thermostat and fan settings
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
thermostat and fan settings
I want to run my 99 engine between 180 and 190 degrees. My car is a daily driver. I live in San Jose where it rarely gets down to freezing and only has a few days near 100 degrees. What thermostat and fan settings should I use? My engine/intake mods are NGK plugs with Magnecor wires, and planned Halltech Tunnel Ram Intake Cold Air system (they recommend a 175 deg stat).
Lionel
Lionel
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
I have had a couple of diff setups for cooling on my car in the past. The first setup was a stock thermo and Hypertech tuning. The car ran a constant 192/194 no matter what I was doing with it. Second setup is a 160 deg thermo, computer tuning and the Stage II S/C setup. the car now runs between 187 & 205 no matter what I am doing. If I remember correctly, the first fan comes on at 190 and the second comes on at 195. This constant cold temp is very important to the S/C setup as it runs on a diff fuel table than when it is hot.
If you dont have Heads and Cam or S/C. You dont really have to worry about it, but if you choose to spend the money to have your car run in the colder range, it is not going to hurt anything by doing it.
vetterdstr :cheers:
If you dont have Heads and Cam or S/C. You dont really have to worry about it, but if you choose to spend the money to have your car run in the colder range, it is not going to hurt anything by doing it.
vetterdstr :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
To add something to this last Post, you have to keep in mind that the LS1 engine is not like the LT1 in the respect that the LT1 creates more HP when run cold.... The LS1 does not.
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: thermostat and fan settings (vetterdstr)
Without the S/C, would a 160 be too cold? I'm wondering about what it would do to my winter temp. I wouldn't want to run the engine much lower than 180. I was thinking of a 175, 178 or 180 deg stat.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
If you installed the 160 and didnt program the fans, the car would run the same as it does now. You would have to have the fans running 100% of the time to get it to run 180 and it would be tough to do as well as wear your fans out quickly. If I was you, I would leave the stock thermo in the car and have our local tuner lower your fan settings with LS1 edit (tuner edition) so it runs like mine did with the Hypertech.
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: thermostat and fan settings (vetterdstr)
I thought the stock stat was set at 192. How could I run between 180 and 190 with a 192 stat? I suppose I could have the fans set so the engine runs between 195 and 205 and keep the stock. That is cooler than now. If I wanted to run in the 180s, which stat would you think is best?
BTW who is a good tuner in the SJ area?
BTW who is a good tuner in the SJ area?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,199
Likes: 0
From: over ten thousand posts 7/10ths back
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
Aluminum motors like heat in them.
A 190 t-stat is fine.
If you have a cooling problem get a real radiator ( Be-Cool or the like )
A 190 t-stat is fine.
If you have a cooling problem get a real radiator ( Be-Cool or the like )
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: thermostat and fan settings (SHOWTIME!)
I just bought a vinci controller. I plan to leave in the stock thermostat and just bring the fan on/off temps down a bit. I am thinking 205/212 for low and high.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Noble OK
Re: thermostat and fan settings (SHOWTIME!)
I had my fans programmed to come on sooner, I believe they are set at 195/205 the car never goes above 210. I tried a hyper tech 160 thermostat, but took it out when I started smelling fuel like smells in the garage when I brought the car home. :steering: PS If you want the thermostat let me know, $20 plus frieght.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: paducah ky
Re: thermostat and fan settings (Xssesive)
i have a 97 and to me its runs to hot, in stop and go traffic it gets up to 228 degrees,then cools down to around 195 degrees on the road.do you think i have a problem,i am very concerned. the car has only 31,000 miles on it and i have owned it for 3 months,please someone respond as soon as possible
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: clarkston mich
Re: thermostat and fan settings (97 vette)
i have a 97 and to me its runs to hot, in stop and go traffic it gets up to 228 degrees,then cools down to around 195 degrees on the road.do you think i have a problem,i am very concerned. the car has only 31,000 miles on it and i have owned it for 3 months,please someone respond as soon as possible
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: thermostat and fan settings (SHOWTIME!)
I guess CAPN17 uses just water because he thinks it is useful. I use DEXCOOL and water. Most of the liquids in my car are AMSOIL but I wouldn't mind Redline somewhere if it can help and AMSOIL doesn't have an equivalent.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
I understand there has been a lot of debate about the proper operating temp for an LS1. I did not want this thread to open that up again. I was hoping to get some advice on what kind of stat to use and fan settings to run my car at 180-190 degrees. That is the temp range I have decided to run at. I know some people think that is too cold. Some may even think that is too hot. Just humor me please. I want to run in the 180s instead of 190-210 like my car runs now. I was thinking of getting a 175, 178 or 180 stat with my fan settings at fan low on 185 off 180, fan high on 190 off 185. Which stat would work best (maybe the 175 since they start opening early)? Would these fan settings be okay?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Noble OK
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
I know when I had the hypertech 160 temp thermostat in, it stayed at 160 going down the highway when temps were cold outside. So I would think the 180 temp thermostat would be just right to get to the temps you want.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: thermostat and fan settings (lsilva)
You wont get the engine to run at 180 with the 192 thermo. You can get the car to run at 194 which is a good temp for the stock LS1. I will IM you the tuners name here in SJ. :)
vetterdstr :cheers:
vetterdstr :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: thermostat and fan settings (97 vette)
i have a 97 and to me its runs to hot, in stop and go traffic it gets up to 228 degrees,then cools down to around 195 degrees on the road.do you think i have a problem,i am very concerned. the car has only 31,000 miles on it and i have owned it for 3 months,please someone respond as soon as possible
vetterdstr :cheers:
