Thermostat
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thermostat
I have an 03 almost stock convertble. I installed the MGW shifter (great advice on that from here) also did the anti-venom mod and cold air induction kit. I want to know if putting a lower temp thermostat will help. It seems to me that the car is at 220 + when I hit any traffic. Any advice would be appreciated. Any tips on power adders would also be appreciated. I'm considering a Borla exhaust as the next step.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
It takes some getting use to, but those are normal temps for the ls1. On an older Chevy it would raise concern. But these are built that way. You can have the fans tuned to turn on at a lower temp along with a lower temp thermo. That would keep it cooler all around. But if you have emissions in your area, don't mess with it. The car will fail the warm up portion of the test.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
A lot of people do stuff just because they can, and now feel their car is better , more special , because they changed something away from stock.
I wouldn't change a thermostat unless I had made engine changes that indicated a need. And I am not advanced enough to want to get involved at that level of ownership.
I would work on the performance of the system before changing the engineering. On my 03 replacing the radiator lowered the everyday temps. Not that I was on top of things, the plastic inlet structure cracked, and that gave me the unexpected insight into cooling performance.
I do intend to get some water wetter, I lost that addition with the radiator work, and It did have a cooling effect.
I wouldn't change a thermostat unless I had made engine changes that indicated a need. And I am not advanced enough to want to get involved at that level of ownership.
I would work on the performance of the system before changing the engineering. On my 03 replacing the radiator lowered the everyday temps. Not that I was on top of things, the plastic inlet structure cracked, and that gave me the unexpected insight into cooling performance.
I do intend to get some water wetter, I lost that addition with the radiator work, and It did have a cooling effect.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,223
Likes: 4,201
From: Kannapolis NC
I recently bought an 04 that ran around 195 in traffic on a hot day, but when I stopped at idle or in slow traffic it would start to climb. Turning on the a/c should normally drive the fans on and cool it down. This wasn't happening. Turns out the fans weren't coming on at all. There was a 30 amp fuse in the underhood fuse block that was blown. Replaced the fuse, now the temps stay pretty much the same in traffic as on the road when I have the a/c on and I can hear the fans cut on at idle.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I appreciate the answers. I will definetly check that the fans operate as designed. I would feel like an idiot if I failed to check and found a blown fuse. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best. Thanks all.
