prepared... holding a 1/2 full, gallon baggie (and keeping the opening open and positioned) is harder than holding an empty gallon baggie.
if you cna find a decent spot to zip tie the bag up on one side...you can hold it with one hand and pull the hose off with the other while the bag is still supported... got that tip when i did mine and it worked really good... but dont assume the zip tie will hold forever...it will just give you time to get your hands on it before it fills and pulls the bag off... its very doable though...again literally in under 10 min's
Zip ties are for wimps. With any kind of reflexes at all you can make the save when the baggie shifts... (of course I had to use a retriever to get my ratchet from where it fell down onto the belly pan :grin
I used a 2 quart orange juice container with the top cut off and one side curved. It will fit in below the t-stat housing and if you cut it to the right height, it stands on the lower hose. Just have to empty it after removing the housing and then fill it again when you pull the t-stat out of its bore.
where can i find the jet stat? and if i am correct,the stat is on the upper hose? just to make sure! i am used to working on old junk!
You can get it just about anyplace...Jet Performance...good spot is Summit Racing online...HHP...just about anyplace...but while you are at it flush the system and put new coolant in...it doesn't take but a moment longer to do...and you have fresh coolant in...DEX is not the kindest to gaskets, so a flush doesn't hurt...just my 2 cents worth...
Also...another important tip. Before you change out the Tstat.....DO NOT remove the coolant resovoir filler cap or you will release the vacuum that holds back about another gallon of water. In other words....run the car to warm it up....shut off engine and wait till the engine cools down to where you can easily hold your hand on the engine (dealing with hot water is no fun). Then do the tstat without opening the coolant resovoir fill cap. After the tstat change then you can remove he fill cap to put the collected water in the zip lock bag the back in.
Why get it warm? With it overnite cold, and the filler cap tight, there is the most suction to hold the liquid in, and the stat is closed so you can collect the water in the housing and upper hose, dump it off into a container, and then pull the stat releasing the coolant behind it into your baggie or whatever you are using.
