June 19, 2017
Since I am pulling apart the cooling system, I decide to conduct another experiment. Your immediate response will be to not do it, but hear me out.
I am going to replace the factory 195*F thermostat with the next hottest thermostat, a 205*.
I have daily driven this thing for the last 3+ years with Torque displaying my coolant temps. Since installing the cowl induction and now the hood vents, I have seen the normal temps decrease with each. Even today on a 90*+ day, the coolant is consistently between 193-205*. During highway driving, the temps are constantly bouncing off of the thermostat.
A related observation is that since the hood vents went in, I feel like my mileage isn't were it ought to be. I have wondered if the engine is too cold. Normal temps are closer to 210* with the typical reasoning being that it improves efficiency. My engine never experiences normal temps.
My prediction is that because the t-stat controls the bottom end of the engine temp range, my engine temps will stay pretty consistently at 204-05* and rarely get hotter than that. Maybe I will see improved (restored) mileage.
This will be a hot week where I can continue to watch the engine temps.