And thanks for all the info. I just have a hard time believing everything that's posted on the internet. I would like to reiterate that I believe a forum is a place to voice your opinion. It is designed to encourage debate. Debate is not a bad thing unless it gets nasty. I know I'm wrong about things at times but that's no reason to get upset. The so called experts are wrong at times too. They just won't admit it. And some of the self appointed know it alls should learn to be a little more respectful.

 

Obviously you do, as you and your Kool '88 Corvette seem to show up in every single thermostat / coolant temp thread.

Or were you just trying to dodge addressing my post?

 

There is really nothing wrong with believing something despite having no basis for it.

But it becomes wrong when you start pushing it on everyone else and telling them they're wrong for disagreeing.

 

Why argue over 20 degrees F? To me it makes no sense. You keep your thermostat and I'll keep mine. OK?

 

+C+

 

Very funny and I'm sure the graphic refers to you. I still don't care.

 

9 posts and counting and he still doesn't care.
And I suppose Malcolm X doesn't care about black people. (ok that may be stretching it a little )


Correct me if I'm wrong, but now it sounds like you're trying to argue against debating it. I guess I'll need to find another hippo for you.

 

Don't you have anything better to do than look for silly hippos? You can post some more if you find it entertaining. But you should know that you are the only one that thinks your graphics are worth posting. It's for school children not adults.

 

I was torn between that or spend an hour installing a 160 stat.

In the end, posting pics of hippos was the more productive choice.

 

YES, one thing we can all agree upon is experts do make mistakes! However, GM pays their experts a considerable amount...especially if you think (know) the SBC V8 has been around since 1954,that's over 53 years, and guess what? They have NEVER installed a thermostat of 160*, in any production model V8s!!!! including BBs.

The idea behind the 160* was to lower the intake temp. and gain a horse or two (at the most) that's from us old rodders, but we learned iceing the intake was even better....on carbed cars. And here's one for those who never experienced this....we also used to put moth ***** in the air cleaners.......if you don't know why...I can explain, and it worked!

 

I agree with you Rick. Cold air= more HP. To GM and the average person 1 or 2 HP is insignificant. The engineers at GM had to produce a car that would warm up quickly. Their customers that lived in frigid areas wanted heat and they wanted it it fast. If they installed 160 thermostats in their cars customers would complain that they had bad heaters. You have to look at the big picture. GM wants happy customers. In later years GM had to control emissions so they ran them even hotter. It has nothing to do with prolonging engine life. If GM produced an engine that was reliable and lasted a million miles they would lose business. It would increase the price and their dealerships would have less service. GM's target market is your average person with an average salary. They have to produce a decent car at a decent price. I live in California so I don't need a heater. If I lived in Chicago I would have a 200 degree thermostat. I have never heard of putting moth ***** in the air cleaner. I have a feeling a joke is about to appear.

 

That is your opinion.

 

I have no idea where you got your information about GM needing to get their engines to warm up more quickly? can you provide any source to validate that???? I have a hard time with that, remember engine heaters have been around for along time, for those in extremely "frigid areas".

Moth *****, no joke! Moth ***** contained ether, and so that my spelling is not in question it's also spelled aether. Of course they were eventually banned from use at the tracks (at least locally).

 

Yikes, if you're gonna rant at least get the facts close to right.

The temp of the thermostat has NOTHING to do with how quickly the car warms up. NOTHING.

Think about it, the car has sat all night and is cold. The thermostat is CLOSED. Regardless of it's rating, it is still closed, and will stay that way until the coolant temp reaches it's rated temperature. ( water is flowing thru the heater core, which will produce warm air when the coolant gets to 120 or so.)

A thermostats ONE & ONLY function is to set the engines MINIMUM OPERATING TEMPERATURE.

The MAXIMUM OPERATING TEMPERATURE is determined by lots of factors, including airflow across the rad, the rad's ability to throw off heat, coolant flow volume, and the all important "how much heat is the motor making."

Again, the thermostat has NOTHING to do with the MAXIMUM temp the engine / coolant will reach. Once it's open, it's open, it can do no more.

 

Yes, I can validate that. I once lived in a frigid area. I can tell you that when it's 20 below you want a car that will warm up and produce heat fast. Not just me everyone in a frigid area. Millions of people live in cold areas and want cars with good heaters. Also, keep in mind that anyone can post anything on the internet. About half of everything on the internet is not accurate information. That graph that keeps getting posted is from someone trying to sell you a 180 thermostat. There is also a pill for sale on the internet that you put in your gas tank. The pill will increase gas mileage and HP. I like the moth ball thing.

 

True, but if you install a 160 thermostat it opens sooner and allows the coolant from the radiator into the engine. The coolant that has been sitting in the radiator all night is cold. Very cold if you live in a frigid area. That cold coolant gets into the engine sooner and lowers the temp. Therefore, it takes longer for the engine to warm up. Since a cold engine will not produce heat through the heater the customer is not happy.

 

PEACE OUT! I'm tired of this topic.

 

Kool, you sound like a nice guy, but your concept is totally backwards. Yes, the coolant in the radiator is cold in the morning...just like the coolant in the block...the valve (thermostat is closed), the engine becomes something like a burner on the stove heating a pot full of water, what do you think would happen to the pot full of water if you took a hose, turned the valve on (opened the thermostat) and started pouring in cold water, obviously it would take longer to heat the water!

have a nice day, and just think about it.

 

QUOTE=Kool88vette
Cold air= more HP. To GM and the average person 1 or 2 HP is insignificant.The engineers at GM had to produce a car that would warm up quickly.Their customers that lived in frigid areas wanted heat and they wanted it it fast. If they installed 160 thermostats in their cars customers would complain that they had bad heaters.In later years GM had to control emissions so they ran them even hotter.It has nothing to do with prolonging engine life.If GM produced an engine that was reliable and lasted a million miles they would lose business. It would increase the price and their dealerships would have less service.Millions of people live in cold areas and want cars with good heaters.Also, keep in mind that anyone can post anything on the internet. About half of everything on the internet is not accurate information. That graph that keeps getting posted is from someone trying to sell you a 180 thermostat.if you install a 160 thermostat it opens sooner and allows the coolant from the radiator into the engine. The coolant that has been sitting in the radiator all night is cold. Very cold if you live in a frigid area. That cold coolant gets into the engine sooner and lowers the temp. Since a cold engine will not produce heat through the heater the customer is not happy.PEACE OUT! I'm tired of this topic.

 

I'd ADVICE that you follow your own ADVISE. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him think.

RACE ON!!!