Mort

The 180* Stat will open at 180* but your truck will still run at its normal operating temperature of 180* to 185* it will just warm up faster and not run below 180* once it is warmed up or at least not for long because the Stat will close again until the engine reaches an operating temperature of 180* when it will open again and let coolant flow through the radiator.

KLUG'S SS

iTrader: (6)

Mine runs in that 180 range also with a 160 t-stat but I still think it is hurting my mileage being here in Michigan with our cold *** weather. I am getting a custom tune soon so I think I will have it tuned for the 160 and see what happens.

Mort

I think that if I lived in Michigan I would put a stock 195* stat in it at least for the winter months. Running cold and taking longer to warm up and idling to warm it up or to keep it warm is going to kill your mileage in the winter anyway. Be good to your truck and get the most for your gas mileage by getting it up to operating temperature faster and having to idle less to keep warm. The truck will run better in the cold temperatures anyway and a 160* stat will provide less of a performance advantage if any at all. Maybe your custom tuning guy will be able to explain the advantages or disadvantages of running a 160* stat. Maybe you should switch to a 180* stat. Your truck seems to like to run at that temperature anyway and I don't think any special tuning is required to get the best out of a 180* stat. I would consider running a 195* stat in the winter and a 180* stat in the summer.

TarheelZ

I remember reading somewhere that running the low-temp 'stats in an extremely cold environment (like Michigan) causes the computer to think the engine never warms up and keeps the engine is a closed-loop warm-up or something like that. I agree with Mort about running the 195* in winter and the 180* the rest of the time.

jmproductions

Yes, I've heard that too. I read somewhere, can't remember where, that these engines produce maximum hp around 178. I've been using a 180 stat for a few years now and I did notice a small gain in mild weather.

slamed 04 silverado

So what about me living in California, should i try the 160* t-stat?? Or should i just leave it the way it is?? Feedback anyone???

Mort

With the mods you have I don't think you need one. If you want to try a lower Stat try a 180*. I don't think these engines will run cooler than that anyway once they are warmed up and your truck will warm up to operating temperature sooner with a 180* which is better for the engine.
I don't really see any benefit to a 160* Stat and a good tuner will be able to tune your truck without one would be my guess. If you want to add more timing a good tune to add more fuel is better than adding a 160* Stat to fool the PCM into thinking the engine is running cooler and needs more fuel. The engine will adjust to ambient temperatures at the time and a 160* Stat is not a reliable way to control fuel because it is not an accurate way to control engine operating temperatures. It only controls when the coolant is allowed to circulate through the radiator and not the operating temperature that a fully warmed up engine will attain.
So most of the time all a 160* Stat will do is make your engine run richer than it needs to. This may cause your plugs to foul, cylinder walls to wash down and O2 sensors to wear out. I am not really sure all of that will happen in a Gen III engine but I suppose it is possible.
Really I just don't see the need for 160* stats and think that maybe 180* is as low as you should go if you bother at all.

slamed 04 silverado

Good ****. Ill just leave it alone. Thanks for the info. 160* T-stat is gone....in the garbage.

SimpleManLance

iTrader: (9)

with my 160 stat in and living in michigan's cold weather, the truck warms up just as fast as it would with the stock in. it stays at 180 so i dont know why the computer would think that the truck is never warming up. i thought it changed something in the computer if it was below 160, like hold gears a little longer. i can see how the truck would cool off to below 100* faster because it is at a lower temp to begain with.

i think once the truck gets tuned for a 160 stat you will be fine, i dont think that is your gas millage problem.

KLUG'S SS

iTrader: (6)

Thanks to everyone for the input. I'm just gonna throw stock t-stat back in.