160 Thermostat questio/ problem ?!?!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
I did read the sticky and I'm still not "sold". I know many street rod owners ( myself included) that have changed thermostats endlessly on their rods and the cars still overheat, regardless of the temp stamped on the thermostat! So to me, the proof is in the 'pudding"! I do agree, fans DO made a big difference, both in diameter size and when they turn on!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 804
Likes: 4
Yea, that is why it is confusing though. You could make a great case that a good tuner knows the most about these engines than anyone else because they are able to make changes in all the parameters for performance. AND so many recommend the 160 degree stats.
The engeneer who works on it also has to work with emissions and needs a hotter engine to burn off more waste products, etc.. So can't really say the engeneer would have done it for best performance. He needs to trade some performance for emissions.
The engeneer who works on it also has to work with emissions and needs a hotter engine to burn off more waste products, etc.. So can't really say the engeneer would have done it for best performance. He needs to trade some performance for emissions.
Every engineer's goal it to squeeze the most performance out of the car he can. Unlike your local tuner who caters to a specific clientèle with single focus, the engineer has to reach this goal within specified requirements like safety, reliability and emissions. Maximum performance comes with trade offs most would not be willing to make. Going back to original question, Changing the stat will not lower your operating temperature or prevent it from spiking. The radiators ability to expel the heat is the only factor here. It does this by exchanging heat with air, thus the fans allow it to function when there is no other source of air movement through it. Changing the times when fans go on and off will have the greatest impact on the radiators ability to maintain given temperature. Your C5's temps can be greatly reduced and managed with a factory stat by simply changing the on/off times on the fans. The running temperature of your C5 is a direct part supporting your emission system so no dealer will be willing to change it. Your local tuner or a handheld like the predator is a great way to do that. As always there is a trade off, the sooner the fans come on the more they will be running and sooner they will fail. I run a modified motor and a stock stat with altered temp setting and my temps stay in the 194/204 range. Living in So Cal I newer have issues weather driving in a parade or running hard on the track. And as mentioned in previous threads there in no horsepower to be gained by lowering/changing the stat, only reason for doing it would be to help manage a race bread motor in a street use application.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I did read the sticky and I'm still not "sold". I know many street rod owners ( myself included) that have changed thermostats endlessly on their rods and the cars still overheat, regardless of the temp stamped on the thermostat! So to me, the proof is in the 'pudding"! I do agree, fans DO made a big difference, both in diameter size and when they turn on!
changing the t-stat alone is just part of the modification for true temperature control. A simple toggle switch - click left and one fan comes on, click right and they both come on.
Last edited by warren s; Mar 27, 2009 at 02:34 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Or have them tuned to come on at a lower setting as I did. That, IN CONJUCTION with a 160 degree stat, definitely allows the engine to run cooler. I don't think anyone is saying that a 160 stat, by itself, will miraculously make your engine run cooler. And that's not what I implied by telling you to read the sticky. But to suggest that a 160 stat NEVER helps an engine run cooler is incorrect...
"People changing thermostats to run cooler slays me..."
Last edited by Rossi396; Mar 27, 2009 at 03:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 804
Likes: 4
Going back to the original post, since you already installed 160 stat all you have to do is to reprogram your fan on/off times. Don't know about you but driving around and having to play with switches is to far out for me. And WTH is
anyway?
true temperature control
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
I did read the sticky and I'm still not "sold". I know many street rod owners ( myself included) that have changed thermostats endlessly on their rods and the cars still overheat, regardless of the temp stamped on the thermostat! So to me, the proof is in the 'pudding"! I do agree, fans DO made a big difference, both in diameter size and when they turn on!
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
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From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
I did read the sticky and I'm still not "sold". I know many street rod owners ( myself included) that have changed thermostats endlessly on their rods and the cars still overheat, regardless of the temp stamped on the thermostat! So to me, the proof is in the 'pudding"! I do agree, fans DO made a big difference, both in diameter size and when they turn on!
If you go back and read the post of how my fans are set....my fans are coming ON at 195, and shutting OFF at 185.
