160 deg t-stat?
01-08-2010, 01:09 PM
#22
A few reasons I don't like 160 stats.......
- Running that cold doesn't allow the oil to protect the motor as well as if it were up to proper temp. Believe it or not, oil lubricates best between 210-230 degrees
- Warmer engines make more power when setup properly. Heat is the result of energy, energy is horsepower, the most heat you can generate keeping everything "stable" will result in the best possible combination of horsepower and engine longevity.
- No damned heat! It's -10 below right now people. I like to try and keep war,
Heat doesn't=power, heat is a by-product, and for years engineers have been trying to find ways to keep things cooler.
No damned heat! It's -10 below right now people. I like to try and keep war,
Actually, if you're concerned about heat, you should install a 160* stat, as your heat will come up sooner since the t-stat is opening sooner and allowing flow through the heater core sooner. This I know to be fact as I've experienced it with every vehicle that I've owned and removed the factory stat in lieu of a 160* stat. I loved how fast my MonteSS heated up, seemed like the cabin was warm before I had a chance to get from my house to the Dunkin Donuts that was less than 2 miles away...it was great.
Originally Posted by 00ChevyScott
Not to mention worse gas mileage with little to no benefit
On a stock vehicle without tuning, a 160* stat will have a negative affect, on one of our trucks that is being modded and whored up, a 160* stat is some cheap insurance IMO. As I said before, it depends on the application.
01-08-2010, 02:05 PM
#23
While theoretically this all makes sense, some things don't add up. Why does the factory offer auxilary oil coolers on their engines that run at 195* to 210*? I've been using 160* stats in my vehicles since the mid 80's, and I've never spun a bearing or blown an engine. Never had a problem with moisture in my engines either, as I'm sure that someone will mention that the cooler stat will not allow moisture to burn out of the oil, which is incorrect.
Heat doesn't=power, heat is a by-product, and for years engineers have been trying to find ways to keep things cooler.
Sorry Joe, but this statement is 100% incorrect. As I mentioned I've been using 160* stats for years, my engines usually run around 175*-185*, which is plenty warm for sub 0* days in New Jersey winters (sub zero days aren't typical, but I have experienced many of them). I've never had a problem with not enough heat, and always turn the blower down to the last setting and turn the **** off of full hot over to the cool side because I'm starting to sweat.
Actually, if you're concerned about heat, you should install a 160* stat, as your heat will come up sooner since the t-stat is opening sooner and allowing flow through the heater core sooner. This I know to be fact as I've experienced it with every vehicle that I've owned and removed the factory stat in lieu of a 160* stat. I loved how fast my MonteSS heated up, seemed like the cabin was warm before I had a chance to get from my house to the Dunkin Donuts that was less than 2 miles away...it was great.
Not for me, as I mentioned in my earlier post, my gas mileage improved after I installed my 160* stat, although I did install efans at the same time which may have helped my fuel economy, and I had my tuner make the necessary adjustments to account for the 160* stat. In a stock vehicle that has not been tuned, fuel economy may be affected as the PCM will be in the cooler ECT tables, but hopefully if you're installing a 160* stat, you also have supporting mods and either the proper tuning software or a good tuner that can account for the cooler temps and tune accordingly.
On a stock vehicle without tuning, a 160* stat will have a negative affect, on one of our trucks that is being modded and whored up, a 160* stat is some cheap insurance IMO. As I said before, it depends on the application.
Heat doesn't=power, heat is a by-product, and for years engineers have been trying to find ways to keep things cooler.
Sorry Joe, but this statement is 100% incorrect. As I mentioned I've been using 160* stats for years, my engines usually run around 175*-185*, which is plenty warm for sub 0* days in New Jersey winters (sub zero days aren't typical, but I have experienced many of them). I've never had a problem with not enough heat, and always turn the blower down to the last setting and turn the **** off of full hot over to the cool side because I'm starting to sweat.
Actually, if you're concerned about heat, you should install a 160* stat, as your heat will come up sooner since the t-stat is opening sooner and allowing flow through the heater core sooner. This I know to be fact as I've experienced it with every vehicle that I've owned and removed the factory stat in lieu of a 160* stat. I loved how fast my MonteSS heated up, seemed like the cabin was warm before I had a chance to get from my house to the Dunkin Donuts that was less than 2 miles away...it was great.
Not for me, as I mentioned in my earlier post, my gas mileage improved after I installed my 160* stat, although I did install efans at the same time which may have helped my fuel economy, and I had my tuner make the necessary adjustments to account for the 160* stat. In a stock vehicle that has not been tuned, fuel economy may be affected as the PCM will be in the cooler ECT tables, but hopefully if you're installing a 160* stat, you also have supporting mods and either the proper tuning software or a good tuner that can account for the cooler temps and tune accordingly.
On a stock vehicle without tuning, a 160* stat will have a negative affect, on one of our trucks that is being modded and whored up, a 160* stat is some cheap insurance IMO. As I said before, it depends on the application.
01-08-2010, 02:28 PM
#24
I think the heater core coolant lines are pre-thermostat on our trucks, so changing thermostat would have no effect on that if I am remembering right.
Also, I have read an article from one of the LS1 engineers explaining why a 160 deg thermostat is not beneficial to an LS platform engine. I don't know if I'll be able to find it, I'm almost positive it was posted on here on another thermostat discussion.
Also, I have read an article from one of the LS1 engineers explaining why a 160 deg thermostat is not beneficial to an LS platform engine. I don't know if I'll be able to find it, I'm almost positive it was posted on here on another thermostat discussion.
01-09-2010, 12:08 AM
#27
I'm at my mom's with my daughter for the weekend, I'll do my best to try and check back 
. I've heard of that article and also heard that the LS engines are engineered to run at higher temps...honestly I'm kinda on the fence about it myself and considering running a stock stat in my LQ9....
convince me
. I've heard of that article and also heard that the LS engines are engineered to run at higher temps...honestly I'm kinda on the fence about it myself and considering running a stock stat in my LQ9....convince me
01-09-2010, 08:37 AM
#28
I run a 160 and love it, but then again I am blown so my engine heats up faster than being N/A. For a daily driver with bolt-ons I would stick with the stocker. But, you really need your electric fans to be tuned for a 160 in order to see all the benfits of switching.
01-09-2010, 09:06 AM
#29
C'mon Joe, I can only get on the computer for a minute at a time this weekend, I was expecting to log on and find a page worth of wisdom...I'm still not convinced All I have to go by is my own personal experience from running 160* t-stats in my own personal vehicles for the last 23 years (although those other vehicles weren't LS based engines that are fuel injected, which is why I'm wide open to suggestions )
All I have to go by is my own personal experience from running 160* t-stats in my own personal vehicles for the last 23 years (although those other vehicles weren't LS based engines that are fuel injected, which is why I'm wide open to suggestions )
