I'm going to be installing my Vararam and the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust with X-pipe once I get the vert out of storage. I plan on getting a tune also. How many of you are running a 160 thermostat?

Doug

 

" 160 degree thermostat " is misleading. A 160 degree thermostat actually begins opening at 160 degrees and comes fully open at 175 degrees.

I put a 160 in my 2001 three years ago. My normal operating temperature dropped from 198 degrees to 178 degrees.

Cooler operating temperature increases power.

Roger T : )

 

160 here also. Like above post - mine runs around 175-180. I don't see anythng wrong with that. Have had LS motors now for 11 years and ran them all with a 160. Motors run perfect, no oil burning and plenty of power. But there are those who say that's way too cool. I just don't see any reason to run 230 and oil up to 250 on a hot day.

 

you should also have your fan turn on temp lowered as well. it doesnt make sense to have the water flowing at a lower engine temp and not turn on the fans to help cool it. especially sitting in traffic.

 

You can modify your current thermostat to open at any temperature for less than $1, why buy one.

 

Are there any dynoed gains from running a 160?? Just curious, I know cooler helps power but it would be interesting to see by how much.

 

A cold engine doesn't produce more power. I think someone is confusing this with a cold intake charge: higher oxygen density which is a good thing. For best power and efficiency it's preferable to run an engine with a higher operating temperature. Basic thermodynamics folks. When the mixture is ignited the difference between temperature of the combustion and the chamber will determine how much energy transfers away as heat and how much is left to do useful work like turn the crankshaft. Running any engine below operating temperature will reduce power, lower fuel economy and increase engine wear.

 

I bought one from O'Reilly (best price) and polished it of course.

 

Pretty much what he said.

 

In a perfect world Iwould agree with the previous post--However--Beacause the way the IAT sensor works and it's location on the engine
it ends up reading underhood temps rather than "intake air temps"
The IAT timing dedcts are huge it's not uncommon for the ECM to REMOVE 5-6 * of timing withan IAT of 130* When driving around town the IATtemps will spike to130-150* all the time and the ECM will remove tons of timng--even though the outside temp may be 50* !!
It becomes heat soaked and will take miles of driving to cool it down to close to actual temperatures--Running a cooler thermo helps reduce underhood temps preventing the IAT to get heat soaked and remove uncalled for timing deducts----


PS Most tuners will modify the IAT and ECT timing deduct tables to eliminate these issues

 

It is also a known fact that engines are made to run from the factory hotter than necessary because of emissions reasons. Thats also a reason why the C3s were set retarded from the factory, to run hotter and cleaner.

 

Yes, they will do that in the tune. I think they can also shut off the 1st to 4th shift function!

Doug

 

There are a lot of performance vendors on this forum with very good reputations that say running a 160 does increase HP.

 

I was going to go with a 160* thermostat, that was until Speed Inc (shop thats tuning my car) recomended that its a smart idea not to, and run the stock unit. Thats coming from a shop that has a very good reputation, specializes and has been tuning LS engines for well over a decade.

Also BLK RED, take where you live in concideration. In Minnesota, how hot of weather do you really have to worry about?

 

 

ET wrote in one of his posts that the coolant temp sweet spot is 190 to 200 and the oil temp sweet spot is 200 to 210. That being said I see no advantage to using a 160 degree thermostat unless you are planning to track the car which will drive it up. My .02

 

Everyone has a different opinioin on this---If you see what Nascar does--or any endurance racing series ( not drag racing) They always try to keep the eng as cool as possible---actually run NO thermo- Same for engine oil or trans oil--As cool as possible--
Also---what is the reason manufacturers run them like 200-205* ? Most people say that smog wise--it makes them run cleaner
My opinion is that these new car engines are pretty bullet proof and hard to destroy with onboard computers that adjust or shut them down when an issue developes---Pretty much the only way to hurt an engine badly is to run it out of oil---or get it HOT---sorta go hand in hand--This is the only thing the manuf. have left where the owner can destry an engine so he has to buy a new one !!Otherwise they would never sell any new cars---Going 200-300 K miles on a newer computer controlled car is not uncommon----The closer they can run them on the edge of over heating--the more chance they have of you hurting
it and it won't be a warranty issue ----
(take this last comment with a grain of salt) LOL---

 

I suggest you do some searching for posts by "Evil Twin" who helped develop the C5 and LS1. GM did a lot of testing. Opinions are nice, everyone has one. I prefer to stick with test data myself and he has for years provided the test information. Also, NASCAR motors are rebuilt after a race and are run at 9K RPM, not exactly apples to apples.