Red Rag Top

Trying to install a 160 degree thermostat in my 2001 C5 and the thermostat is too big to fit in the water pump. The thermostat assembly is 2" across at its widest point. The opening in the water pump is only about 1 3/4". The stock thermostat assembly is about 1 1/2" across. Double checked the part number and it's the correct part number for a C5 What's wrong????

leadfoot4

What brand is it?

tblu92

Yes GM changes the configuration of the water pump thermo assembly
If you bought your car used chances are the water pump has been already changed using the new configuration --Take the thermo back and get the correct one

PS: remember unless you re-tune your fans to come on earlier to accommodate the lower thermo---your engine will NOT run cooler !!! As the stock fan settings have #1 coming on at 225* and #2 at 235* so even with the 160 the fans are coming on too late to add any additional cooling
I would have the fans set to something like this with a 160
#1 on at 200
#1 off at 197
#2 on at 205
#2 of at 201

My Vette Life

sounds like the wrong one.

romandian

get sum-365-160 for $25 or so.

my car runs at 178° with it. i have the first fan set to 183° and the second to 190°. i never heard the second one comming on.

its possible your temp. will initially be higher, drive the car a few times and it will settle down, mine did..

leadfoot4

If you still have the original style, 2001 water pump, and t'stat housing, I suggest the p/n 5234685, 180* t'stat from PRW. I have one in my car, and it runs at 182* all day long, without messing with any fan settings. I simply put it in, and off I went.....

midnight01

I have a 2001 and the 160 thermostat also has the water neck as part of one unit. It looks like this here as the thermo that did not have the neck attached did not fit my water pump.