Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 22, 2004 | 07:41 AM

Paul4137

Thread Starter

Pro

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 720

Likes: 0

From: TEWKSBURY MA

Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help

Is it worth changing? Do you have to do anything else like modify computer? Does it realy make car faster? Is 160 better? Please Help

Apr 22, 2004 | 08:22 AM

fast2000vette

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 750

Likes: 0

From: Goodyear AZ

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Paul4137)

I put in a 160 and the car runs at 170 so in my opinion if you are going to do it might as well go with the 160. BTW that is with the car moving once you stop it climbs fast past 180 and then back down to 170 after you get rolling again. If you want to keep your temp low, you will have to reset when your cooling fans come on. Is it worth it you ask? YES I think running at 190 is just too hot.
:seeya

Apr 22, 2004 | 08:29 AM

neile

Racer

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 344

Likes: 0

From: Fremont CA

CI 3-5-8 Veteran

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Paul4137)

IMHO the stock thermostat is okay. I have changed to a 170 degree thermostat in the red car and did not notice much change... However, cleaning the intake and removing ALL of the junk from the fins of the air conditioning heat exchanger (I mean taking the puppy apart and pressure cleaning the fins to restore 100% air flow) makes a really siginificant difference. The red car runs at an indicated 183 and never gets to 200! And it is my SOP to keep the air conditioning on (insures the fans are powered).

The '03 EB Z06 has the stock thermostat, with clean heat exchangers, runs about 193 to 210.

Apr 23, 2004 | 01:26 AM

Hool97

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 1,108

Likes: 0

From: over the water Cali

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Paul4137)

I run a 160 stat and electric water pump. Before dropping the fan temps the coolant ran about 5-10 degrees below the stock stat. After changing turn on/off temps for the fans with LS1 edit the car runs between 170-185 max. Even my tranny runs cooler by 5-10 degrees(A4).

Apr 23, 2004 | 07:51 AM

Mr. Jones

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 1,335

Likes: 76

From: Bedford Va.

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Hool97)

160 nice and simple
yes fans will need programing.

Apr 23, 2004 | 11:23 AM

FRC sexi blk

Racer

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 479

Likes: 0

From: Bethesda MD

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Paul4137)

a 175 thermo stat is the best IMO. you want your oil temps to hit at least 200 degrees F to burn any moisture. any less than that and mositure will build up and over time cause damage to your lubrication system and parts it lubricates. get the fans to kick on around 185-200. use ls1 edit to do that

thermostat alone won't make your car faster, but if you have other mods it does help contribute to a better overall tuning window and performance range.

Apr 23, 2004 | 01:06 PM

Umrswimr

Team Owner

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 36,453

Likes: 2

From: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.... DFW, TX

St. Jude Donor '05

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Paul4137)

Do a quick search- this very topic came up last week.. :cheers:

Apr 24, 2004 | 07:45 PM

ScreaminDemon

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,421

Likes: 3

From: Memphis Tn

Re: Thermastat 172 or 160 ? Help (Paul4137)

There was a big writeup on C5 stats in the GMHTP mag about a year ago. It said the 178 stat was best for optimal performance. Keep in mind that the engine does need to get hot enough to evaporate water condensation inside the block that gets mixed with the oil.