Bowtie52

I would like to know what the engineering reason is for using a 190 degree thermostat and why do these engines operating temperature needs to be so high?

69427

This is just my thoughts (and open to correction), but:

1) The engine is more thermally efficient with a 190 thermostat (vs a 180).
2) The engine is aluminum. It's already losing combustion heat faster than the old iron engines, so the higher coolant temp slows down the heat loss.
3) Lower emissions.
4) If you're (road course) tracking the car the coolant temp is over 200* anyway, so a 180* thermostat isn't buying you anything.

Items 1,2, and 4 are the reasons I run a 195* thermostat in my ZL1 BB. YMMV

Bill Dearborn

I suspect that as the years go by we will see higher and higher engine temps. An ICE gets more efficient as the combustion temperature increases to the point that all of the fuel is burned. That means you get better fuel mileage and more power from the same amount of fuel. All we need are the materials that permit those high temps.

Bill