Is a 160 'stat available?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The thermostat doesn't do anything but set the floor on how low the temp will go. Cooling capacity is what limits how hot the coolant will get. Once you are into the throttle and running wide open for 10 or 15 minutes the temp will easily go past whatever the stock thermostat floor and probably ride about 20 to 25 degrees hotter. If your engine is running over 200 degrees the stock thermostat is wide open so having a thermostat that opens 35 degrees sooner really provides no benefit.
Not sure why people keep putting in these low temp thermostats when they don't do anything except maybe add a couple of HP on the dyno. On the street in a real world environment you won't ever see that advantage.
Bill
Not sure why people keep putting in these low temp thermostats when they don't do anything except maybe add a couple of HP on the dyno. On the street in a real world environment you won't ever see that advantage.
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
bill I used to think that exact same thing....until I actually installed a low temp stat....guess what, it consistently ran 20 degrees cooler with a stock radiator and water pump. this was in a 2012 SS camaro. I also used one in my C5Z 408 motor and it cruised at 180.
yes, if you are road racing and pushing the temp limits then they may still rise, but one really should have at least a radiator to do it right anyways.
either way, theory states, and I agree with you, that a thermostat won't help.
practice says they work well.
yes, if you are road racing and pushing the temp limits then they may still rise, but one really should have at least a radiator to do it right anyways.
either way, theory states, and I agree with you, that a thermostat won't help.
practice says they work well.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 606
Likes: 7
From: Nashville, TN
bill I used to think that exact same thing....until I actually installed a low temp stat....guess what, it consistently ran 20 degrees cooler with a stock radiator and water pump. this was in a 2012 SS camaro. I also used one in my C5Z 408 motor and it cruised at 180.
yes, if you are road racing and pushing the temp limits then they may still rise, but one really should have at least a radiator to do it right anyways.
either way, theory states, and I agree with you, that a thermostat won't help.
practice says they work well.
yes, if you are road racing and pushing the temp limits then they may still rise, but one really should have at least a radiator to do it right anyways.
either way, theory states, and I agree with you, that a thermostat won't help.
practice says they work well.
Same experience in my 1994 LT1 Firebird. I bought one from Jegs for this engine but haven't installed it yet as my motor is at Texas Speed getting stroked etc. Lingenfelter is using a 160 degree thermostat on their C7 packages.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 73
From: Texas
Whether it will help or not I don’t know and am not being critical of those who like the low temp thermostats but it will likely result in more emissions during the warm up period.
If a 160 thermostat was of an overall benefit, the factory would have installed them. Don
If a 160 thermostat was of an overall benefit, the factory would have installed them. Don
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 811
Likes: 18
From: STL
Whether it will help or not I don’t know and am not being critical of those who like the low temp thermostats but it will likely result in more emissions during the warm up period.
If a 160 thermostat was of an overall benefit, the factory would have installed them. Don
If a 160 thermostat was of an overall benefit, the factory would have installed them. Don
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
If GM thought " was of an overall benefit, the factory would have installed them" doesnt apply to anything emission related. They have standards they must reach and a hotter engine helps them achieve it better. And it will keep the engine cooler until you reach its maximum cooling capacity, which by the way takes longer to reach in a racing environment with the lower t-stat. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 1,029
From: Thomas Texas
The thermostat doesn't do anything but set the floor on how low the temp will go. Cooling capacity is what limits how hot the coolant will get. Once you are into the throttle and running wide open for 10 or 15 minutes the temp will easily go past whatever the stock thermostat floor and probably ride about 20 to 25 degrees hotter. If your engine is running over 200 degrees the stock thermostat is wide open so having a thermostat that opens 35 degrees sooner really provides no benefit.
Not sure why people keep putting in these low temp thermostats when they don't do anything except maybe add a couple of HP on the dyno. On the street in a real world environment you won't ever see that advantage.
Bill
Not sure why people keep putting in these low temp thermostats when they don't do anything except maybe add a couple of HP on the dyno. On the street in a real world environment you won't ever see that advantage.
