Thermostat Debate
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Nashua NH
Thermostat Debate
Ok...I know I'm probably opening a huge can of worms with this...but I'm trying to decide between a 160 and a 180 degree thermostat. I know the benefits of the lower temp stat, but my main concerns are that the car will jump in and out of closed loop when it runs that cool, and also that the lower oil temps will keep from burning off some of the by products ( like water) involved with combustion. So whats the verdict??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
You all know I love to feed the debate.....I've been running a 160* t-stat for five years. Over 160,000 miles at over 50 miles a day. The temps run roughly 172-178 on the highway and in heavy south Florida traffic, sometime get up to 200*.(regular traffic...in the 180's).
Guess we have moved on....the old thermostat debate used to generate over 100 posts and much hate mail. Time for the SeaFoam debate?????
Guess we have moved on....the old thermostat debate used to generate over 100 posts and much hate mail. Time for the SeaFoam debate?????
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Partial Quote from Mark85vette:
I know the benefits of the lower temp stat,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++
You do? There is no benefit! A 160 stat opens sooner and it stays wide open until you shut the engine off. What is the benefit there?
The limiting part for engine cooling is the radiator and C4 radiators aren't big enough to operate the engine at 160 F when you operate where there are roads. No roads at either of earth's poles.
Why even runner140* admits his engine runs 172 to 200 with a 160 stat. Above about 163-164 F, a 160 stat is wide open and it has lost control of the engine temp. Put a 180 stat in if you must, but the OEM stat is a 195 which is what I run in my 87 and I don't overheat.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to come to the understanding that auto engines can run 200 F without any harm whatsoever and that is a non event!!!!! GM says to turn the engine off at 260 F and let it cool down. I have never seen 260F! Your main fan will come on at 228F and the aux fan (if you have one) comes on at 238 F. My aux fan has never been on in its 22 year life.
I know the benefits of the lower temp stat,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++
You do? There is no benefit! A 160 stat opens sooner and it stays wide open until you shut the engine off. What is the benefit there?
The limiting part for engine cooling is the radiator and C4 radiators aren't big enough to operate the engine at 160 F when you operate where there are roads. No roads at either of earth's poles.
Why even runner140* admits his engine runs 172 to 200 with a 160 stat. Above about 163-164 F, a 160 stat is wide open and it has lost control of the engine temp. Put a 180 stat in if you must, but the OEM stat is a 195 which is what I run in my 87 and I don't overheat.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to come to the understanding that auto engines can run 200 F without any harm whatsoever and that is a non event!!!!! GM says to turn the engine off at 260 F and let it cool down. I have never seen 260F! Your main fan will come on at 228F and the aux fan (if you have one) comes on at 238 F. My aux fan has never been on in its 22 year life.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 2,699
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
jfb
interesting. Corvette Mike
Last edited by CorvetteMike2024; May 23, 2009 at 04:33 PM.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 2,699
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
You all know I love to feed the debate.....I've been running a 160* t-stat for five years. Over 160,000 miles at over 50 miles a day. The temps run roughly 172-178 on the highway and in heavy south Florida traffic, sometime get up to 200*.(regular traffic...in the 180's).
Guess we have moved on....the old thermostat debate used to generate over 100 posts and much hate mail. Time for the SeaFoam debate?????
Guess we have moved on....the old thermostat debate used to generate over 100 posts and much hate mail. Time for the SeaFoam debate?????
I've run a 160 for more than 5 years and I ain't gonna change now. The highest temp I have seen is 210 waiting in bumper to bumper traffic waiting to get in to Bloomington Gold, AND I have the air on & the windows up
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 7
From: Chewelah Wa
I had tons of overheating problems with my car back-in-the-day and tried everything. In my opinion, 220-230 degrees is just too hot, even though that is the temp range dialed in by GM, which I think was for emission purposes. I run a 185 stat with 2 small (1/8") holes (for air bubbles) and have a adjustable fan switch that comes on at 205. My car now runs at 190 degrees with a high of 205 when I am romping on it and it seems to run alot better than when it ran hot all the time. I do believe my radiator fins being dirty caused the overheating on hot days. Without a doubt, a 160 stat would be wide open all the time except on colder days, then you would have weak heat and excessive engine wear. A motor needs to be running 180 plus IMHO.
