Agruments Settled
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 809
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Truck engine, Vette engine, train locomotive engine - no difference. I can assure you that in the middle of January up here where I live, if I were to take out the thermostat totally(which you claim would make no difference) from my 92 and drive down the hiway, it is NOT going to "settle in" to a hot running condition.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 50
From: Palmdale CA
Bottom line, you need a properly functioning Stat/Radiator/pump. etc.etc. in order to maintain the proper Temperature Margins...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
You would care...if you cared to learn and understand. It's clear that you don't.
I notice that you never answered any of my questions above. Why is that, I wonder?
*So why the comment about fan settings then??
*Please use science to explain why it "cannot"
*temps will go down as low as ~174*F. How can that be?
arbee and desertmike1 "get it"...you do not. Since you "don't care", then as you were, ignorant though you may be.....
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Dec 2, 2015 at 03:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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When is 60°F outside, and the engine is running 159°F on the freeway that is too damn cold for a combustion engine. The engine was acting up, and I knew right then I had to change that thing. Right after I installed the 180°F stat it was in the mid 170'sh. The analog gauge read 185°F.
Perhaps you have a different SBC.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
I dont know where you get your information, but I got mine from the gauges. Its a fact a 160 Stat will run your engine cooler than a 180.
When is 60°F outside, and the engine is running 159°F on the freeway that is too damn cold for a combustion engine. The engine was acting up, and I knew right then I had to change that thing. Right after I installed the 180°F stat it was in the mid 170'sh. The analog gauge read 185°F.
Perhaps you have a different SBC.
When is 60°F outside, and the engine is running 159°F on the freeway that is too damn cold for a combustion engine. The engine was acting up, and I knew right then I had to change that thing. Right after I installed the 180°F stat it was in the mid 170'sh. The analog gauge read 185°F.
Perhaps you have a different SBC.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 809
From: Saskatoon Sask.
If the radiator has the capacity to dissipate the heat, it most certainly WILL run cooler with a 160 stat. Engines don't have a temperature that "they want to run" built into them. The engine is designed to run at an optimal temperature and engineering builds the cooling system to support this temperature with a safety factor built in.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
^Exactly^. 
As I said earlier; summer day or not, the cooling system should be overkill for most operating conditions...that includes a "summer day". Therefore, properly functioning, the coolant temps should be about the same on a "summer day" as a "winter day". Exceptions would be "extreme conditions"; 100*F+, heavy load, high RPM.
When you post things like "most Corvettes run hot" (as if Corvettes are in some way, special or unique in their running temps -they're not), the essence of that thinking is wrong. Corvettes only "run hot" when they're not properly maintained...which is probably a lot of the C4's that you see, and certainly the majority of those that you read about on here.
A properly maintained C4 should be able to drive the coolant temps down to T-stat opening range, in most "normal driving" conditions...and that does include a "summer day".
.
When you post things like "most Corvettes run hot" (as if Corvettes are in some way, special or unique in their running temps -they're not), the essence of that thinking is wrong. Corvettes only "run hot" when they're not properly maintained...which is probably a lot of the C4's that you see, and certainly the majority of those that you read about on here.
A properly maintained C4 should be able to drive the coolant temps down to T-stat opening range, in most "normal driving" conditions...and that does include a "summer day".
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Dec 2, 2015 at 04:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
No stat in my 86 vette with 4+3 trans = 110 to 160 cruising temps in the winter.
Summer in my 86 = 150 to 180 cruising temps.
In my 86 with a 160 stat winter = 155 to 170.
Summer in my 86 with 160 stat = 165 to 185 cruising.
At all times these temps could go up to 190 to 195 idling since I had the fan set at 185 or so. So yes you can go lower with a lower temped stat.
So moving and not under a hard load the temps were quite low.
Summer in my 86 = 150 to 180 cruising temps.
In my 86 with a 160 stat winter = 155 to 170.
Summer in my 86 with 160 stat = 165 to 185 cruising.
At all times these temps could go up to 190 to 195 idling since I had the fan set at 185 or so. So yes you can go lower with a lower temped stat.
So moving and not under a hard load the temps were quite low.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
Also if you cant get the temp to go lower when you put a lower temp stat in then do a flush and get that orange build up crap out of your cooling system if its stock. After market stuff like heads etc then all bets are off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
^Exactly^.
As I said earlier; summer day or not, the cooling system should be overkill for most operating conditions...that includes a "summer day". Therefore, properly functioning, the coolant temps should be about the same on a "summer day" as a "winter day". Exceptions would be "extreme conditions"; 100*F+, heavy load, high RPM.
When you post things like "most Corvettes run hot" (as if Corvettes are in some way, special or unique in their running temps -they're not), the essence of that thinking is wrong. Corvettes only "run hot" when they're not properly maintained...which is probably a lot of the C4's that you see, and certainly the majority of those that you read about on here.
A properly maintained C4 should be able to drive the coolant temps down to T-stat opening range, in most "normal driving" conditions...and that does include a "summer day".
.
As I said earlier; summer day or not, the cooling system should be overkill for most operating conditions...that includes a "summer day". Therefore, properly functioning, the coolant temps should be about the same on a "summer day" as a "winter day". Exceptions would be "extreme conditions"; 100*F+, heavy load, high RPM.
When you post things like "most Corvettes run hot" (as if Corvettes are in some way, special or unique in their running temps -they're not), the essence of that thinking is wrong. Corvettes only "run hot" when they're not properly maintained...which is probably a lot of the C4's that you see, and certainly the majority of those that you read about on here.
A properly maintained C4 should be able to drive the coolant temps down to T-stat opening range, in most "normal driving" conditions...and that does include a "summer day".
.
Any build up at all inside of course will effect efficiency of the system. I run a 190 stat with original radiator and rarely do fans go on at 228. Only on really hot day at a light would they. Why anyone wants their car to run at 160 when it's designed to run hotter is beyond me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
I cant answer for most people as to why they want to run at cooler temps but the reason I did that to my 86 had to do with the blower. When I supercharged it I had issues with heat build up under wot.
The more room I had to start with the more I got to play before I had to let it cool back down. Also the cooler it ran the less ping issues I had with it.
The more room I had to start with the more I got to play before I had to let it cool back down. Also the cooler it ran the less ping issues I had with it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Dec 2, 2015 at 05:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
A thermostats main function is to maintain a minimum coolant temperature after the engine has warmed up.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
On a typical 75*-80* day, my 500hp+ 383 with a DeWitts radiator and a 160* t-stat would run in the low to mid 170s all day long on the freeway. If I sat at a stoplight, due to the lack of airflow, it would slooooooowly creep to the 190s but I had to sit there quite awhile. As soon as the car was rolling again *or* I manually turned the fans on, it would cool right back to the 170s. On the racetrack, 30 minute ***** out lapping sessions, I would be around 220.
The t-stat sets the minimum temp. As an aside, the aftermarket 160* stats actually start to open at 160* and are fully open between 175* and 180*. The OEM 180* stat starts to open at 180* and is fully open a little over 190*, hence why a stock LT1/4 C4 run in the low to mid 190s on the freeway.
Last edited by 96GS#007; Dec 2, 2015 at 08:13 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah