Heat and Stat question

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Dec 31, 2008 | 01:58 AM

SearayC5

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Burning Brakes

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From: Syracuse New York

Heat and Stat question

If I run a 160 degree stat in the winter, will I still be able to turn on my heat and feel warmth? This is when cruising down the highway at a constant speed in potentially 20 degree temperatures.

Dec 31, 2008 | 08:04 AM

vettenuts

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From: At the beach in little Rhody

I would say your car will be running at too low a temp and heat should be the least of your worries. Have you read any of Evil Twin's (prior GM engineer) discussions from a few years ago when they tested C5's running at lower temps? Do a search on "sweet spot" and look for his posts. Interesting reading and you may want to consider swapping in the stock stat for the winter.

Dec 31, 2008 | 09:30 AM

TryNkeepUp

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From: Palm Coast, FL

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12

Sorry vettenuts, gotta disagree completely - I've been running a 160 stat since I first got the car - granted I am downstate NY, but we get 5 degree days too. I've never once had any issues with the car not heating up properly or having the coolant run too cold and I've always had heat. That was both in its stock form and its modded form.

Dec 31, 2008 | 12:42 PM

hotwheels57

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From: Not on either liberal coast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearayC5

If I run a 160 degree stat in the winter, will I still be able to turn on my heat and feel warmth? This is when cruising down the highway at a constant speed in potentially 20 degree temperatures.

My experience with a lower thermostat is not with a Corvette. It's with three high horsepower GMPP crate motors in modified frame off tri five Chevys. I installed 160 thermostats thinking I could lower peak operating temperatures in AZ summers.
Not only did the thermostats alone fail to lower the temperatures in the summer, but during the colder temperatures the heaters did not feel as warm. Two of the cars had after market heating/air conditioning systems, so that wasn't a factor.
What the lower operating temperatures did to my oil is another debate.
For what it's worth...

Last edited by hotwheels57; Dec 31, 2008 at 12:47 PM.

Dec 31, 2008 | 02:00 PM

Quicksilver Vert 01

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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL

St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16

Quote:

Originally Posted by TryNkeepUp

I've been running a 160 stat since I first got the car I've never once had any issues with the car not heating up properly or having the coolant run too cold and I've always had heat.

Sure you might have adequate heat in the winter, but running with coolant temperatures below 170 degrees is not good for the engine.

I'm with vettenuts on this one.

Dec 31, 2008 | 02:49 PM

vettenuts

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From: At the beach in little Rhody

Did a search and came up with one post by Evil Twin that pretty much sums it up. I hope he doesn't mind that I copied his post. He worked on the C5 development program for those that are not familiar with him.

"Running at 160 in the winter is a NO No with an LS1/6. Thats why I run a 190 in the winter with stock fan settings. I have seen the damage caused by too cold of engine temps. The sweet spot on an LS1/6 is 190 coolant and 210 for oil temp. This allows for proper lubricity of the oil, correct bearing clearances, and positive oil flow.
Keeping a C5 in the sweet spot is difficult in the summer time. Running at 160 in the winter is disaster long term. Bearing wear, carbon build up, ping, knock retard, poor performance, reduced gas mileage."

Dec 31, 2008 | 07:01 PM

Bill Dearborn

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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)

You may have enough heat to run the heater but the oil temp will be too low. On a long run across the Thruway you might see coolant temps less than 160. I would leave the stock stat in. Even in the summer the temps you see are not damaging or really causing any reduction in power.

Bill

Dec 31, 2008 | 09:52 PM

AFTRBRNR

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From: Wilmington NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearayC5

If I run a 160 degree stat in the winter, will I still be able to turn on my heat and feel warmth? This is when cruising down the highway at a constant speed in potentially 20 degree temperatures.

I run a 160 degree stat in my LS2 powered C5 and it runs consistant at 178. If 178 degrees through your heater core isn't warm enough for you...then your answer would be no.

As far as the engine...I've never seen it less than 176 running temp. My oil is always around 205-215 and tranny fluid is the same as the coolant. I have driven the car through Syracuse in a snow storm before and was still good to go. I am originally from an hour to your east in the Herkimer/Little Falls area.

A 160 will work but I think they make them a little bit higher; that would be your safe bet.

Last edited by AFTRBRNR; Dec 31, 2008 at 09:57 PM.