I think i have two 1/16" holes evenly spaced on the flange. i only ask because on Sunday i drove to the grocery store, then walmart where i waited in the car for 5 minutes with it running, then drove the 2 miles home and the coolant temp just barely hit 180 degrees late in my venture.

Some will swap out their 180* drilled thermostats for the winter due to similar problems. I used to do that, but I had a couple of larger holes. As it got colder, it would set the SES. Since I switched to a 180* with only on 1/16th hole, I haven't had a problem and seems to warm up as quickly as the 195* used to.

kcoop99

Lately, my Bonne'* MPG has gone to the dogs too. A simple answer really so I don't worry about it.

Cold weather, especially if your'* is left outside will just kill gas mileage. From warm weather to cold weather you may see a 3-4 mpg drop. My car in warm months does 23-25 combination city/highway. 31 straight interstate driving.

In cold it drops to 20.5, and I baby the gas. Before you go replacing things I'd wait for warmer weather.

What is a SES Dick?

My mileage dropped to about 17 mpg combined from 22mpg. I figure the cold weather as well. I left my 180 stat in all winter as well, but to my knowledge its not drilled (Intense stat...do they come drilled??).

My o2 has never been replaced, maybe I'm due as well, but that'* a summer time warm weather job! 0 degrees F is too freaken cold to work on a car!!!!!

I'm voting for the "cold weather" and 89 octane gas. I saw a 4mpg drop when I used 89 instead of 93 in my other car (which required the higher octane). Idleing to warm up the car also uses more than you think. Also, do you go to the same gas station? Some folks find that the "cheaper" gas stations are cheaper for a reason.

Stick to a well-known gas station, buy 93 octane, and wait for the weather to get back to normal. In my area, the gas mixtures are altered in the Winter...resulting in a drop in mileage too. But you should have noticed this drop back in Nov/Dec.

Sorry Brian. Service Engine Soon. It sets the light and a code that says something like the coolant didn't reach thermostat regulating temperature within the specified time. The oxygen sensors start to get "tired" after about 50k miles. That'* what...something like 85km? So, if you're over that, it would be a good thing to add to your list of things to do. Your coolant leak could also have quickened things along with it. I know the Intense thermostat has a larger opening, but I do not recall whether or not it is drilled.

The Intense thermostat does not come with a drilled flange as far as i know. Atleast the one i bought 4 months back wasn't.