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Quick thermostat question

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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 05:15 PM
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Default Quick thermostat question

Replacing the water pump and I was wondering if it would be ok to use the 160 thermostat that I have now? It's only about 2 years old. Or should i break down and buy a new one?
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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by drewSS
Replacing the water pump and I was wondering if it would be ok to use the 160 thermostat that I have now? It's only about 2 years old. Or should i break down and buy a new one?
Throw it in a pot of boiling water with a thermometer. If it opens when it's supposed to you're good to go.

Just FYI; the design of the the thermostat changed for 2004 so make sure it'll fit the waterpump you buy...
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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 05:44 PM
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Thanks!
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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 09:39 PM
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Some guys in my Vette Club went to the Mid America Motorworks September 17, 2011 and according to the C5 Notes from Paul Koerner Seminar, 160 degree stat is not recommended. He said:

Temperature range on a C5 is 195-235. Do not replace the temperature sending unit with a cooler one (190 degree sending unit is normal) Replacing the correct temperature sending unit with a cooler one will not let engine warm to normal operating temps and will cause carbon deposits which would normally be burned off.

I know a lot of folks do change out to the 160 so to each his own. I guess a few wot's will take care of the carbon deposits, huh????

If you are interested in the notes from the seminar you can see them here:

http://northwestarkansascorvetteclub...es-Sep2011.pdf

scroll down to the bottom of page 2 and that is where the notes from the seminar start.
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Old Nov 9, 2011 | 05:27 AM
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Mine opens at around 180 and my motor is not heating enough now that cooler weather has hit. I don't have time to swap the thermostat now so I only drive the car on the warmer days. I think the 160 is too cold for this time of year in NJ.
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Old Nov 9, 2011 | 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Mine opens at around 180 and my motor is not heating enough now that cooler weather has hit. I don't have time to swap the thermostat now so I only drive the car on the warmer days. I think the 160 is too cold for this time of year in NJ.
AS I have said many Many times here on this forum and have explained why. Changing a stat takes five minutes, with the loss of less than a pint of coolant.. a 160 stat is way too cold in weather that see freezing temps. I change mine out twice a year..
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Old Dec 2, 2011 | 03:32 AM
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I've been running the 160 thermostat and I have raised my fan temps but I'm still getting big swings in temps. I can get up to 190 idle but moving down the road it will drop to 176-178. I'm going to try a 180 to if this will help hold my temps higher and stop the large swings.

I would like to see water temps hold @ 190 and get oil temp up to 200.

Anyone else running a 180?
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Old Dec 2, 2011 | 07:58 AM
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I started with 160 & have since moved to 180, could not get the oil hot enough from a tuning perspective.
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Originally Posted by CTD
I started with 160 & have since moved to 180, could not get the oil hot enough from a tuning perspective.
Do a sreach there are tuners on here that swear on pulling dyno runs at a oil temp of 100 to 110 degrees don't know why but the cars are doing fine and there in the higher hp range off 500+whp. My not a tuner or even know what the effects will do to your engine but it doesn't seem to hurt it. i'm running 160 because it so hot in the summer time in the cockpit by my legs wish there was same kind of venting there to suck that heat out. In the winter i could feel the heat through the vents wen the needle begins to move and i don't get on it in winter because off traction so the engine wont see high rpm's. Have fun
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