Thermostat?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Im sorry totaly disagree the car should run at hightway speeds close to what the thermost set point is. That is the whole puropse of a thermost to maintain temp. Now with no consent air moving aacross the rad there is no waay to cool down the cooleant and temps rise this is where where the fans take place. they will cool the colleant enough to keep the car from over heating untll you are moving and full air flow is across the Rad
Have to go with hooked073 here. He's right. Unfortunately, this is dead wrong. Faster circulating coolant absolutely does not create or add to an over heating problem. A clogged radiator sure does...but not fast circulating coolant.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
This does not set the operating temp of the engine.
For example; I chose a 180 stat because the radiator keeps the temps down to under 190 at speed.
The lower opening temp ensure me I have full system flow.
Temps will rise to greater than 200 when OAT rises to 100 deg plus the A/C on.
Hope this helps
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 74
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If you are running the stock thermostat, it's a 195 thermo, which doesn't fully open at 195 either. Most thermostats don't fully open til about 10-15 higher than their rating. A stock TPI car's fan's don't turn on until 226 degrees either, and the second fan doesn't even come on until about 238 degrees. So, Don't trust the factory gauges either. Put it this way, when I had my 180 thermostat the car would run at around 190-195 around town in cooler weather and this was recorded with a laptop getting it's readings from the ECM via the coolant temp sensor in the front of the block.
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 74
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If you are running the stock thermostat, it's a 195 thermo, which doesn't fully open at 195 either. Most thermostats don't fully open til about 10-15 higher than their rating. A stock TPI car's fan's don't turn on until 226 degrees either, and the second fan doesn't even come on until about 238 degrees. So, Don't trust the factory gauges either. Put it this way, when I had my 180 thermostat the car would run at around 190-195 around town in cooler weather and this was recorded with a laptop getting it's readings from the ECM via the coolant temp sensor in the front of the block.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
It's another CF t-stat thread.
Where those that think they know and those that know, meet those that nose. (knowz?)
Hang around it gets better.
Where those that think they know and those that know, meet those that nose. (knowz?)
Hang around it gets better.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
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From: Vero Beach Florida
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
Im sorry totaly disagree the car should run at hightway speeds close to what the thermost set point is. That is the whole puropse of a thermost to maintain temp. Now with no consent air moving aacross the rad there is no waay to cool down the cooleant and temps rise this is where where the fans take place. they will cool the colleant enough to keep the car from over heating untll you are moving and full air flow is across the Rad
......WW
Last edited by WW7; Aug 28, 2013 at 11:34 AM.
8th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
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If you are running the stock thermostat, it's a 195 thermo, which doesn't fully open at 195 either. Most thermostats don't fully open til about 10-15 higher than their rating. QUOTE]
You don't think a 195 thermostat opens til 205 or more?
I assure you they do
You don't think a 195 thermostat opens til 205 or more?
I assure you they do
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
The t-stat temp is that which the stat opens.
This does not set the operating temp of the engine.
For example; I chose a 180 stat because the radiator keeps the temps down to under 190 at speed.
The lower opening temp ensure me I have full system flow.
Temps will rise to greater than 200 when OAT rises to 100 deg plus the A/C on.
Hope this helps
This does not set the operating temp of the engine.
For example; I chose a 180 stat because the radiator keeps the temps down to under 190 at speed.
The lower opening temp ensure me I have full system flow.
Temps will rise to greater than 200 when OAT rises to 100 deg plus the A/C on.
Hope this helps
There are some here that think the car will run at the temp of the thermostat.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
"Some here" is me, and my car is proof that it will.
That is exactly right, provided the cooling system has the capacity to shed the heat...and the stock cooling system (when maintained) does.
I am talking about running down the highway, and in the summer. Of course when standing still, the thing will heat up to the point the fans come on, regardless of cooling system capacity. I think that is self evident. Same goes for creeping in traffic -unless you have the A/C on, and then it should run "cool" (near the t-stat rating) as well.
Of course variable make a difference. I generally assume that when operating temps are discussed it is in the summer b/c nobody better be having problems in the winter, and at highway speeds, b/c that is removes most variables and allows us to "see" how well the cooling system is actually functioning. Using these assumptions, a well maintained stock system should be able to drive the temps right down to t-stat rating/opening up to AROUND 100*F.
