What Thermostat have you had good luck with?

[Wild one]

P0128 popped again...cleared it for the second time. Going on day two since cleared, no code yet with 200 miles and several start stops. I am going to keep the 5/8" plate in and keep on clearing and trucking along. Truck hits 185° F coolant temp within 10 miles of cold start and stays there all day, unless I run it hard, 80 mph+ for long periods of time. Oil temps are averaging 10 degrees F cooler with the plate. I am a big fan.

I know alot of guys report getting the code but after they clear it a few times it never comes back.Any cheap $20 code reader makes short work of clearing it,so it's not something to worry about,which seems to be a sticking point for a few guys on here,hint/hint Cory

 

[Hemi395]

I know alot of guys report getting the code but after they clear it a few times it never comes back.Any cheap $20 code reader makes short work of clearing it,so it's not something to worry about,which seems to be a sticking point for a few guys on here,hint/hint Cory

 

[mopar68]

Stant 48798 OE Equivalent Thermostat - 180 Degrees Fahrenheit Opening Temperature, medium
Also changed the clutch fan and small electric for the larger electric fan.
2014 1500 5.7 Outdoorsman

 

[TC]

Temps got down to 25°F couple weeks ago while visiting family in MS. I got the following codes in addition to P0128, which I have seen occasionally since installing the 797 3/4" ID plate.
P2181 Cooling System Perrformance
P0221 Throttle pedal Position Sensor/Switch"B" Circuit Range Performance Problem

Truck did not run well on a short drive across town early in the morning below freezing temps. Cleared codes and inserted cardboard between AC condenser and Radiator covering 50% of Radiator. This worked for a couple days while putting around town allowing the engine to heat up quicker during cold temps. Changed the restrictor plate to 5/8" ID at my brothers shop, removed cardboard and drove back to Texas - 640 miles. Ambient Temps averaged 70°F during the drive. Coolant averaged 185°F same as 3/4" plate and spiked at 195°F in heavy traffic running 80 mph which is 5° higher than the 3/4" ID plate.
Installed grill shutters, all but middle ones when I got back to TX. I will report back later on how it performs during this fall/winter with 10 of 12 grill shutters installed with 5/8" ID plate.

 

[Hemi395]

Its interesting it set those codes, the P2181 usually sets when the coolant temps sensor goes bad.

Idk this is the kind of stuff Im concerned about running the restrictor plates. Definitely keep us updated....

 

[TC]

Removed the 5/8" plate after seeing P0128 anytime ambient temps less than 40°F. Must be my Texas truck does not like running cold. Installed Motorad 416-192 and coolant temps pretty much stay at 192°F regardless of speed once it opens up. Been runningit for 3 moths now and it's steady. Hopefully it is one of the chosen ones that last for long time...When temps hit 100 here in a couple months, I may re-install the 5/8" plate depending on how the coolant temps look. When ambient temps are above 75°F the restrictor plate works great on my truck.

Silver lining: coolant system is clean and coolant shelf life is back to 10 years

 

[Wild one]

Removed the 5/8" plate after seeing P0128 anytime ambient temps less than 40°F. Must be my Texas truck does not like running cold. Installed Motorad 416-192 and coolant temps pretty much stay at 192°F regardless of speed once it opens up. Been runningit for 3 moths now and it's steady. Hopefully it is one of the chosen ones that last for long time...When temps hit 100 here in a couple months, I may re-install the 5/8" plate depending on how the coolant temps look. When ambient temps are above 75°F the restrictor plate works great on my truck.

Silver lining: coolant system is clean and coolant shelf life is back to 10 years

Swapping thermostats between summer and winter is a good idea in my opinion,as it also gives you a chance to keep the coolant in good shape if you top it up with new stuff.Throw in the fact the hemi is one of the easiest engines to change the thermostat on ,that i've ever ran into

 

[RamDiver]

Swapping thermostats between summer and winter is a good idea in my opinion,as it also gives you a chance to keep the coolant in good shape if you top it up with new stuff.Throw in the fact the hemi is one of the easiest engines to change the thermostat on ,that i've ever ran into

Didn't the GM engines in the late '60s/early '70s have a casting where you popped 2 Phillips screws out, and there sat the thermostat?

IIRC, it was high up and accessible from the front of the engine, and you would lose an ounce or two of coolant for the 3-minute job.

.

 

[Wild one]

Didn't the GM engines in the late '60s/early '70s have a casting where you popped 2 Phillips screws out, and there sat the thermostat?

IIRC, it was high up and accessible from the front of the engine, and you would lose an ounce or two of coolant for the 3-minute job.

.

Can't say as i remember that version,but if it was an oddball GM engine,i might not have paid any attention to it. Back then if it wasn't at least a hot 327 and bigger i wasn't even looking at it

 

[crackerjack1957]

Maybe the 1990-2005 GM 3.1L/3.4L engines with the plastic/aluminum housings had the phillips screws.
Probably the early years that were phased out because of the stripped heads.

 

[Hemi395]

I agree super easy to change the tstat on the Hemi. The reusable rubber gasket is game changing.

I remember changing the thermostat on a chevy small block back in the day, it was nowhere near as easy the Hemi. It had a gasket you had to replace every time you changed it, you had to make sure the old gasket was completely scraped off, and then you had to make sure it was seated correctly as you tightened it, etc etc.

Of course everything else on a SBC was easier to work on but thats a whole other discussion....