rickneworleansla

I know it is hard for some of you to resist but please no opinions on why you think I should be using a higher temp stat. I tested my hypertech 160 degree thermostat out today. It started to slowly open around 170 deg. The most it opened was maybe about a 1/4 inch, if that. Is it functioning correctly? Is that all it is supposed to open? Here's some pics. Thanks

Before...




After...







One more question. Is it safe to still use my thermometer for cooking. I didn't really clean the antifreeze off the thermostat but it was dry when I began.

John A. Marker

It should be okay opening only 1/4", that is enough to have good flow thru the system.

Your thermometer should only be used for rectal applications in the future

NEVRL8T

and

rickneworleansla

Thanks

rons85

It's opening as far as is ought to, yes. It's opening Late though. It Ought to be beginning to come off the seat at the 160 mark, and ought to be nearly Closed again (as the water cools off) when the temp has dropped back Down to 160. Looks to me like the particular 'stat you have there is going to want to hold the engine temp closer to 170 than 160 - assuming that the fans come on at 160, that you have enough airflow, etc.

Tested like you are doing it on a stove a thermostat will usually be "sticky" and not operate smoothly. Don't forget it's getting Vibrated in a running motor..

Individual mass produced thermostats do vary some in the precise point they operate at. Working at a garage you see that, and I've sorted through several before getting one that did what I wanted, for myself.

Oh. Another thing. The size of the "bleed hole" in that thing is Waay too large. It's going to take the motor a Really long time to warm up with that much coolant circulating while the 'stat is Shut. Just a tiny hole is all it should have, just enough to pass trapped air, that's all...

LT4BUD

I tested one of mine a few years ago and as I recall it started to open almost exactly at 160 and went to full open very quickly only a few degrees above 160....I would say mine was fully open before 170...

I see you added a "burp" hole......I added a couple to one of stats and the car would never get warm in cooler weather...IMHO a burp hole is neither needed nor desirable

http://www.motoradusa.com/partinfo.p...Number=307-160

Personally I would just replace yours as it appears to be old and getting slow & lazy..BTW I have number 3 in my car now, none of them really broke.

rickneworleansla

Thanks for the info. It's a hypertech 160 degree stat for the LT1 Corvette. It actually came with the hole already there. I didnt modify it at all. It did appear to be a little slow on opening but it wasnt 100% submerged at first. A small piece of it was above water before I added a bit more. I also had the thermometer resting on the very botom of the pan so it may have been a bit hotter than the stat. Taking all that into account I think it may be ok or just slightly off. I'd say the thermostat is probably about 3- 4 years old.

LT4BUD

I am looking at two Hypertech 160 thermostats.....

In the location where yours has a hole, both of mine have a small brass plug that appears to act like a directional check valve.

I am also looking at the factory original 180 stat and that part of the stat is solid..no holes or directional check valve.

Unless Hypertech(Motorad) changed their design yours is missing that little brass check valve..

BTW these are all for my 1996 LT4 which should be the same as LT1

Ed Ramberger

the pics show the thermometer resting on the bottom of the pan...

Ed Ramberger

It's called a jiggle valve. It's what allows the air trapped in the system to get to the highest point. Some simply have holes, some have the jiggle valve. If you don't have a way for air to bleed past the t-stat, in certain applications the t-stat will not open in time to save the motor because all that would be under it would be air, not coolant.

John A. Marker

You can purchase a 160 stat thru most auto stores at a lower price than hypertech or mail order corvette catalogs.

jfb

It is opening far enough, but it is no longer a 160 stat. At 3-4 years old, it should be replaced. Wash your thermometer with soap and water and you can use it anywhere.

vette079

Yeah, well the only thing should be that your wife´s butt doesn´t freeze that fast when she´s been digesting antifreeze . HHHHmmm (maybe that´s the problem with many women´s behinds, they forgot to check the antifreeze "down under").
Put´s another meaning to the word COOLANT and ANTIFREEZE. Oh kick me now.

By the way, do you have a performance chip for your performance pan as well, yihaaw I can´t help myself.:o

engle1147

This is a ol' school mod (one or multiple holes were drilled into the T stat) that manufacturers / people have adapted to over time. It makes burbing the air from the system a easy too.

rickneworleansla

Been drinking while posting again, have we?



So where's the cheapest place to get a replacement 160 stat for the oddball reverse cooling LT1? I think the hypertech was around 30 something or so.