Thermostat Temp in CA ???
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 60
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From: Santa Maria CA
Thermostat Temp in CA ???
Gotta change my coolant soon so I want to change the stock 190 thermostat with one with a lower temperature. What would work well in CA? Don't have to deal with the really low temps. I'm leaning toward a 170 deg. Any recommendations on what type??? Also, what mix of Dexcool and H2O should I use in CA? :confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,761
Likes: 1
From: Irvine CA
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (99 MagRedVette)
I have a 180 tstat and reprogrammed fan to achieve 185-189 normal operating temp. I think 170 is still fine but what really does the trick is the making the fan turn on earlier.
I am running Redline Water Wetter and no Dexcool on my car right now and it runs fine.
Also, check your radiator for trapped debris under the shroud whenever you raise the car for regular maintenance. Mine had tons of leaves and dirt such that the temp was climbing to 192 inspite of my new setup. After cleaning, my temps were down to where it should be.
I am running Redline Water Wetter and no Dexcool on my car right now and it runs fine.
Also, check your radiator for trapped debris under the shroud whenever you raise the car for regular maintenance. Mine had tons of leaves and dirt such that the temp was climbing to 192 inspite of my new setup. After cleaning, my temps were down to where it should be.
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 120
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Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (MikeV)
Living in Fl I have the same problem. I take some short trips so I want the engine to climb to 195 fast however, I want to turn the fans on earlier to keep the temps in from climbing above 220.
Is the reprograming of the fan turn on temp something you can do yourself or does it take special equipment. If special equipment is required who is recommended in the Orlando area.......many thanks Don :nopity
Is the reprograming of the fan turn on temp something you can do yourself or does it take special equipment. If special equipment is required who is recommended in the Orlando area.......many thanks Don :nopity
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,840
Likes: 301
From: Bonita CA
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (99 MagRedVette)
Don't buy a new thermostat, it's a waste of money. Just install a 15 cent washer as described in Chevy LS1/LS6 Performance book by HP Books. ISBN: 1-55788-407-2. Then go out and get the fans re-programmed, that's a must.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,761
Likes: 1
From: Irvine CA
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (Don Meyer)
Is the reprograming of the fan turn on temp something you can do yourself or does it take special equipment. If special equipment is required who is recommended in the Orlando area.......many thanks Don :nopity
1) Install a manual fan controller. These are available in a "packaged deal" with a t-stat to save you some cash. Fairly easy to do, just gotta tuck the wires neatly.
2) Have it reprogrammed using LS1Edit, Predator, Hypertech PP III, etc. I went with this route.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Naples Fl
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (philipswanson)
Phillip, can you submit the text from the book you are refering to? Where does the washer go and will it work on a 2000 C-5? I know there is a posting here some where on how to install a Hayden fan controllrer that is available at most parts stores. The two together could be a low buck alternative to the $200+ kits that are supposed to do the same thing :steering:
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 270
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From: granada hills california
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (99 MagRedVette)
If you put in a 170 and do not adjust fan perimeters you will see no change in engine temperature once the car warms up completely. Cooler running motors do not make more horsepower, heat makes horsepower. You want a motor to be at its optimal temperature with a cool intake charge. A 170 thermostat is wide open at optimal engine temp and so is a 190. I live in C.A and with a.c. my z was getting up to 220+ in the summer. I wanted to cool her down a little so I got a fan control wired it in changed my coolant and put a 180 stat shooting for temps down tward 190 195 let the car reach 190 on gauge set fans to come on at 190 (high fans) and i was good to go. If i were to leave fans alone my z would still get to 210 before they came on regardless of what stat i had. In traffic you will still get just as hot unless you change fan settings. Now I get max 205 degrees on a 100+ degreee day with a.c. pumping in traffic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,133
Likes: 144
From: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (Alex D)
Uuhhhmmmm ..... the stock thermostat on the C5 is a 180F thermostat and NOT a 190F !!!
On page 6-74 of my Owner's Manual it states that the thermostat starts to open at 187 degrees. My 2000 has always run right at 192 degrees. I put in a 178 degree thermostat, but as stated above, it does nothing to lower the temperature unless you have the fans working...and I don't see a need to wear out the fan motors.
I don't really have much of a problem unless stuck in traffic during really hot days. Even then the fans will normally keep the temp down but it could rise to 225 before the fans keep it cool. Using the air conditioner can help keep the temp down too.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco CA
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (99 MagRedVette)
According to the service manual, the stock thermostat should begin to open by 87* C (188* F) and should be fully open by 97* C (206* F).
I run a 160* F thermostat and temperatures while driving run from as low as 174 (sometimes less in real cold weather) to about 185 when the fans start to run because they were programmed to do so. Without reprogramming your fans, your engine will run lower because of the lower thermostat if you are cruising and the weather is cold to mild. As the engine starts to heat up, because of stop and go traffic, outside air temp or aggressive driving then you engine temp will continue to rise until it gets to where your engine temps are stock unless you reprogram your fans to come on earlier.
It is recommended to run a 50/50 mix of Dexcool or equivalent :cheers:
I run a 160* F thermostat and temperatures while driving run from as low as 174 (sometimes less in real cold weather) to about 185 when the fans start to run because they were programmed to do so. Without reprogramming your fans, your engine will run lower because of the lower thermostat if you are cruising and the weather is cold to mild. As the engine starts to heat up, because of stop and go traffic, outside air temp or aggressive driving then you engine temp will continue to rise until it gets to where your engine temps are stock unless you reprogram your fans to come on earlier.
It is recommended to run a 50/50 mix of Dexcool or equivalent :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 270
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From: granada hills california
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (Alex D)
I never said that my z had a 190 stat in it, actually i had no idea what was in there i changed it as i usually do with the coolant and decided to put in a 180 which i checked before i installed it. My problem had nothing to do with the thermostat , my fan settings were making the car stay around 225+ ,.im not sure what the stock settings are but i wanted to set them to keep the temp down. My feet were getting hot through the floor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,203
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From: Grants Pass OR
Re: Thermostat Temp in CA ??? (99 MagRedVette)
My O3 came with a 190 stat and I had a 180 put in and it did little to lower the temperature at freeway speeds.. maybe 5 maybe 6 degrees. I put a 160 stat in and it lowere it down into the low 170's at freeway speeds, which I thought was a little on the cool side. Then, I had a 170 stat installed and it keeps me in the low to mid 180's, which I think is just right. At slow speeds, I kick on the airconditioning to turn the fans on to cool the engine. We have a cruise night in which we cruise pretty slow down Grand. With the air on, I run right at 190 in slow and go slower cruising.
I agree that if you want speed, you want heat. Having said that, heat is a natural enemy of the engine, which shortens its life.
Having those fans on is much more important than trying to control the lower temperature at high speeds.
My 2 cents.
Dan
I agree that if you want speed, you want heat. Having said that, heat is a natural enemy of the engine, which shortens its life.
Having those fans on is much more important than trying to control the lower temperature at high speeds.
My 2 cents.
Dan
