160 degree thermostat???
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Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
There was a thread on this not too long ago. Seemed like the general feeling was that perhaps a 160 was too cool for the car and that a little warmer temp was better. Do a search and see if you can find the original thread.
Safety Car
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From: North Royalton, OH
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Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
It won't do anything for you unless you also change the temps at which your fans come on (for anything other than highway driving). I haven't seen anyone actually post figures on performance gains (or losses) from using colder thermostats, though I have always understood that colder engines run "better". I don't know enough about the LS1 to make that determination. I am running a 160 thermo and my fans come on at a lower temperature. My engine rarely gets above 190°, and runs a constant 171° on the highway. No issues with the heater, etc. even in this freezing cold weather in Cleveland. I haven't noticed any real benefit to this set-up, only cooler temps. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: Woodbridge Virginia
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (BSiegPaint)
Yeah I was told by the Chevrolet mechanic 160 is the way to go. He said bottom line performance or not, the cooler your engine runs, the longer it will live. What program did you use to change your fans? And what do you have them set to? I think they are set to 230 degrees from factory. Ive never had a car in my life that ran that hot.
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
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Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
the 160 is too cold for the winter... but the 160 is great for the summer... I change mine from the stock 190 to the 160..in the spring... takes me five minutes to make the swap... I also have a vinci fan controler to adjust my fan settings..
Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: Woodbridge Virginia
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (Evil-Twin)
Ok so lets say I put in the 170 degree... I looked at the Vinci fan controller and I like it. What would I want to set my fans at? Im thinkin like 180?? And has anyone tried that little hot water bypass thing for 20 bukcs to make the hot water flow away from the throttle body to keep lower air temps??
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From: Cape Coral FL
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
Ok so lets say I put in the 170 degree... I looked at the Vinci fan controller and I like it. What would I want to set my fans at? Im thinkin like 180?? And has anyone tried that little hot water bypass thing for 20 bukcs to make the hot water flow away from the throttle body to keep lower air temps??
I have the coolant bypass installed. It doesn't do anything as far as I can tell, and in the winter you probably want to keep your TB warm to keep it from icing in cold wet weather. Again, you might want to put this in in the spring when you change to a colder thermostat. :steering:
[Modified by ArKay99, 11:42 AM 1/7/2004]
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (ArKay99)
Have 178 stat , Vinci Controller which I actually didn't need as my tuner reset fans with software. 1st fan on at 191 off at 183. 2nd fan on at 204 off at 193. Car runs at about 183 summer and 178 Detroit winter.
Fred K.
Fred K.
Melting Slicks
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From: Northville Michigan
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
DelMonteZ06,
I have a 160 degree F thermostat in my Z06. I had my engine tuner - Detroit Speedworks - set my cooling fans to come on at 185 degrees F.
My Z06 runs down the road at about 172 degrees F with the 160 degree F thermostat. If you drive your car in the winter, then the 160 degree F thermostat is too cool. It you store your Z06 over the winter, its the right thermostat.
Good Luck
[Modified by Pumba, 5:40 PM 1/7/2004]
I have a 160 degree F thermostat in my Z06. I had my engine tuner - Detroit Speedworks - set my cooling fans to come on at 185 degrees F.
My Z06 runs down the road at about 172 degrees F with the 160 degree F thermostat. If you drive your car in the winter, then the 160 degree F thermostat is too cool. It you store your Z06 over the winter, its the right thermostat.
Good Luck
[Modified by Pumba, 5:40 PM 1/7/2004]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 180
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From: Woodbridge Virginia
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (Pumba)
Ok...well what I gather is... I drive my car in the winter seldomly but I do. Im thinking I go with a 170 thermostat, set the fans to come on at 190 off at 180. This "I think" with do ok in the winter and summer. It will still be running 40 or more degrees cooler than normal in traffic. And that will put my mind at ease knowing its running much cooler. I hope I am right in this decision. Thank you all for your help.
Oh yeah...and that vinci controller... do you permanetely mount it in your car? Or do you just hook it up for 1 time use?
[Modified by DelMonteZO6, 10:52 PM 1/7/2004]
Oh yeah...and that vinci controller... do you permanetely mount it in your car? Or do you just hook it up for 1 time use?
[Modified by DelMonteZO6, 10:52 PM 1/7/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Camden County NJ
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
160 is too cold for the fall and winters! I asked ECS at what temp does your oil have to reach to properly protect your motor and the answer was 150* anything lower than your asking for problems if you run it hard. I was driving around for 20 min in 40* temps (in Sept) with my oil under 150* with the 160* stat. That's too long! Personally IMOP I wouldn't go lower than a 178*. I currently have a 180* stat in there now and that has worked out fine. Summer time I plan to put the 160* back in.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Nashville TN
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (BT-01-vette)
I put in a 180 degree thermostat and it was the same as the stock one. Many others have found this to be true -- even with the 172 degree stats. If you buy one then before you install it check it in hot water. :yesnod:
I left it in and set my fans to come on a bit sooner with my Hypertech. It now runs at 192 degrees (coolant temp.). It never runs above 208. A GM mechanic told me that was about optimum! ( No two will tell you the same thing.)
:rolleyes:
I left it in and set my fans to come on a bit sooner with my Hypertech. It now runs at 192 degrees (coolant temp.). It never runs above 208. A GM mechanic told me that was about optimum! ( No two will tell you the same thing.)
:rolleyes:
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: wilmington de
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
i installed the 160 years ago on my vette, my girlfriend had the same year vette, it took a lot longer for the interior to get warm in the winter compared to hers
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Naples Fl
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (FKING1)
How much does a vinci controller go for and where do I get one? Does it do both fans or just one? Where is the best place to get the 160 deg thermostat. We dont worry much about the cool air down here unless it stops coming out of the dashboard :lol:
Safety Car
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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (angryfly)
Bought my Vinci from West Coast Corvettes but Ecklers also sell for $250. You do not have to butcher the wiring as the unit plugs in to the factory connectors. think it controls only one fan but not sure. I agree that it is much cheaper to have someone reprogram the fans. I wasted $$.
Fred K.
Fred K.
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
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Re: 160 degree thermostat??? (DelMonteZO6)
It is so cold outside today , that when I took a wizz outside I had to break it off to zip up my fly... the wizz had frozen to my peeper... :blueangel: :) :reddevil
You do Not want to have a 160 in your car on a day like this.... -16 in Syracuse NY today.. and thats NOT the wind chill,,,
You do Not want to have a 160 in your car on a day like this.... -16 in Syracuse NY today.. and thats NOT the wind chill,,,