160 or 180 stat
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: spring tx
160 or 180 stat
04 z blackwing dyno tune with fans reset. Still reaching 230 240 in summer in traffic. Car is lowered new rad new fluid. Ready to buy stat need final thoughts. 160 or 180 pros and cons..thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,150
Likes: 4,165
From: Kannapolis NC
Opening temperature of your thermostat won't change the maximum temp of your engine. The thermo will already be open, whether it opened at 160 or 180 is of no consequence. You need to find out why it's getting so hot.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: spring tx
Something is not right if your getting to 240. Ususally the front of the radiator is plugged up with debris from the road. These cars are bottom breathers and suck up everything, leaves twigs, plastic bags and small dogs and children. Get under the car and look up into the cavity where the radiator and AC condenser are located. Remove the junk that has collected.Another possibility is that your fans are not coming onto high speed mode. Several relays and fuses are involved in the fan system. Might check them out. Fuses 14, 46 and 49. Relays 43, 44 and 45.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 520
From: Da U.P.
When autocrossing, I noticed the car ran 220-230. As soon as I got home, I checked EFILive's tune repository and found that they don't go to high speed until 230ish, way too hot for my tastes. I plan to install a 180 stat in an attempt to run a smidge more timing. Here are some wear vs oil temp charts.
This is why I never run 160s in anything. A good cooling system should be able to regulate itself at whatever temp (within reason) you want it to, so using a 160 as a bandaid for an overheating engine is not the proper solution. The only application I could even consider for that is an underpowered truck pulling an oversized load up hills so you get a lower starting point but even then, none of that equation is the right way to do things.
This is why I never run 160s in anything. A good cooling system should be able to regulate itself at whatever temp (within reason) you want it to, so using a 160 as a bandaid for an overheating engine is not the proper solution. The only application I could even consider for that is an underpowered truck pulling an oversized load up hills so you get a lower starting point but even then, none of that equation is the right way to do things.
Last edited by Supercharged111; Feb 27, 2012 at 12:10 PM. Reason: Major img tag fail
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: spring tx
When autocrossing, I noticed the car ran 220-230. As soon as I got home, I checked EFILive's tune repository and found that they don't go to high speed until 230ish, way too hot for my tastes. I plan to install a 180 stat in an attempt to run a smidge more timing. Here are some wear vs oil temp charts.
This is why I never run 160s in anything. A good cooling system should be able to regulate itself at whatever temp (within reason) you want it to, so using a 160 as a bandaid for an overheating engine is not the proper solution. The only application I could even consider for that is an underpowered truck pulling an oversized load up hills so you get a lower starting point but even then, none of that equation is the right way to do things.
This is why I never run 160s in anything. A good cooling system should be able to regulate itself at whatever temp (within reason) you want it to, so using a 160 as a bandaid for an overheating engine is not the proper solution. The only application I could even consider for that is an underpowered truck pulling an oversized load up hills so you get a lower starting point but even then, none of that equation is the right way to do things.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Pay particular attention to posts by forum member Evil Twin, who IS a retired GM engineer from the Corvette C5 design team.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
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From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
As others have said, check for debris in the radiator cooling fins. Use water or high pressure air to clean them out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 520
From: Da U.P.
There is a big difference between a 160 and a190... If you want my very educated opinion... and you living in Ontario... you do NOT want to run a 160 stat in the winters of Ontario... this will insure one thing... premature engine failure down thew road.. with a 160 stat and 10degrees F you are guaranteed to have 160 coolant, and 180 oil temp..... anything under 200F for oil will dramatically decrease lubricity... a 160 is fine in the summer time... but when ambient temps approach freezing.. your only asking for trouble... We at GM are so concerned about cold starts we added cold starts to the OLM algorithms because cold engine oil has a dramatic effect on shear and thermal breakdown. You can use that 160 in the summer and when its above freezing and even tune it as long as the oil can get to 200F.. IN the winter you need to put the stock stat back in... that's what I do and it takes me five minutes to make the swap, with less than a pint of coolant loss... although the sweet spot for oil is 210/220F. I wont argue these points in open forum, take it or leave it or contact me in PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Running a colder thermo won't lower coolant temps unless you lower the fan settings as well-the stock thermo is 195* so if the fans come on before that the water isn't circulating yet---A 160 won't make your engine run 160 !!!!!!!!!! depends on the vehicle--On a C5 it will run perfectly between 180-190* with corrected fan settings-Many opinions on the subject of running these engines colder--some say no benefits--But in my experience
it's a grear mod and almost a neccesity---
benefits include
lower enine temps
lower underhood temps
legthens life of all underhood rubber products
prevents the many wires and connectors from melting
low underhood temps prevents FALSE IAT timing deducts
" " " " " ECT timing deducts
lowers trans temps on an A4
it's a grear mod and almost a neccesity---
benefits include
lower enine temps
lower underhood temps
legthens life of all underhood rubber products
prevents the many wires and connectors from melting
low underhood temps prevents FALSE IAT timing deducts
" " " " " ECT timing deducts
lowers trans temps on an A4
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: prescott AZ
Are you running a front spoiler? I have seen some bottom breathers where that was the only problem with them.
