[Z06] Why 160 degree Thermostat?
06-22-2011, 09:40 PM
#21
Melting Slicks
IMO,for the average,mostly stock street driven C5's the OE stat is ok.
My hwy temps usually run in the 185-189 range after it settles down.I make sure the rad is clean of debris,have clean,fresh coolant and a coolant booster keep my 02Z temps in line.
I have adjusted my fans to on @ 195 and off @ 190.On days like today where it's 97deg and at traffic lights,the fans will cycle a few times.
\db2
carolina
My hwy temps usually run in the 185-189 range after it settles down.I make sure the rad is clean of debris,have clean,fresh coolant and a coolant booster keep my 02Z temps in line.
I have adjusted my fans to on @ 195 and off @ 190.On days like today where it's 97deg and at traffic lights,the fans will cycle a few times.
\db2
carolina
08-07-2015, 12:37 PM
#22
High temps in traffic
Mine is doing exactly the same 2008 z06 with 55k miles my friend had. 2007 with 600 miles and told me yesterday his did the same!! Did you find an answer? Email me at melgies @telus.net
08-07-2015, 07:20 PM
#23
Instructor
Coolant/Water mix under 14 PSI won't boil until ~ 268 degrees.
If if you aren't in danger of boiling why worry about it?
The only thing a cooler thermostat does in my experience it make it take longer for a car to come up to operating temperature. A lower temp thermostat doesn't flow any more volume or increase the heat transfer properties of your cooling system, it just opens the valve to the radiator earlier.
On earlier cars we would drill a few holes in the perimeter of a thermostat to increase cooling, but that had to do with increasing CFM and allowing vapor to pass through not opening earlier.
There are many engineers (including Dave Hill) who would tell you that running a lower coolant temperatures makes less power
If you're really worried about coolant temps, I would encourage you to look at Evans Coolant. It's oil based and has a obscenely high boiling point.
Last edited by Lowend; 08-07-2015 at 07:22 PM.
08-07-2015, 10:40 PM
#24
Le Mans Master
08-08-2015, 12:49 AM
#25
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and he has a c6 AND 220-230 degrees at idle is normal anyway... if the temp is going back down considerably while cruising or on the highway everything is fine, now if it stays at 220+ then you might have some debris stuck between the fins of your a/c condenser or radiator which will prevent air from flowing past it which results in higher than normal coolant temps or possibly even a fan that isn't working, but on a c6 you only have one fan and if it stops working your temp will climb fast at idle and might overheat the car... if you want the car to run a little cooler and more stable temps then have the fan on/off settings adjusted
08-22-2015, 05:08 AM
#26
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BUY AN OIL COOLER IF YOU!RE GONNA TRACK IT HARD, that is all.
if you're running 260+ oil Temps then you may want to consider an oil cooler, as for coolant oem is ok on the track ! you can upgrade fluids , look at racing applications. THE BETTER OPTION FOR A T-STAT IS THE ^FAIL SAFE^ TYPE, WHEREIN THERES FAILURE, IT'LL STAY OPEN OPPOSED instead of CLOSING. STILL 187 STAT THOUGH
Last edited by CorvetteTrev; 08-22-2015 at 05:14 AM.
03-12-2016, 11:37 PM
#27
Old thread indeed!
It's Amazing what people say without a working knowledge of automotive engineering.
The 160deg T-stat never had anything to do with the actual operating temp,
It gas everything to do with performance.....
At 160deg the PCM still has the ignition timing advanced and the fuel trim enriched - hence, more power ☺
It's Amazing what people say without a working knowledge of automotive engineering.
The 160deg T-stat never had anything to do with the actual operating temp,
It gas everything to do with performance.....
At 160deg the PCM still has the ignition timing advanced and the fuel trim enriched - hence, more power ☺
03-13-2016, 08:26 AM
#28
Le Mans Master
Old thread indeed!
It's Amazing what people say without a working knowledge of automotive engineering.
The 160deg T-stat never had anything to do with the actual operating temp,
It gas everything to do with performance.....
At 160deg the PCM still has the ignition timing advanced and the fuel trim enriched - hence, more power ☺
It's Amazing what people say without a working knowledge of automotive engineering.
The 160deg T-stat never had anything to do with the actual operating temp,
It gas everything to do with performance.....
At 160deg the PCM still has the ignition timing advanced and the fuel trim enriched - hence, more power ☺
Unless I am mistaken the thermostat opens when the coolant reaches temp. It doesn't limit how hot the coolant temp can reach; open is open. You cold start the motor, the coolant stays in the engine to help it warm up quickly. When it reaches temp it opens and circulates thru the rad, its job is done.
Once open, unless there is another means of limiting temps (lowering fan on temp, improved rad...) the thermostat temp rating is irrelevant, no?
Last edited by grantv; 03-13-2016 at 08:28 AM.
03-13-2016, 10:10 PM
#29
i'd stick with the stock thermostat... you can manipulate the fan settings to run the car a little cooler when you have it tuned but running it too cool has negative effects just as running it too hot... running it too cool for long periods of time actually increases engine wear and if it doesn't run warm enough the condensation inside the crankcase will not evaporate... installing a 160 thermostat will only make it run cooler while driving, when the car is idling the temp will go back up to the 220 degree range so it's kind of a waste of money imo
03-14-2016, 09:18 PM
#30
Le Mans Master
I have the stock 187 deg stat in a latter model water pump. The important thing is to get your tuners to turn on the fans at a lower temp. That makes all the difference. I live in south Florida and my temp never gets over 200.
03-15-2016, 12:10 AM
#31
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This is all false information, along with many other replies to the OP's post. The best tuners in the US all install 160 thermostats. Running the motor a bit cooler allows you to adjust timing = more horsepower. I have a 160 and can sit standing still for hours in 80 degree heat and the coolant temp won't go above 187ish. As for increased wear on the motor theres no evidence of that. Oil temps still stay hot enough for max protection.
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03-18-2016, 07:12 PM
#32
Melting Slicks
if you're running 260+ oil Temps then you may want to consider an oil cooler, as for coolant oem is ok on the track ! you can upgrade fluids , look at racing applications. THE BETTER OPTION FOR A T-STAT IS THE ^FAIL SAFE^ TYPE, WHEREIN THERES FAILURE, IT'LL STAY OPEN OPPOSED instead of CLOSING. STILL 187 STAT THOUGH
The ONLY reason you would add a lower temp Tstat is to run more timing. Back in the day we did it on old 5.0 Mustangs so we could turn the timing up to 13-14 degrees to get some more power. There was no way to tune the ecm in those cars then.
There really is no advantage in todays world, the engine is designed to run at or around the 200* range. Lower Tstat equals more engine wear, worse gas mileage and crap heater.
If your car is running warm, pull the radiator and clean the fins. These cars are bottom breathers and they suck up everything like a vacuum cleaner.
09-01-2016, 05:32 PM
#35
Melting Slicks
09-02-2016, 05:04 AM
#37
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You can turn on the AC when in traffic and the temperature will come down.
You can also install an after market switch which will turn fans on whenever you want it. A vendor here sells that item.
You can also install an after market switch which will turn fans on whenever you want it. A vendor here sells that item.
