To hot for me, help!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Farmington Hills MI
To hot for me, help!
I want to lower my temp. before the cruising season starts. She is just to hot on long drives at highway speeds, what thermostat is the best or are they all the same. Is this even necessary?
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Re: To hot for me, help! (Blackvette)
Your factory thermostat opens at about 190 which is optimum for your LS1 engine's fuel economy and emissions control. Crusing down the highway in summer, it will not matter if you have a 170 or a 190 thermostat in your car simce the "normal" coolant temperature should be in the 200 degree range.
If you want it to run cooler, then you will have to replace your factory radiator with an aftermarket heavy duty radiator at a cost of $450 to $900. The HD radiator will remove more heat from the circulating coolant and your car should run about 5 to 10 degrees above the opening temperature of your thermostat. A lower degree rated thermostat will not help your car to run cooler in summer temperatures, unless you have a big enough radiator to remove all the heat generated by your engine at the opening temperature of your thermostat. :cool:
If you want it to run cooler, then you will have to replace your factory radiator with an aftermarket heavy duty radiator at a cost of $450 to $900. The HD radiator will remove more heat from the circulating coolant and your car should run about 5 to 10 degrees above the opening temperature of your thermostat. A lower degree rated thermostat will not help your car to run cooler in summer temperatures, unless you have a big enough radiator to remove all the heat generated by your engine at the opening temperature of your thermostat. :cool:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,299
Likes: 33
From: Houston Texas
Re: To hot for me, help! (Jim 47)
Actually, you could buy a fan controller switch or get your PCM reprogrammed so that the fans come on earlier. A thermostat won't do anything to really reduce the temp. until your fans come on earlier.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,827
Likes: 352
From: Albuquerque NM
Re: To hot for me, help! (Jim 47)
Your factory thermostat keeps the engine too hot for optimum horsepower or gas mileage. It is set for emissions, period. Lowering the coolant temp will lower the head's "hot spots" which cause detonation. When the knock sensors detect detonation they pull back timing, lowering your engine's ability to make HP. You then have to push the gas pedal more to get the same HP to achieve the same speed. Use a Hypertech 160 thermostat, it will keep the coolant temp in the 170's when it's hot out (with revised fan settings), and when it's cold. Some others work OK when it's hot but not when it cools off (the 172-178 unit is junk). Unless you are racing, with a heavily modified engine the factory radiator is entirely adequate. :chevy
