I understand I should stick to the "cummins" brand 180 thermostat. Anyone know where a good deal is. Would NAPA provide a lesser quality? I cleaning my radiator next week and want to through one in. Thanks

 

I thought standard thermostat is 190deg.

I wouldn't try a cooler one, you might get engine too cold and cause soothing issues.

Dodge Cummins cooling systems are so oversized I am sure you will never have a problem. I hauled commercially with them for many years and never ever had an overheating problem, even on steep long grades towing 15,000 plus loads in summertime.

 

I believe in the Cummisn stat but others asy they have success with NAPA. Apparentlly they have two grades or something.

 

My NAPA T stat has a much smaller diameter hole than the Cummins. Gonna get a Cummins at some point.

 

Cummins brand it its. I understand alot of people use the 180. My truck goes over two hundred in mountains with camper. I live at 6300ft. I think it would be good.

 

I have to vote NAPA. I got one over 2 years ago and have pulled my 5er over a lot of country and the temp hand stays right where it's supposed to. It was only $22.

 

Here's my unsolicited 2 cents, buy the Cummins part. Expensive, but it works. The needle warms up and never moves. I've heard of other brands that swing all over. Also, you do not want the motor to run to cool. Hard on rings and you get poorer fuel economy due to the thermal loss. Plus the cooling systems on these trucks are monsters. I remember reading about the cooling specs for this motor for the truck and the requirement was something like max gcvw, going up a 6% grade at 60 mph at 100 Fahrenheit and it was not to overheat. Now compare that to a Chev and well, there is a reason the Cummins is in the garage and the Nissan sits outside.

 

180* T-Stat works great for summers in the sun belt, racing, heavy towing, in the mountains, etc.
Recommend only the Cummins, to be on safe side.
PN 3967195
Get at any Big Rig Shop (most service Cummins engines) or Cummins DIST center.

RJ

 

When you use a 180 stat the engine can see a 26 degree temp swing while towing heavy and that swing is just 16 degrees with a 190. Temperature swings increase wear. The fan kicks in at about 206 degrees.

 

How do you know exact temp swings?
Why do you say temp swings increase wear?

How did you come by an automatic tranny in a ETC/DEE (6 speed/ HO engine designation)?

RJ

 

RowJ, if you look closer, you will see the I said I did not get an auto trans, 4wd or Cd changer because I didn't want those.
The 206 degree spec for the fan is in the factory manuals.

 

Got ya! Mis-read about the Auto!

I have not looked in a while but the only spec I recall for the viscous fan to operate is the AIR temp off the back side of the radiator hitting the sensor coil on the face of the fan hub.
Maybe this is an 02 change?

As for Temp swings with the 180* T-stat... I have an Adrenaline, with a Pulse monitor, and can read exact coolant temps. My 180* ranges from 180* to 189* when working hard. The 190*, I had in this winter, ranged from 185* to 205* under the same stressful conditions, albeit cooler OAT.
All measurements are obviously coming from the Cummins computer reading temps at the coolant sensor.

RJ