T-Stat Question

[j.haffly]

Thinking about putting in a 160 degree t-stat....however, I've been told that the engine will run rich and eventually the engine will be shot due to that....

I wanted to ask the experts from PA Jeeps, my Jeep family, before I do it or buy a 185 degree one.

Thanks,
Jim

[hillbilly]

a thermostat only controls when the coolant in the engine is hot enough to flow into the radiator to start cycling. it may make a difference in the winter on the really cold days to when you get heat inside and the engine may take a little longer to warm up. ive driven a couple different breeds of vehicles with no thermostat at all. but thats me.

[j.haffly]

Ok...that's what I thought....thanks....not worried about the winter to be honest....I thought the info I was given was a little suspect....

[(Tattoo) Jack]

   WELL... it depends on what injection system/year you have, or more precisely, if it's Computer Controlled. On the '96 there is a water temp sensor so when the water isn't up to Temp it will run rich because the ECM "thinks" (based on the info it gets) it hasn't warmed up yet so it will increase the fuel mixture to compensate for the lack of heat, like the Choke used to do on the Horse and Buggy, er... I mean, older vehicles I grew up driving. 165° is pretty low, I run a Jet Performance Stage 2 "Chip" that requires a 180° Thermostate to bump up the amount of fuel to go along with other changed paramaters to give it more power, faster acceleration, etc.

    SOMETIMES you can get away with not having a Thermostate installed, BUT it's not advisable. Many vehicles will run HOT because the water is moving through the Water Jackets too fast to pickup (absorb) enough heat to removed it. Thermostats don't cool the engine, they regulate the coolant "Flow", based on Temperature, to try and keep the engine running at a constant temp.

    Will this ruin ur engine? Well, if it runs too rich, some unburnt fuel could get into the Crank Case, dilute ur oil and, over time, cause premature Bearing failure. So I guess the answer is Yes, it's possible.


   Just my 2Ȼ worth... so I'll respectfully wait for any rebuttals or opposing views.

   Tatt 

   There are Mechanics on this Forum (Dave), so I'm sure we'll see how close I was.

[hillbilly]

yup just giving my 2, of course the newest thing i drive is a 94. and the old farnm trucks before that. lol

[HANGMAN]

With today's quality in some parts, I would suggest you cook the NEW thermostat in a pot of water with a good thermometer and watch when the thermostat opens at what temperature.
That temperature should be the set opening temperature of the thermostat, if it is not close, get another one, some thermostats I have used (over the years) never even opened at 212 degrees (boiling).
OH, make sure the thermostat closes when you chill the pot of water, otherwise you have a thermostat that will not close (like not having one), resulting in a HOT running motor, as mentioned by Tatt.