180 T-stat=BS for stock 5.7 motors

**cadzilla74** · 05-23-2007, 01:06 AM

Well I'm gonna get hate-posts with this one I'm sure, but I'd like to clear the air about the myriad posts vaunting installing a 180 or 170 degree thermostat on an otherwise stock 5.7L Hemi engine. I find all this hype to be highly misleading to the thousands of people who have a 5.7L Hemi engine and have made ZERO mods to it as far as intakes, exhausts, heads, cams, etc...

In a nutshell, don't bother. Unless you are regularly racing (at least once a week) in a 1/4 mile and are combining the T-stat change with the NoESP Cooling mod you are wasting time and money. If you have NOT modified your engine from stock except to buy a Superchips Flashpaq save your time, money and possibly an argument with your dealer.

The 5.7L engine does NOT lose any appreciable power running at 203 degrees or even higher up to 215 degrees. A 180 degree T-stat on it's own will NOT afford any appreciable engine cooling at idle. Combined with the fan mod you will get quicker cool-down between runs at a racetrack but there are NO real-world gains to be had in day-to-day driving. This will not improve horsepower or gas mileage in any appreciable way. It will simply, if you are lucky, NOT cause any problems or DTC codes and it is NOT a standalone mod that will gain you anything except in very specific instances at the drag strip.

I'm not in any way shape or form disclaiming this is a useful mod to enhance cooling for people who regularly race and/or have made modifications to their motors. I'm simply saying there are too many people replying to T-stat threads lately that think this is some kind of major horsepower mod to stock motors and THAT is a BIG mistake.

Commence the bashing! Your mileage may vary....

**mhigham** · 05-23-2007, 01:16 AM

I agree to a point, but it has been dyno proven that the HEMI puts out more power at 170-180 than 190-220 because of the less dense hot air AND the different fueling/timing at those ECT's.

Monitoring my DH, I get at least 2* more timing at WOT at 183* than at 205*+. Thats got to be worth something for $10; a few horses for $10 is a pretty good deal these days. ???

Mike

**bipto** · 05-23-2007, 02:20 AM

No bash here - but I hope you don't mind if, based on my own observations, I respectfully disagree...

**DanRealtor** · 05-23-2007, 03:54 AM

You are insane.

ALL of our cars will run faster at a lower engine temp.

Run one at 176 vs one at 203+

Winner is?

Lower Temp by 3/10

**STAGE 3 R/T** · 05-23-2007, 07:17 AM

from what i have seen the lower temp looks to have it.

**FloridaRT** · 05-23-2007, 10:02 AM

Also have to disagree, a cooler engine is easier on hoses and the oil.

I don't race my RT, but it runs at 180-183 degrees all the time.

Just for my own piece of mind.

Bob................being old school again

**Iguana** · 05-23-2007, 11:04 AM

Well, some factual data to back up your claim would help your case.

But I believe that there has been many test by Charger owners that have put in the 180 T-Stat and have seen improvements.

I might have to get one just for sh!ts and giggles to see for myself. lol. they're not too expensive, anyways, last I checked.

**Carfinish** · 05-23-2007, 11:21 AM

I will disagree as well....I just put the motorad 4128 180* on an all stock car and I feel like the car is a totally different animal on the highway running around 185....soon as I get in the city and temps climb to 200+...she is kind of a piggy....so yeah any fan mod along with the t-stat are hp "producers". really not a waste of money for the t-stat swap...if you like to open her up....makes for a better driving experience....

**RacingRev 1320** · 05-23-2007, 01:43 PM

friday, i'm going to the track will make runs with and w/o the 25cent mod and will post any differences in et/speed. i have the 180 degree 4128 tstat.

**MadCharger** · 05-23-2007, 02:02 PM

I think it's a good point that this mod doesn't necessarily improve any normal, every day driving - as opposed to race track duty. If I didn't go to the track regularly, I probably would agree that there's not that much benefit to it. It doesn't add any horsepower at all - just keeps you from losing some of the horsepower you already have to heat soak.
But for 10 bucks, and 10 minutes, it's certainly not a waste of time and money IMO.

Guest · 05-23-2007, 02:05 PM

Well since it WAS dyno proven that at 190 our cars drop serious power... I'd have to disagree with you on this.

Meister has spent a lot of time removing all doubt on this.

We can disagree, and one of us is clearly right... but that's ok, I still like you

**bipto** · 05-23-2007, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Bandit

Well since it WAS dyno proven that at 190 our cars drop serious power... I'd have to disagree with you on this.

Meister has spent a lot of time removing all doubt on this.

We can disagree, and one of us is clearly right... but that's ok, I still like you

LOL - Bandit..? Is that you..?

**HemiLover** · 05-23-2007, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by bipto

LOL - Bandit..? Is that you..?

It's the kinder, gentler new Bandit!

Guest · 05-23-2007, 02:39 PM

LOL, I save my e-fighting for stupid people like these: http://www.tcstangs.com/forum/showth...t=dodge+magnum (I am jerking their chains HARD today)

Cad's a cool guy... even though he won't believe Meister