i was wondering about the themostat temp,and engine performance.whats the best temps to run for the best perf,and or fuel mileage? the truck seems to runs better in the am,cooler outside temps 65-70 deg,and cooler eng temps.i have a factory gauge,but when on the lower side of operating temp,she runs stronger.can you put a cooler stat in it for better perf? or will it screw up the mileage? just some thoughts on cheap mods. i have swiss cheesed the airbox and rad support/lower grill,and i think it helped getting fresh air to the motor?thanks for the neat forum and replys.

 

I put a Cummins thermostat in my truck. Check the sticky for the part #. It works great. As far as the factory gauge goes, forget about it. I have a electric w/t I picked up at autozone. Id rather have mechanical, but its waht they had. Anyway, its hard to tell just what you have when you can only run C and H or somewhere between, not mention they, atleast mine, flutters all around.

 

i as mainly wondering aboout the engine temps and how it effect the power and mileage. would a cooler thermostat,and fresh air help as in a gas engine? does the diesel like hooter temps for fuel mileage,and to be effencent? thanks

 

per cummins, running hte engine too cool can impair performance, simplisticaly because our engines run on heat to a certain extent. The engine needs to be in the desigend ranges for complete coombustion and most efficeint operation.
You notice a difference in performance wehn its cool outside because( again simplistic explanation) the coole rair is denser, and therfore aids in combustion.
Idealy you balance the engine heat to maintain the peak operating enviorment and coolest air possible

 

Thermodynamically, IC engines are heat engines. The heat of combustion causes the burning gases to expand and push on the pistons. A cooler engine sucks more heat out of the combustion and produces less power at the crankshaft and sends the head out through the radiator instead. This is true for gasoline engines as well.

Running the engine hotter will produce more power at the crankshaft but there are other considerations such as preignition in gas engines and the extra hardship on other engine components and oil. The engine temp is usually set at a compromise between efficiency and durability.

Edwin

 

i understand the principles and all,but maybe its a correct fuel to temp ratio im feeling,as the engine and amb temps grow hotter,the fueling is too rich? simular to gas eng/snowmobiles,bikes ect.need more gauges and testing,or just drive it and feel lucky its not the gas hog 350 chev i have in th barn for the winter plowing,lol. i just ck'd mileage and she got 20.1 w/ pump mods,and looking in the mirror at all the fuel im making into cool smoke for the city people,to enjoy of course,lol again...