Everyone here needs to figure out if they are talking about a hot summer day or a cold winter day when they are making there statements...There is a difference....They also need to specify if they are talking about running on the highway or moving along in rush hour traffic because this makes a difference also.... We all need to specify what conditions we're talking about... (I know, Im as guilty as anyone).........WW
......WWOf course variable make a difference. I generally assume that when operating temps are discussed it is in the summer b/c nobody better be having problems in the winter, and at highway speeds, b/c that is removes most variables and allows us to "see" how well the cooling system is actually functioning. Using these assumptions, a well maintained stock system should be able to drive the temps right down to t-stat rating/opening up to AROUND 100*F.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Aug 28, 2013 at 12:30 PM.
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Nah, it may open at 195 but not be fully open. The car will run around 190-195 with a 180 thermostat . Then cool down to run around 160-170 on the highway cause of the cold air blowing on the radiator. A 180 is perfect for these cars. You cant trust the engineers. They had to meet the EPA requirements for emissions.
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Nah, it may open at 195 but not be fully open. The car will run around 190-195 with a 180 thermostat . Then cool down to run around 160-170 on the highway cause of the cold air blowing on the radiator. A 180 is perfect for these cars. You cant trust the engineers. They had to meet the EPA requirements for emissions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
"Some here" is me, and my car is proof that it will.
That is exactly right, provided the cooling system has the capacity to shed the heat...and the stock cooling system (when maintained) does.
I am talking about running down the highway, and in the summer. Of course when standing still, the thing will heat up to the point the fans come on, regardless of cooling system capacity. I think that is self evident. Same goes for creeping in traffic -unless you have the A/C on, and then it should run "cool" (near the t-stat rating) as well.
Of course variable make a difference. I generally assume that when operating temps are discussed it is in the summer b/c nobody better be having problems in the winter, and at highway speeds, b/c that is removes most variables and allows us to "see" how well the cooling system is actually functioning. Using these assumptions, a well maintained stock system should be able to drive the temps right down to t-stat rating/opening up to AROUND 100*F.
That is exactly right, provided the cooling system has the capacity to shed the heat...and the stock cooling system (when maintained) does.
I am talking about running down the highway, and in the summer. Of course when standing still, the thing will heat up to the point the fans come on, regardless of cooling system capacity. I think that is self evident. Same goes for creeping in traffic -unless you have the A/C on, and then it should run "cool" (near the t-stat rating) as well.
Of course variable make a difference. I generally assume that when operating temps are discussed it is in the summer b/c nobody better be having problems in the winter, and at highway speeds, b/c that is removes most variables and allows us to "see" how well the cooling system is actually functioning. Using these assumptions, a well maintained stock system should be able to drive the temps right down to t-stat rating/opening up to AROUND 100*F.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
What for? There isn't a 140 T-stat, but the sensible exercise to find the limits of the cooling system's capacity (I assume that is what you're getting at?) would be to run the car with NO t-stat in some controlled conditions, and see where the temp stabilizes at. Obviously, if the ambient air temp is 100*F, the car isn't going to run at say, 105*F. Cooling system isn't that good. Would it run at 140* in 100* temps? Probably not w/the stock radiator. My guess is that you could probably get it down to about 160 or so in a Corvette. A Trans Am I used to have would go down to 140 w/no stat in summer/hwy driving, but that radiator seemed like it was larger, to me.
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
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I think the whole point of this post is that GM engineered these cars to run hot. That was done for emissions purposes and of course, it will perform better with a cooler thermostat in it , like a 180 or a 160 degree thermo.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 3
From: Conowingo Maryland
The t-stat temp is that which the stat opens.
This does not set the operating temp of the engine.
For example; I chose a 180 stat because the radiator keeps the temps down to under 190 at speed.
The lower opening temp ensure me I have full system flow.
Temps will rise to greater than 200 when OAT rises to 100 deg plus the A/C on.
Hope this helps
This does not set the operating temp of the engine.
For example; I chose a 180 stat because the radiator keeps the temps down to under 190 at speed.
The lower opening temp ensure me I have full system flow.
Temps will rise to greater than 200 when OAT rises to 100 deg plus the A/C on.
Hope this helps
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner