160 would be waaaayyyy to cold for any winter driving here in Chicago as well.
I have a 172 stat and do not worry as my Vette is not driven in the winter

 

This is a new one to me too.

 

No I'm not an automotive engineer but an engineer none the less. And I know enough about physics and have enough experience with Vettes to know that if your car is running at 220 with a 190 thermostat, you have a problem.

Sorry for asking about your logic. I can tell from your sarcasm that I've hit a nerve. I presume that you ARE an automotive engineer and that you know better than the Corvette engineers. You should send them your advice. I'm sure they haven't yet figured out how to get all vettes to run at 190-200.

 

I'm just your run of the mill high school drop out, I'm no engineer. My temporture is and always has been as described above. If I'm at the track or sitting in heavy traffic on a hot day, my collant temps will be even higher. I would think that even though the thermostat is wide open... there is not enough cool air moving through the radiator to allow for thermo transfer of heat from the collant (radiator & fins) to the air. Also I'm not sure if the temp sensor is measuring heat from before or after the radiator. I would image that thermo transfer would rarely be enough to fully reduce the heat to the level of the thermostat opening temp... unless on the open highway or in the winter.

I think that the termostat is more a controler of the minumun coolant temps... versus upper temps. It is important to not run your engine too cool for emissions, fuel economy, and proper lubrication. The fans assist in controlling the upper temporture limits. Changing the thermostat to differing opening temporture would help in controlling the over all temporture range.

 

No, but he did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.


Yet another reason to move to the sun belt

 

You da man!!

 

As far as you being an engineer.. you better go back to school.
Before you put your foot in your mouth anymore "robvuk" Yes I am a GM Engineer,20+ years. The C5 was my last active project before retiring two years ago , I spent 5 years in it's development. Secondly before you give advice, you should click on their personal profile to see who you are talking too. Also if your car runs constantly at 190 . We made a terrible mistake in designing software to control the coolant temp and the on/ off settings of the fans both high and low speeds..
here is the control commands as they were written:
Depending on the model year...
For later model C5 years:
The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).

For early model years:
Low speed fans come on at 219,high speed fans come on at 228,low speed with a/c on...
IN the summer the car frequently sees 235F. with oil temps reaching 250. This is designed in for emissions reasons, and government compliance.. not for performance or engine longevity.. Aluminum engines and heat are not condusive to heathy engines.. Also heat will cause those with less than 93 octane gas, to ,on occassion, activate knock retard, and cause a decrease in engine performance . I don't want my car running at 235F with oil temps hitting 260. So, even though most of the seniors here are laughing alittle, you just learned a few things,, and welcome to the forum

 

Soooo Evil

 

When are you going to start franchising... Could be the next Jiffy Lube

 

Not true, just re-program your fans to compensate and you can still run above 180deg during the winter. my .02

 

This is definitely the most entertaining thread I've read all day. Evil rocks.

 

I have come to really love reading Evil Twins threads. Here is my re-enactment of so many threads using smileys.

EvilTwin:

Newbs:

EvilTwin:

Newbs:

EvilTwin:

Me:

 

OH Boy !!!!!!!!! The fans don't run when its 30 outside.. !!!!!!!!!!!! reprogram them to what??? the program starts at 226 F. the low speed fan turns on at 226 .. the coolant never sees 226 in the winter.. in the winter. the duty cylce of a stock 190 stat is closed most of the time just so the engine doesnt get too cold..if your on the highway doing 60. So many wannabe's here

 

So that's just great. You ARE an automotive engineer. I guess being an automotive engineer and a nice person are not condusive to one another. No I didn't check out your profile and thanks for explaining your logic. That's all I asked! So now that you've explained the temps for the fans (which I already understood and concurred would be of possible benefit) You still haven't explained the reason for the 160 thermostat. The 160 might be good for some high performance mods but that's not what you said.

I didn't say my car runs a "constant 190". I said that it runs 190-200 except for when I'm idling in traffic at which point the fans DO activate and control the upper limits just as my friend Goerge8211 suggests. Is this NOT the correct functionality that was intended? Am I the one who needs to have something checked?

Don't bother to answer the questions if you don't feel as though you can answer an honest question without being an A$$. If you're so smart, and with your experience, you should be an asset to this forum not an egotistical jerk. There are obviously many of us here that have questions and would like to further our education/understanding. That's why most of us are here, not to be holier than thou. If "sticking my foot in my mouth" is the same as asking questions, so be it. I don't know about you but that's how I got my education.

 

You didnt ask questions,,, you told me I have a problem, your quote So you would tell someone "they have a problem " if their car saw 220???? YOU ***.. Children like you are a curse to the people here who want to know about their car.. If I listened to you I would have taken my car in to have the cooling sytem checked etc.. spent money on YOUR recommendations for Nothing.//. Look junior if you want to play engineer do it somewhere else.. Dont give advice, call yourself an engineer HERE... Too many people here depend on getting sound advice.. and they wont be getting it from you. Again welcome to the forum... ask questions all you want, but dont be giving recommendations on your knowledge of physics or a C5.. because you have an empty tool box..

I edited out how I really feel

 

I drive thru the back yard and suck up enough leaves to get the motor good and hot and don't even have to get out of the car.

 

You can take my quotes from out of context if you wish, I really don't care. My original post when YOU started this whole flame war:

"I don't understand. If the thermostat is wide open at 160, what does it matter if the outside temp is 40 or 120? Once it's wide open, it no longer matters when the operating temp goes over that. The only thing I can see that would possibly get you a few degrees headstart, is the fan on-off adjustments. And that would just be a headstart situation. If your cooling system can't maintain 190-200, a 160 thermostat isn't going to make a bit of difference.

My car maintains that temp with the stock thermostat, only going above if I'm sitting idling in hot traffic with the AC on. That's when the fans kick in and keep it reasonable till I'm moving again. If you're having a problem there, I'd start with a good radiator flush and make sure the radiator isn't clogged from airflow as well."

1. I said "IF you're having a problem there".
2. Nowhere did I exhibit a know-it-all attitude. Only a legit offering if you did indeed have a problem.
3. I started with a legitimate question.
4. You have still evaded the question of why you can't get 190-200 temps with a 190 stat.
5. And you don't know who you're talking to either.
6. Yes, I feel so welcome to this forum. Fortunately there are so many here that offer friendly advice.

Thanks, it was nice meeting you too.

 

because in the summer a black top road can get as hot as 160F your not going to get any heat exchange with temperatures like that .. thats why when your coollant reaches 235F the high speed fans comes on.. and even with that cars see 220 temps.. anything above 190 the stat is open.. a stat for your information is there to control how low your coolant will get not how high.. everyone with a stock stat and stock settings sees 235+ readings at times and oil temps at 240 /260..
with a 160 stat in my car in the summer I can lower the fan setting and keep the car closer to 190 200..
leaving the 160 stat in the car through the winter will insure 160 F temps which is way too cold for an LS1 engine.. the clearances are to tight , a chance for carbon build up..higher compression , need to do a GM decarbon burn procedure high emissions and a host of other things..
so the 160 is there for optimum performance when ground temps can reach 160F.. and the stocker is there through the winter.. so the engine will produce the best performance.. the optimum temp for the engine is 190/200 coolant and 210 oil... Not 235/240 coolant, 240/260 oilas most see with stock stats and settings on a 90+ day in the summer.
I got smart with you when you told me I had a problem and I should do something about it..
You have no business giving advice here on the forum.. you dont have a clue..
this original post was an ongoing post from four years on the forum.. breaking my own record for thermostat changes.. a lot of people here post it takes an hour or better because you have to drain the coolant etc... a stat can be changed in 5 minutes.. Ive already posted the procedure sereral time over the years..
you been here a few days.,.. you should do more listening and less talking.. before you tell someone they have a problem..

 

When the cliff notes version of this exchange comes out, let me know.

 

hmmm I keep getting images of Walter Matthau as EvilTwin when I read this thread..... imo... thread is hilarious!