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Paul
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2004
18:18:01
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 Subject: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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Anybody with/without the Optimizer II try the 160 degree T-stat for the 4.7L? What they say about it on the web site makes sense. Just wondering what anyone thought.
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Paul
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2004
18:26:22
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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nobody?
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Rob C
Dodge Dakota
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4/22/2004
02:55:42
|  RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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160 degrees is too cold to run your engine at. I read on this forum that the 160 will set the MIL. There have been study's that show if your engine doesn't reach close to 180 degrees and you're using petroleum based oil, you will be causing significantly more wear to your engine because those oils are formulated to operate at those higher temperatures and when they're cooler they aren't as "slippery" as they would be at a higher temperature. While 160 isn't exactly cold, 180 is a better all around operating temperature for wear and emissions than is 160.
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Paul
Dodge Dakota
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4/22/2004
12:24:37
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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Thats what I thought too but then I was reading on http://www.kennebell.net/accessories/thermostats/thermostats.htm and they had this to say:
"Any engine performs better in the 160°-170° range."
and
"Merely installing a thermostat will not lower engine temperature on a hot day. Why? The computer has programmed the fan on-off settings far beyond 160°. Example: "On" 215° and "Off" 190°. The fan won't even activate and try to cool the engine until the coolant temp is 215° so the 160° thermostat setting is useless. Answer? The engine computer must be re-programmed for lower temperature on-off settings. Example: "On" 166° and "Off" 162°. Now the fan and thermostat work in harmony to keep the engine cool."
so...it sounds like if you were going to get the Optimizer it would benefit from the 160 t-stat.
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Rob C
Dodge Dakota
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4/22/2004
22:51:08
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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That would be true if the only thing that helps the heat exchange process is your eletric cooling fan. When your vehicle is moving, it doesn't need the fan as long as you're moving at about 20 mph or higher. The fan is really helpful when you're stopped, driving in stop 'n go traffic and when you use your A/C.
What range is Kenne Bell setting the fan on/off at?
I still contend that running your engine that cold isn't a good idea for a daily driver in a four seasons area.
I had a Mercury with a 400 V8 that was running too hot so I pulled the thermostat out, thinking it wouldn't be a problem in Arizona. Well, one day I started out in Tucson @ 90 degrees and drove to Phoenix. A cold front moved into the Phoenix area and about 20 miles outside of Phoenix the temperature dropped to about 50 degrees and my temp gauge was pegged way below the C mark and my engine ran like crap. It wasn't like I was starting off cold, I'd been driving for about 2 hours @ normal operating temperature and then I hit that cool air and my temperature dropped. I needed a lot more throttle to keep the car moving at 70 mph. Now granted, I was probably running at 120 degrees but, remember, cooler engines make more power but, I don't think cold engines run better. My experience wasn't very scientific and I was only trying to get the engine to stop dieseling but, I learned that thermostats have a very important purpose.
It's up to you, does your engine run way too hot? Thermostats aren't that diffcult to change and don't cost that much so, if you didn't like the 180 from Checker, you could always pull it and get the KB160 instead. It sure would be interesting to be able to actually see the operating temperature of the engine with a 160 thermostat and the KB Optimizer II.
It sure would be helpful if someone who has a 160 degree thermostat and the Opti II would chime in.
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Paul
Dodge Dakota
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4/23/2004
01:13:01
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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Thanks for responding Rob. I too wish that some one with the T-Stat would respond with true life experience on this but what are you gonna do? I don't know enough factual data to know if 160 degrees is too cold. I know that an engine does run bad at too low and too high temps and it's obvious that there is a perfect range but I don't know what that temp is. Kenne Bell says it's 160-170 and I think they've probably done some research on this. The 180 T-Stats everyone puts in are only 10 degrees different then stock and that doesnt seem like enough to make a difference either way. A 160 degree T-Stat is 30 degrees difference, thats a bigger difference but doesnt seem like too big of a difference tp make a negetive impact. Like you said it's not that difficult to change one out. I think I'm gonna get the Kenne Bell Opt II (installed the KRC 212s and want that rev limiter raised) and I'll go with the 160. If it sucks ill change it back. We'll see I guess.
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b1llyw
GenII
4/23/2004
12:31:21
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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Paul, stick with a 180 t-stat. The truck will not run well with the 160.
Bill White - KRC Performance
'95 CC 4x2, SLT - 408 is done, truck isn't
'03 Neon R/T - No mods...yet
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Paul
Dodge Dakota
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4/24/2004
00:13:06
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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Cool, I'll stick with the 180. Thanks b1llyw, hey what RPM should I have them set the limiter at for those 212s ?
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Dakdoc
Dodge Dakota
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4/24/2004
12:44:59
| RE: 4.7L Kenne Bell T-Stat
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Stay with 6500 RPM for the future. Later!
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