Bill
No point. The 160 'stats made sense when coolant went through the intake manifold.
These cars are designed to run between 208-220 which is fine. Look other places to increase performance.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
no offense but the proof is in the pudding. gm wouldn't add timing at 176 degrees and below and remove timing above 194 if lower coolant temps didnt mean better resistance to detonation....last I checked coolant moves past the cylinders. who cares about the intake manifold? they have been coolant free since 1997.
these cars are designed to meet EPA requirements. operating temps, catalytic converters, vvt programmed for maximum egr (cam timing retard) at cruise, several fuel cutoff strategies during decel or clutch in, etc. some of those things you can keep without affecting performance and some are directly contradictory.
what one chooses to alter in pursuit of power is their choice. cooler operating temps do help with power production. maybe it isn't your first choice, I don't think anyone does it as a first mod......but then plenty of people go heads and cam, plenty go supercharger.....some do brakes and suspension. it is all up to your hearts desire. let's keep America free, ok?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
if you had large swings in temps, you had a questionable tune.
no offense but the proof is in the pudding. gm wouldn't add timing at 176 degrees and below and remove timing above 194 if lower coolant temps didnt mean better resistance to detonation....last I checked coolant moves past the cylinders. who cares about the intake manifold? they have been coolant free since 1997.
these cars are designed to meet EPA requirements. operating temps, catalytic converters, vvt programmed for maximum egr (cam timing retard) at cruise, several fuel cutoff strategies during decel or clutch in, etc. some of those things you can keep without affecting performance and some are directly contradictory.
what one chooses to alter in pursuit of power is their choice. cooler operating temps do help with power production. maybe it isn't your first choice, I don't think anyone does it as a first mod......but then plenty of people go heads and cam, plenty go supercharger.....some do brakes and suspension. it is all up to your hearts desire. let's keep America free, ok?
no offense but the proof is in the pudding. gm wouldn't add timing at 176 degrees and below and remove timing above 194 if lower coolant temps didnt mean better resistance to detonation....last I checked coolant moves past the cylinders. who cares about the intake manifold? they have been coolant free since 1997.
these cars are designed to meet EPA requirements. operating temps, catalytic converters, vvt programmed for maximum egr (cam timing retard) at cruise, several fuel cutoff strategies during decel or clutch in, etc. some of those things you can keep without affecting performance and some are directly contradictory.
what one chooses to alter in pursuit of power is their choice. cooler operating temps do help with power production. maybe it isn't your first choice, I don't think anyone does it as a first mod......but then plenty of people go heads and cam, plenty go supercharger.....some do brakes and suspension. it is all up to your hearts desire. let's keep America free, ok?
While I am new to the C7, I used 160 deg stats in both of my C6's (one of which was a Callaway). The installation of these stats brought consistently lower coolant temps with a noticeable increase in performance. Admittedly, these were used in conjunction w/ other mods (and tuning). Hard to believe the same would not hold true w/ the C7...
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 606
Likes: 7
From: Nashville, TN
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 686
Likes: 11
Lower thermostat helps. car sits right at the thermostat temp . If the had lower thermostat it might still drive only a little cooler but thermostat would be wide up sooner slowing the car from cooling. I see 220 degrees fast (guessing that is point thermostat is wide open) then slowly climbs from there..
in the beginning on the track I think off throttle it would help it cool faster for at least a lap or two till when it is over 220 anyway..
I regularly see 240 or over on the track.
Thermostat is just one step. Radiator is also needed. Radiator on this car is not good enough. Hence why they redesigned the whole cooling on the Z06. Bigger radiator and bigger hood vent
in the beginning on the track I think off throttle it would help it cool faster for at least a lap or two till when it is over 220 anyway..
I regularly see 240 or over on the track.
Thermostat is just one step. Radiator is also needed. Radiator on this car is not good enough. Hence why they redesigned the whole cooling on the Z06. Bigger radiator and bigger hood vent