View Poll Results: 180 stat?
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll
180 stat, y/n?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
180 stat, y/n?
My water pump sprung a leak a few weeks ago and I replaced it with a new Melling pump and new AC Delco stat stat. Previously the car always ran rock solid at 194, going to slightly over 200 in traffic.
Now it runs at 199+ up to as high as 219. Yes, I burped it. Even at a 70 mph cruise the temps will go up and down from 203 to 216, but if I drop to 5th gear, the temps settles right down and 203. That makes me think I have a bad impeller.
So, I bought a new pump (AC Delco this time) and also bought a Lingenfelter 180 stat. I think I'm also going to replace the radiator this time around just for more cooling capacity since I live in the high desert (Reno/Sparks).
So, the big question is - any reason NOT to run a 180 stat in our cars? I do have a tuner so I can adjust the fan to come on at a lower temp to match the lower temp stat.
Now it runs at 199+ up to as high as 219. Yes, I burped it. Even at a 70 mph cruise the temps will go up and down from 203 to 216, but if I drop to 5th gear, the temps settles right down and 203. That makes me think I have a bad impeller.
So, I bought a new pump (AC Delco this time) and also bought a Lingenfelter 180 stat. I think I'm also going to replace the radiator this time around just for more cooling capacity since I live in the high desert (Reno/Sparks).
So, the big question is - any reason NOT to run a 180 stat in our cars? I do have a tuner so I can adjust the fan to come on at a lower temp to match the lower temp stat.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,032
Likes: 3,567
From: Central MO
Based on your initial post, it appears you already understand the ins and outs. A 180° thermostat will do little except possibly lower your steady state running down the road temperatures a small amount. As you indicated you can adjust the fan to come on a little sooner, and to run at a higher percentage across the board, but then you start getting into the potential "melt the connector" issue. I personally think if you haven't looked yet, you should clean any debris from the radiator/a/c condenser and consider adding a couple bottles of Water Wetter to the radiator. In my experience WW helps a small amount.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
Based on your initial post, it appears you already understand the ins and outs. A 180° thermostat will do little except possibly lower your steady state running down the road temperatures a small amount. As you indicated you can adjust the fan to come on a little sooner, and to run at a higher percentage across the board, but then you start getting into the potential "melt the connector" issue. I personally think if you haven't looked yet, you should clean any debris from the radiator/a/c condenser and consider adding a couple bottles of Water Wetter to the radiator. In my experience WW helps a small amount.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,684
From: Southeast TX
If you run the 180* stat along with a Dewitts radiator and more aggressive coolant fan ramp rates, it will run cooler. I had that radiator in a superchrged Grand Sport and it ran cooler even with a supercharger heat exchanger in front of the radiator. Dewitts is good stuff. You could actually idle it with the a/c blowing cold and it wouldn't get much over 200....in high 90's outside air temps. With a 160* stat, it actually ran too cool in cooler temps. 180* is just right with the Dewitts.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,663
