Hi all, Just ordered my C&L intake, Diablosport catch can, and Jet Performance 180• thermostat. Once the parts are in I'm getting a Predator tuner with custom tune done by Chag Auto Sports in Montreal. Here's the question: My tuner thinks I should have gone with a 160• thermostat rather...
Don't do it. First is the T-stat change will almost certainly void any warranty on the engine. Do you really want to roll the dice in this?
The engine never gets up to its proper operating temperature. Studies have shown engine wear rates go up as engine temperature goes down.
Installing a low temp T-stat means that the engine is colder than it would be that with the factory T-stat but instead of driving it easy until it fully warms up -- which with the low temp T-stat it can't -- when you get on the engine it is still cold. This means more wear.
The combustion process heat is the same. But the block is colder which means the cylinders are colder, and have not expanded to keep the clearance between the much hotter pistons reasonable. The pistons are running in "tight" cylinders. With cooler oil. This is more friction, more drag, more wear, and for lower performance.
It all depends on what your usage is. Much like you wouldn't put race tires on to daily drive, you probably shouldn't put a 180ºF thermostat in if all you're doing is daily driving and some highway pulls.
The point of a lower temperature thermostat is to get an early start on cooling the engine when you know it's going to be pushed to very high temperatures. I put one in because I drive my SRT8 at the track. Our sessions are very long - often just "open track" for several hours - and I didn't want to overheat when pushing the car that hard.
If you're doing stuff that requires additional engine cooling, then you might look at getting one. Otherwise, stick with the stock one.