If the stock Tstat is closing at 192...what would the fans do in that case?
That's right, they would never shut off once up to temp, even while moving. It's a conflict of components.
Some don't seem to grasp this concept, and simply dismiss lower temp Tstats as being "useless", but they are the ones not understanding how a thermostat functions, as apparently you don't either. `
With the stock Tstat, you can set the fans to run down to about 200, maybe a little less. Try to run them below 195 though, the fans will be running nearly constantly.
That may be fine for most folks, but I prefer to keep mine under 200 at all times, and have successfully done so with the combination of a 160 stat, and fan reprogramming. Trying to do one without the other would have been impossible.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 2
From: St. Louis Mo
The point is...the fans AND Tstat need to work together.
If you go back and read the post of how my fans are set....my fans are coming ON at 195, and shutting OFF at 185.
If the stock Tstat is closing at 192...what would the fans do in that case?
That's right, they would never shut off once up to temp, even while moving. It's a conflict of components.
Some don't seem to grasp this concept, and simply dismiss lower temp Tstats as being "useless", but they are the ones not understanding how a thermostat functions, as apparently you don't either. `
With the stock Tstat, you can set the fans to run down to about 200, maybe a little less. Try to run them below 195 though, the fans will be running nearly constantly.
That may be fine for most folks, but I prefer to keep mine under 200 at all times, and have successfully done so with the combination of a 160 stat, and fan reprogramming. Trying to do one without the other would have been impossible.
If you go back and read the post of how my fans are set....my fans are coming ON at 195, and shutting OFF at 185.
If the stock Tstat is closing at 192...what would the fans do in that case?
That's right, they would never shut off once up to temp, even while moving. It's a conflict of components.
Some don't seem to grasp this concept, and simply dismiss lower temp Tstats as being "useless", but they are the ones not understanding how a thermostat functions, as apparently you don't either. `
With the stock Tstat, you can set the fans to run down to about 200, maybe a little less. Try to run them below 195 though, the fans will be running nearly constantly.
That may be fine for most folks, but I prefer to keep mine under 200 at all times, and have successfully done so with the combination of a 160 stat, and fan reprogramming. Trying to do one without the other would have been impossible.
This is the bottom line! The ones not understanding these Facts, are the ones that make this EASY task so hard to understand, when it isn t hard at all! FWIW- My coolant temps stay around 188-192. 
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
The point is...the fans AND Tstat need to work together.
If you go back and read the post of how my fans are set....my fans are coming ON at 195, and shutting OFF at 185.
If the stock Tstat is closing at 192...what would the fans do in that case?
That's right, they would never shut off once up to temp, even while moving. It's a conflict of components.
Some don't seem to grasp this concept, and simply dismiss lower temp Tstats as being "useless", but they are the ones not understanding how a thermostat functions, as apparently you don't either. `
With the stock Tstat, you can set the fans to run down to about 200, maybe a little less. Try to run them below 195 though, the fans will be running nearly constantly.
That may be fine for most folks, but I prefer to keep mine under 200 at all times, and have successfully done so with the combination of a 160 stat, and fan reprogramming. Trying to do one without the other would have been impossible.
If you go back and read the post of how my fans are set....my fans are coming ON at 195, and shutting OFF at 185.
If the stock Tstat is closing at 192...what would the fans do in that case?
That's right, they would never shut off once up to temp, even while moving. It's a conflict of components.
Some don't seem to grasp this concept, and simply dismiss lower temp Tstats as being "useless", but they are the ones not understanding how a thermostat functions, as apparently you don't either. `
With the stock Tstat, you can set the fans to run down to about 200, maybe a little less. Try to run them below 195 though, the fans will be running nearly constantly.
That may be fine for most folks, but I prefer to keep mine under 200 at all times, and have successfully done so with the combination of a 160 stat, and fan reprogramming. Trying to do one without the other would have been impossible.
Sounds like a good clear description of the issue. I have seen tuners like Charles Cow and others recommend the 160 stat and knew there was something to it.
