160 Thermostat
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
I just checked...there are currently 172 pages of past discussions regarding this much debated topic.
Do a search using "thermostat" as your keywords. Look for replies by member evil twin. He's a retired GM engineer who worked on the Corvette. His replies are most enlightening.
Generally speaking, unless you re-program you fans to supplement the lower temperature thermostat, you're probably wasting your time. It's not a magic bullet for more power or lower temperatures. The LSx motors were designed to run warmer than the old sbc motors of yesteryear.
There are also some negatives in use of a 160 degree thermostat in a stock street car. You should be aware of those.
It's your car to do with as you please.
Do a search using "thermostat" as your keywords. Look for replies by member evil twin. He's a retired GM engineer who worked on the Corvette. His replies are most enlightening.
Generally speaking, unless you re-program you fans to supplement the lower temperature thermostat, you're probably wasting your time. It's not a magic bullet for more power or lower temperatures. The LSx motors were designed to run warmer than the old sbc motors of yesteryear.
There are also some negatives in use of a 160 degree thermostat in a stock street car. You should be aware of those.
It's your car to do with as you please.
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
like said above,but also even if you bring the set temp. for the fans down it only works up to the certain point of outside air temp. Here in Houston on 100 deg humid day you will see 220-225 deg even though the t-stat is 180 and the fans come on around 205... The radiator just cant expel the heat fast enough. Bigger radiator would be an answer-I did it before in my C4.....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Two comments. First, you don't need to buy one, the stock one can be modified to open at any temp you want. Second, a bigger radiator provides more benefit in that the temps will stay closer to the thermostat opening temp allowing you to set the fans lower and keep the engine in a narrow range of temp while still keeping it within an acceptable range for oil as well.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Here is a link. This is actually an "old" modification that a lot of the newer folks in the LS1 community are not aware of.
Link
Link
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
I tried cutting the spring in my stock thermostat to bring my temps down. It did lower them about 8 degrees, but I needed more.
I broke down and got the hypertech 160 and it keeps my temps at 175 degrees while driving. My fans were programmed to come on a bit cooler (at around 200 degrees I believe). I will have to get it tuned again once I finish with my H/C install and will probably lower the fan temps to start at 190.
All this so I can run more timing.
Oh, and its a real easy installaton. Taking the clamp off the radiator hose takes up most of the time (5 minutes). After that, its just 2 screws and you'll need to refill you coolant.
I broke down and got the hypertech 160 and it keeps my temps at 175 degrees while driving. My fans were programmed to come on a bit cooler (at around 200 degrees I believe). I will have to get it tuned again once I finish with my H/C install and will probably lower the fan temps to start at 190.
All this so I can run more timing.
Oh, and its a real easy installaton. Taking the clamp off the radiator hose takes up most of the time (5 minutes). After that, its just 2 screws and you'll need to refill you coolant.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
I just checked...there are currently 172 pages of past discussions regarding this much debated topic.
Do a search using "thermostat" as your keywords. Look for replies by member evil twin. He's a retired GM engineer who worked on the Corvette. His replies are most enlightening.
Generally speaking, unless you re-program you fans to supplement the lower temperature thermostat, you're probably wasting your time. It's not a magic bullet for more power or lower temperatures. The LSx motors were designed to run warmer than the old sbc motors of yesteryear.
There are also some negatives in use of a 160 degree thermostat in a stock street car. You should be aware of those.
It's your car to do with as you please.
Do a search using "thermostat" as your keywords. Look for replies by member evil twin. He's a retired GM engineer who worked on the Corvette. His replies are most enlightening.
Generally speaking, unless you re-program you fans to supplement the lower temperature thermostat, you're probably wasting your time. It's not a magic bullet for more power or lower temperatures. The LSx motors were designed to run warmer than the old sbc motors of yesteryear.
There are also some negatives in use of a 160 degree thermostat in a stock street car. You should be aware of those.
It's your car to do with as you please.
There's enough reading material on this one to carry you through the long weekend.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
If you dont drive you car in the cold, a 160 therm with a manual fan control switch used to trun on either the low and high speed fans (see my website under C5 mods) can allow a healthy stock cooling system to keep the indicated coolent temps way below 200 on a 100 degree day. (With no foward motion)
This is also a great mod to use at the track to keep the temp down before a pass.
In the winter, a 160 therm may keep the temp below 170 during driving (non stop and go traffic) and some think the oil will not get hot enough to evaporate any condensation in the engine oil.
This is also a great mod to use at the track to keep the temp down before a pass.
In the winter, a 160 therm may keep the temp below 170 during driving (non stop and go traffic) and some think the oil will not get hot enough to evaporate any condensation in the engine oil.