thermostat question
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Depends. To a point, the cooler you can run the engine, the lower the octane threshold which means that if you're "iffy" on premium then a cooler cylinder head by 15 degrees can make a difference and allow you to optimize your timing. But if your engine has a no problems at optimum timing now, then you get nothing good.
Again, up to a point, the hotter you can run the combustion chamber the better the engine will run. Cool walls tend to give HCs a place to hide by dropping out of vapor. Heat vaporizes the fuel and makes the mixture more homogeneous which makes more power.
There is also no one size fits all answer to the question. You have to try it by careful experimentation. No one can tell you one way or the other on your engine.
Again, up to a point, the hotter you can run the combustion chamber the better the engine will run. Cool walls tend to give HCs a place to hide by dropping out of vapor. Heat vaporizes the fuel and makes the mixture more homogeneous which makes more power.
There is also no one size fits all answer to the question. You have to try it by careful experimentation. No one can tell you one way or the other on your engine.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
If you do go with a 180F TStat, make sure the EFE TVS is opening as well--The TVS is designed to open at 180F and if its a little off setpoint, you might be running constantly with your EFE valve engaged. I'm not sure which years have the vacuum operated EFE valve--my '77 does--but its something to watch out for.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
The purpose of a t-stat isn't really to keep the engine cool... it is to get it up to operational temp fast... then open. Once it's open its going to run as hot or cool as the cooling system will allow. If your car is running normally above 195 with your 195 tstat... it wont matter if you put a 160 tstat, your car will get upto what it normally does only slower.
It will only make a different if your cooling system is capable of making it cooler. If your car has a 195 tstat and it runs at 195, but the cooling system is capably of keeping it at 160... then a 180 tstat will lower the temp to 180.
So the question is... with the 195 tstat does your car already run above 195?
It will only make a different if your cooling system is capable of making it cooler. If your car has a 195 tstat and it runs at 195, but the cooling system is capably of keeping it at 160... then a 180 tstat will lower the temp to 180.
So the question is... with the 195 tstat does your car already run above 195?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
Genuine as i said in first post i do know what the stat does
and mine at 195 runs right at 195 + or - 2 degrees
until i get it on the highway for extended speeds then it goes
to about 205 but from what i have read on the forum here that
is totally normal.
for running cooler i guess i wouldnt know for sure unless i tried the
180 to see what will happen.
it does have a new radiator and hoses already and is getting the new pump as i put it back together, not that it needs it but since im in there im swapping it out.
i was just curious if the 180 would be a good change to try.
and mine at 195 runs right at 195 + or - 2 degrees
until i get it on the highway for extended speeds then it goes
to about 205 but from what i have read on the forum here that
is totally normal.
for running cooler i guess i wouldnt know for sure unless i tried the
180 to see what will happen.
it does have a new radiator and hoses already and is getting the new pump as i put it back together, not that it needs it but since im in there im swapping it out.
i was just curious if the 180 would be a good change to try.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by 1Z87L8
Genuine as i said in first post i do know what the stat does
and mine at 195 runs right at 195 + or - 2 degrees
until i get it on the highway for extended speeds then it goes
to about 205 but from what i have read on the forum here that
is totally normal.
for running cooler i guess i wouldnt know for sure unless i tried the
180 to see what will happen.
it does have a new radiator and hoses already and is getting the new pump as i put it back together, not that it needs it but since im in there im swapping it out.
i was just curious if the 180 would be a good change to try.
and mine at 195 runs right at 195 + or - 2 degrees
until i get it on the highway for extended speeds then it goes
to about 205 but from what i have read on the forum here that
is totally normal.
for running cooler i guess i wouldnt know for sure unless i tried the
180 to see what will happen.
it does have a new radiator and hoses already and is getting the new pump as i put it back together, not that it needs it but since im in there im swapping it out.
i was just curious if the 180 would be a good change to try.
Btw - I have run a 180 and I run right around 180, so I tested a 160 for giggles and the temp lowered... I still run a 180 because I've heard on this forum that a 160 is not hot enough to effectively get rid of condesation. My car also increases to around 190-200 when I drive over 90mph for a prolonged time on a hot day... Like you, I've heard this is normal.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 1
From: Breckenridge Colorado
I would go with the 180. I just switched mine to a Robert Shaw 180 and could not be happier.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights MI
180 to 185 is more ideal for a thermostat, to go cooler is generally not a good idea. They went to a 195 to improve emissions. The components are designed for fit at the specific operating temperature, and at cooler temps the fit is looser. Similarly, at higher temperatures the fit becomes tighter.
Depending on what is in your block with clearances, you will want a different operating temperature. So actually, it will depend on your engine. If it is still factory original, then go with 180 or 185.
Depending on what is in your block with clearances, you will want a different operating temperature. So actually, it will depend on your engine. If it is still factory original, then go with 180 or 185.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
As someone pointed out, a thermostat's purpose isn't really to keep your motor cool...it's to keep it from running too cold. Most engine wear occurs on a cold motor, so the thermostat's job is to get your motor to 160, 180, 195 or whatever your thermostats temperature may be quickly. The 195 is mostly used to control emissions.
As stated above it doesn't matter if you run a 160 thermostat if your motor normally operates at 190 it's going to go to 190 just a bit slower. I run a 160 with the big block but it always manages to make it to it's destination of 190 or so.
As stated above it doesn't matter if you run a 160 thermostat if your motor normally operates at 190 it's going to go to 190 just a bit slower. I run a 160 with the big block but it always manages to make it to it's destination of 190 or so.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Halifax NS
I'm confused
My 78 stock L-82 runs a little over 200 degrees. I read in Corvette Fever that it was a good idea to lower the temperature to around 180 degrees. It was recomended that by using a 160 dgr Tstat the resulting temperature for the engine would be 180 dgr. I installed the 160 dgr Tstat and now the car runs at 150 dgr. What's up with that?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Originally Posted by MartyW
I would go with the 180. I just switched mine to a Robert Shaw 180 and could not be happier.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Same here, Robert shaw 180 and very happy with it.