thermostat temp
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 32
From: Roswell Georgia
With a street driven automatic, I prefer a 180F thermostat as a replacement for the stock 195F unit. (Automatics don't like a lot of heat, and since your transmission fluid is cooled by the radiator, a 15 degree drop in water temperature helps a lot.)
If you auto-x your Vette or otherwise participate in sporting events, you might be able to use a 160F thermostat; however, depending upon where you live, your water temps may be too low during fall/winter to obtain full use of your heater/defrost system. I've only used a 160F in auto-x vehicles, and even then, had to change them out to 180F units during the fall in order to use the defroster in Virginia. YMMV.
If you auto-x your Vette or otherwise participate in sporting events, you might be able to use a 160F thermostat; however, depending upon where you live, your water temps may be too low during fall/winter to obtain full use of your heater/defrost system. I've only used a 160F in auto-x vehicles, and even then, had to change them out to 180F units during the fall in order to use the defroster in Virginia. YMMV.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Thank You This Helps me A lot
With a street driven automatic, I prefer a 180F thermostat as a replacement for the stock 195F unit. (Automatics don't like a lot of heat, and since your transmission fluid is cooled by the radiator, a 15 degree drop in water temperature helps a lot.)
If you auto-x your Vette or otherwise participate in sporting events, you might be able to use a 160F thermostat; however, depending upon where you live, your water temps may be too low during fall/winter to obtain full use of your heater/defrost system. I've only used a 160F in auto-x vehicles, and even then, had to change them out to 180F units during the fall in order to use the defroster in Virginia. YMMV.
If you auto-x your Vette or otherwise participate in sporting events, you might be able to use a 160F thermostat; however, depending upon where you live, your water temps may be too low during fall/winter to obtain full use of your heater/defrost system. I've only used a 160F in auto-x vehicles, and even then, had to change them out to 180F units during the fall in order to use the defroster in Virginia. YMMV.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Zephyrhills Florida
The factory used 195 thermostats because their engineers understood that the motor needs to run that hot to burn off acids and contaminants that form in the oil if the motor is run cooler than that. Taking a look at OEM parts and procedures will usually put you on the right track as to why something is one way or another. Their engineers get paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out.
Last edited by techinspector1; Aug 18, 2017 at 05:01 AM.
