Electric fan temp switch ?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Best operating temps for the Chevy engine is around 180F. Putting in a 160F thermostat won't 'harm' anything, but the cooling system probably won't stabilize there...unless you have an over-engineered system {excess rad capacity, etc.). So, I'd suggest that 200F-ON and 180F-OFF switch would be a better choice for you. I doubt that the 165F-OFF switch would ever be needed; your fan would likely stay ON all the time. If you choose to go with a 180F stat, the 210F-ON, 190F-OFF switch would be my suggestion.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
thegazman
Best operating temps for the Chevy engine is around 180F. Putting in a 160F thermostat won't 'harm' anything, but the cooling system probably won't stabilize there...unless you have an over-engineered system {excess rad capacity, etc.). So, I'd suggest that 200F-ON and 180F-OFF switch would be a better choice for you. I doubt that the 165F-OFF switch would ever be needed; your fan would likely stay ON all the time. If you choose to go with a 180F stat, the 210F-ON, 190F-OFF switch would be my suggestion.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Best operating temps for the Chevy engine is around 180F. Putting in a 160F thermostat won't 'harm' anything, but the cooling system probably won't stabilize there...unless you have an over-engineered system {excess rad capacity, etc.). So, I'd suggest that 200F-ON and 180F-OFF switch would be a better choice for you. I doubt that the 165F-OFF switch would ever be needed; your fan would likely stay ON all the time. If you choose to go with a 180F stat, the 210F-ON, 190F-OFF switch would be my suggestion.
Thanks,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
BTW, using a 180* thermostat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Best operating temps for the Chevy engine is around 180F. Putting in a 160F thermostat won't 'harm' anything, but the cooling system probably won't stabilize there...unless you have an over-engineered system {excess rad capacity, etc.). So, I'd suggest that 200F-ON and 180F-OFF switch would be a better choice for you. I doubt that the 165F-OFF switch would ever be needed; your fan would likely stay ON all the time. If you choose to go with a 180F stat, the 210F-ON, 190F-OFF switch would be my suggestion.
If the best operating temperature is around 180*, why did they install 190*-195* thermostats, at the factory?
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
thegazman
I don't think your V-8 is going to run as low as 180. At the same time I don't want my car running 220. I prefer 190 - 200. They installed higher temperature thermostats at the factory for smog purposes. They did a lot of things for smog purposes and a lot of them affected your engine performance. Like moving your vacuum advance from the manifold to a ported vacuum on the carb to retart your timing at idle.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
195F stats were mandated by EPA because hotter running engines burn off more hydrocarbons. That is also why the early '70s C3's had the TCS emissions system. That was designed to cut-off dist. vacuum advance in lower gears so that the engine would retard and run hotter at idle and city driving...for that same reason. Apparently, the car companies were OK [not happy, mind you] about engine temps going up because it only hurt fuel mileage. It probably hurt engine life, too; but, back then, the warranty was only for 3 years or 36,000 miles [some were 5 years 50K mi. on drivetrain].
