a 180deg stat is usually only a band-aid for cooling/other issues.
Yes - you are correct ... Some people hope that fitting a lower thermostat will fix their failing fanclutch or radiator or water pump.
Thats when its a bandaid.
Other people fit a 180'f thermostat ( or similiar ) to enable full coolant flow at a slightly lower temperature.
Sometimes people who do this ... and live in very cold areas ... find that the engine running temp
may actually get as low as 180'f ... in which case a different thermostat should be chosen. e.g. 182'/185'/188'/190'/192' etc ....
Sometimes the running temp may even be lower than the thermostat setting ... depending on the radiator style and fan setup and weather.
Making an engine run outside of its designed temp can't be compared to upgrading a suspension. Find the failing component that was causing the misfire instead of band-aiding it with the thermostat. If a component is failing when hot, then it is only a matter of time before it fails completely.
Its "
designed" temp ... heh heh
Its got a 195'f thermostat ...
that is the
only controllable device that sets a minimum, "
designed" engine temp ... strangely tho, it runs at temps
well above the thermostat setting.
And then when it has a bit of load on it ... it runs even hotter ... above that "
designed" temp everybody goes on about - Unless the factory cooling system is in perfect condition or you have snow up to your headlights.
Theres a few reasons for this .
1/.. Great big 4.0l i6 jammed in a 4cyl/V6 engine bay,
2/.. A "factory" thermostat that isnt fully open until 218'f, compared to other brands fully open at approx 205'f,
3/.. A barely adequate, std factory cooling system,
4/.. Emmission requirements,
5/.. People wanting "eco car" fuel economy from a 1980's vehicle,
6/.. Predominantly "cold climate" operating areas as the major sales market, e.g. a predisposition to interior cabin and demisting, heating requirements.
7/.. Differences in using anti-freeze mixes compared to water,
8/.. A known "
hot" operating auto gearbox pumping hot oil temps through the radiator,
9/.. Poor vehicle service & maintenance.
This "
designed" temp ????
If achieving running temps of 10'f - 20'f below are such a terrible thing to do ... How come running temps 10'f - 20'f
above are OK ???? :dunno:
I would much rather have higher fuel consumption ( a debatable issue ) than blown head gaskets, warped heads and constantly failing, heat affected, electrical and rubber components.
Which is why I have used a variety of thermostats in the 180'f -195'f range for the past 12yrs, in 3 jeeps ... with no ill effects.
No ill effects ????? ..... Thats because of the climate the vehicles get used in ... (Equal to a hot texas summer for most of the year where I am)
Main point to consider is that there is a big difference between an engine running "
efficiently" at high temps ... compared to its "
effectiveness" at high temps.
just to throw this out there....
at one time there was a chrysler part number for a 180 deg t-stat for the 4.0, was listed as being for use in very hot climate areas, i.e., the middle east, etc. when i checked dealerconnect, it was actually still available for order(a year or two ago). as per the factory, there could be a need for a lower temp stat.
Yep ....
Factory Option Thermostat ..... O.E. part number:..... 5202 8446 .. 180'f
The listing for it I found was just as a "heavy duty" thermostat not middle east specific ... and it was part of a number of XJ
options to deal with "
overheating"
Others included:
A 2 core radiator,
A brass / copper radiator ... listed for middle east market but would be very very useful in any "
hot" climate.
A "
heavy duty" bottom radiator hose ... probably had the internal spring,
The euro model, short lived, bonnet vent experiment,
And the second fan.
Variations of those options were fitted to U.S. market vehicles in an attempt to balance the cooling system .... No two XJs are the same people ... especially one in Toledo ... and one in Houston .... Which is something to consider when "debating" the merits of using various cooling sytem components ... and the engine heating device called a thermostat.
For our hot climates over here ... Chrysler did something really "tricky" ... They dangled the auto gearbox heat-exchanger in the hot side of the radiator
instead of the cold side ... That was really well "
designed". :doh:
Ohhh .. BTW ... The jeep suspension system was "
designed" to be the "best" for the vehicles general operation ... same as the cooling system.
Bryan. C. thanks for your "loop" info ...