Which Thermostat
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Oxnard/San Luis Obispo CA
Which Thermostat
I currently have a 160* thermostat, but I was thinking I need to run a hotter one. From a thermodynamic standpoint I should use one that keeps the engine as hot as possible, but then there is detonation to consider at higher temps. What do you guys think I should run with a 9.6 compression aluminum head 400?
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Burning Brakes
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From: belle plaine ks
Be sure and test it before putting in the car. All you have to do is hang it by a thread through the opening cold and put it in a pan of cold water. Bring up the heat watching with a thermometer and see when it falls off the string. You would be surprised at how many don't open at the proper temp.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Los Gatos CA
Question for you: Does your engine run too cool with your 160* thermostat? In sunny CA, my BB has no problem running too cool with a 160* thermostat.
Last edited by Jeff_Keryk; Dec 7, 2008 at 11:20 AM.
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From: Tucson AZ
I run a 195* t-stat in sunny and hot southern AZ. I have a 454 LS-5 that is beleived to be stock. I also have a DeWitt's radiator, and Lincoln Mark VIII dual speed fan. I will get over 195*, but only briefly, like at a stop light and it's 108* outside.
Not to insult anyone's intellegence, but alot of people don't really understand how a thermostat works, well the theory anyway. In most instances, a clean good working order cooling system will have less of a possibility to overheat if a higher degree t-stat is used. If you use a 165* t-stat, it opens at 165*, and exchanges engine coolant for radiator coolant. A lower degree t-stat will only allow the coolant to stay in the motor untill the t-stat opens again, and the radiator hasn't had time to cool the coolant back down. Once this cycle happens, the t-stat never closes and the coolant is free flowing until the motor overheats. If you use a 195* t-stat, the coolant stays in the radiator longer and has a better chance of cooling down before the next cycle happens.
If you already knew this, sorry for the redundency, maybe someone will read it that didn't know before!!
BBTank
Not to insult anyone's intellegence, but alot of people don't really understand how a thermostat works, well the theory anyway. In most instances, a clean good working order cooling system will have less of a possibility to overheat if a higher degree t-stat is used. If you use a 165* t-stat, it opens at 165*, and exchanges engine coolant for radiator coolant. A lower degree t-stat will only allow the coolant to stay in the motor untill the t-stat opens again, and the radiator hasn't had time to cool the coolant back down. Once this cycle happens, the t-stat never closes and the coolant is free flowing until the motor overheats. If you use a 195* t-stat, the coolant stays in the radiator longer and has a better chance of cooling down before the next cycle happens.
If you already knew this, sorry for the redundency, maybe someone will read it that didn't know before!!
BBTank
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From: Florida
I run a 195* t-stat in sunny and hot southern AZ. I have a 454 LS-5 that is beleived to be stock. I also have a DeWitt's radiator, and Lincoln Mark VIII dual speed fan. I will get over 195*, but only briefly, like at a stop light and it's 108* outside.
Not to insult anyone's intellegence, but alot of people don't really understand how a thermostat works, well the theory anyway. In most instances, a clean good working order cooling system will have less of a possibility to overheat if a higher degree t-stat is used. If you use a 165* t-stat, it opens at 165*, and exchanges engine coolant for radiator coolant. A lower degree t-stat will only allow the coolant to stay in the motor untill the t-stat opens again, and the radiator hasn't had time to cool the coolant back down. Once this cycle happens, the t-stat never closes and the coolant is free flowing until the motor overheats. If you use a 195* t-stat, the coolant stays in the radiator longer and has a better chance of cooling down before the next cycle happens.
If you already knew this, sorry for the redundency, maybe someone will read it that didn't know before!!
BBTank
Not to insult anyone's intellegence, but alot of people don't really understand how a thermostat works, well the theory anyway. In most instances, a clean good working order cooling system will have less of a possibility to overheat if a higher degree t-stat is used. If you use a 165* t-stat, it opens at 165*, and exchanges engine coolant for radiator coolant. A lower degree t-stat will only allow the coolant to stay in the motor untill the t-stat opens again, and the radiator hasn't had time to cool the coolant back down. Once this cycle happens, the t-stat never closes and the coolant is free flowing until the motor overheats. If you use a 195* t-stat, the coolant stays in the radiator longer and has a better chance of cooling down before the next cycle happens.
If you already knew this, sorry for the redundency, maybe someone will read it that didn't know before!!
BBTank
You may want to read this, explains the myths about the radiator time.
http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/14_...utomobiles.htm
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180 The thermostat really only determines the point at which it opens. Your system's overall condition/setup will determine how warm it runs.
The thermostat really only determines the point at which it opens. Your system's overall condition/setup will determine how warm it runs.
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