[Z06] Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (180)
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 101
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From: CABOT AR
Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (180)
The weathers getting a little cooler now, mid eighties. Nice to roll down the windows for a change, get a little AIR and hear the exhaust note . Crusin' around town doing a few errands, sittin' at a stop light. Look down at my engine temp guage....WOW 224 degrees. Just like my ole' ZR1 days I had to turn on the A/C to kick on the 2ndarey fan. Sur' enough down she goes to a more reasonable 195 degrees. Back in my C4 days we "burnt" chips for to turn FANS on sooner. Even further back in good ole' Mid-Year big block days you would just "grin n' bare-it" when you saw your temp needle go into the RED ZONE. Anyway back to business...I have a '03 Z and saw an ad in one of the MO Catalogs for a 175 degree High Flo Thermostat with housing $70. Claims to ACTIVATE your cooling fans 17 degrees sooner than the stock 192 degree thermostate. I though the computer did the controlling not the Therm. I also thought my secondary fan would come on before my water temp got to 225 degrees without me having to activating it by turning on the A/C. Any comments from our knowledgable Forum gearheads is certainly welcome.
Thankx,
Decal~DAVE
:confused:
Thankx,
Decal~DAVE
:confused:
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,271
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (dotdaveh)
The thermostat controls the MINIMUM operating temperature. Maximum is contolled by the fan programming. Installing a colder thermostat will have no effect on when the fan comes on to cool it down from maximum.
Without the A/C on the fans do not engage until about 227. With the A/C on the fan will run based on A/C needs and the engine will usually run cooler in warm weather than with the A/C off.
There is no harm in letting the temp. get up to the fan engagement temperature.
Duke
Without the A/C on the fans do not engage until about 227. With the A/C on the fan will run based on A/C needs and the engine will usually run cooler in warm weather than with the A/C off.
There is no harm in letting the temp. get up to the fan engagement temperature.
Duke
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 121
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From: SI NY
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (SWCDuke)
:iagree:
tstat has no control as to when the fans turn on. The tstat is nothing more than a temperature "gate". At a certain temp (187 in the C5's) the gate opens to let coolant thru. Although there is nothing wrong with the stock setting as to when the fans turn on @225-227, it does rob the car of a few horses.
My 2 cents worth, Change to a 172 or 178 tstat and buy a fan controller. It's installation is easy, no wires need to be cut and if you don't like it, it is reversible. I know some forum members have the PCM turn on the fans sooner when they go to a tuner and that's cool too!
Only downside I see with that is that the temp at which the fans go on is fixed. With the controller it can be adjusted with the turn of a screw.
Another mod you can consider to lower operating temps (if you don't live in Alaska or the Antarctic) is the TB by pass. On MY car it reduced around 8-10 degrees. Good Luck :auto:
[Modified by 2002 Z06, 10:40 PM 9/6/2003]
tstat has no control as to when the fans turn on. The tstat is nothing more than a temperature "gate". At a certain temp (187 in the C5's) the gate opens to let coolant thru. Although there is nothing wrong with the stock setting as to when the fans turn on @225-227, it does rob the car of a few horses.
My 2 cents worth, Change to a 172 or 178 tstat and buy a fan controller. It's installation is easy, no wires need to be cut and if you don't like it, it is reversible. I know some forum members have the PCM turn on the fans sooner when they go to a tuner and that's cool too!
Only downside I see with that is that the temp at which the fans go on is fixed. With the controller it can be adjusted with the turn of a screw.
Another mod you can consider to lower operating temps (if you don't live in Alaska or the Antarctic) is the TB by pass. On MY car it reduced around 8-10 degrees. Good Luck :auto:
[Modified by 2002 Z06, 10:40 PM 9/6/2003]
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 270
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From: granada hills california
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (dotdaveh)
Just get the fan control then you can set your desired operating temp. There really is no need to change thermostat you can get temp down to 210 on a hot day with ac on with just fan settings. :mad
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,684
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (bpzo6)
You can get a fan controller (or use LS1Edit) and reprogram the fans to come on just as the stock stat opens (190 I believe, someone correct me if wrong) and that will drop your engine (and oil) temps nicely - about 10-15 degree's). I put in a 170 stat and drive in very hot conditions and rarely see water temps above 180 degree's, and my oil temp stays in the 190 - 200 range.
If you don't track the car my vote would be to leave the stat and fan controls where they are, otherwise mod away :)
The higher temps allow the engine to burn more efficiently and keep emissions down, that is why the general does it. Higher engine temps in of themselves do not cost you power.
Just my .02
Les :cheers:
If you don't track the car my vote would be to leave the stat and fan controls where they are, otherwise mod away :)
The higher temps allow the engine to burn more efficiently and keep emissions down, that is why the general does it. Higher engine temps in of themselves do not cost you power.
Just my .02
Les :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 270
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From: granada hills california
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (dotdaveh)
I would never have changed my fan setting exept I was getting in the 240,s. I did change the thermostat and put in a fan controller, never get above 210 on the hottest day with ac pumping. :D
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 397
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From: Gurnee IL
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (SQEZN BI)
I went with a 178º tstat and then had my fan settings changed during an LS1edit tune. My car consistently runs between 183º and 195º. Much cooler than stock. I'm glad that I made the change. I went with a 178º tstat because I'm from the Chicago area. I didn't want to go too cold around here.
Bob
Bob
Melting Slicks
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From: All Liberals must hang
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Thoughts On Changing Thermostates (Z06_Bob)
I have a 160 deg stat and reprogrammed the fans with my Predator. My extreme operating temp is around 195. Normal driving 175.