Without mentioning names, I think the worse "nonsense" one can post is anything with a nasty attitude. People should be allowed to make mistakes but what makes a great forum is other people being respectful of others (and their mistakes).
Without mentioning names, I think the worse "nonsense" one can post is anything with a nasty attitude. People should be allowed to make mistakes but what makes a great forum is other people being respectful of others (and their mistakes).
Last edited by skeet; Feb 28, 2012 at 11:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by Quicksilver Vert 01
I suggest that you do a forum search on the subject, so you can get up to speed on the subject, before you post your nonsense.
Pay particular attention to posts by forum member Evil Twin, who IS a retired GM engineer from the Corvette C5 design team.
NOBODY likes a smart ***--The forum's use is for anyone with any questions on their cars---no matter how stupid or trivial it may seem to YOU- The forum is NOT a place to stroke your ego----( I would hate to be your wife !!)
No engineers aren't stupid---But in the final analysis--they do what they are TOLD by the GM brass---Running the cars HOT--tends to clean up the emiisions (some think) and---tends to lead to overheating if not watched dilegently--Overheating can lead to catastrohic failures which always leaves the burden resting on the USER and not GM---another way for them to sell you parts or a new car !!!!!!!! IMHO
I suggest that you do a forum search on the subject, so you can get up to speed on the subject, before you post your nonsense.
Pay particular attention to posts by forum member Evil Twin, who IS a retired GM engineer from the Corvette C5 design team.
NOBODY likes a smart ***--The forum's use is for anyone with any questions on their cars---no matter how stupid or trivial it may seem to YOU- The forum is NOT a place to stroke your ego----( I would hate to be your wife !!)
No engineers aren't stupid---But in the final analysis--they do what they are TOLD by the GM brass---Running the cars HOT--tends to clean up the emiisions (some think) and---tends to lead to overheating if not watched dilegently--Overheating can lead to catastrohic failures which always leaves the burden resting on the USER and not GM---another way for them to sell you parts or a new car !!!!!!!! IMHO
Last edited by tblu92; Mar 3, 2012 at 01:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
As others have posted, if your fans are on high and the temp keeps climbing then your system is just plain lacking cooling capacity. You either need a more efficient rad or possibly more airflow.
I mostly agree. The thermostat temperature given is the point it starts to open. It will take 20+ degrees more before it's fully open. The only part where I disagree is that the stock stat is really about a 178 degree unit. It will run a typical stock C5 in the low 190's driving down the highway while it's partly open and regulating the temperature. So, take about 18 degrees off that and you're in the mid to high 170's with the 160 degree stat. In traffic, you're then another 5 higher for the low fan and another 10 higher for the high fan, putting you around 190 for the high fan setting.
What is odd is that I stuck a 180 degree stat in the 350 in another car and it runs right at 180 degrees driving down the road. Not sure if that's a fluke or if the rated temp of that thermostat was different.
Peter
Running a colder thermo won't lower coolant temps unless you lower the fan settings as well-the stock thermo is 195* so if the fans come on before that the water isn't circulating yet---A 160 won't make your engine run 160 !!!!!!!!!! depends on the vehicle--On a C5 it will run perfectly between 180-190* with corrected fan settings-Many opinions on the subject of running these engines colder--some say no benefits--But in my experience
it's a grear mod and almost a neccesity---
benefits include
lower enine temps
lower underhood temps
legthens life of all underhood rubber products
prevents the many wires and connectors from melting
low underhood temps prevents FALSE IAT timing deducts
" " " " " ECT timing deducts
lowers trans temps on an A4
it's a grear mod and almost a neccesity---
benefits include
lower enine temps
lower underhood temps
legthens life of all underhood rubber products
prevents the many wires and connectors from melting
low underhood temps prevents FALSE IAT timing deducts
" " " " " ECT timing deducts
lowers trans temps on an A4
What is odd is that I stuck a 180 degree stat in the 350 in another car and it runs right at 180 degrees driving down the road. Not sure if that's a fluke or if the rated temp of that thermostat was different.
Peter
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: spring tx
Are you running a front spoiler? I have seen some bottom breathers where that was the only problem with them.
Without mentioning names, I think the worse "nonsense" one can post is anything with a nasty attitude. People should be allowed to make mistakes but what makes a great forum is other people being respectful of others (and their mistakes).
Without mentioning names, I think the worse "nonsense" one can post is anything with a nasty attitude. People should be allowed to make mistakes but what makes a great forum is other people being respectful of others (and their mistakes).
