Im lookin at getting a cooler stat for my truck (2006 lm7). has anyone that lives in a hotter climate like me had problems with using the cooler 160 vs the 180 they offer? also, does the stat replace the waterneck too? i've heard multiple answers and haven't really found anyone that has an 05 or newer lm7 that has done a 160 stat.

lemme know your pros/cons on switching stats. i wanna do it for sure since 200* is a little higher than I wanna run.

 

+1 I've been thinking about doing the same thing after this cold weather goes away

 

way i see it is cooler it is, the more timming you can add. and we all know more timming is more HP. I just put one in along with being tuned by allen and i love it, no complaints here

 

I've done the 160 thing on my truck and the wife's vette. I'm sure that it allows more timing and lessens the chance of detonation. The downside is that fuel eco was less on both vehicles after installing the cooler stats. Her vette has a marginal cooling system. This summer, it ran hotter (200+) on a hot day and would pick up 1 to 2 mpg. My truck runs cool even on a hot day. I'm thinking about going to a 180 on both.

 

I think it's more beneficial when running e-fans IMO, then you can set the fan temps and optimize the effects of the stat. If the PCM is tuned properly, fuel economy should be compensated for. I had Bryan (PCMforLess) tune my PCM for the stat and efans and haven't noticed any extra trips to the gas station. On a stock PCM, fuel economy may suffer as the PCM will read the cooler engine temp and richen the a/f ratio as it's parameters are set at the factory.

 

Either would be a good upgrade, I have noticed on that on a buddies truck that has a 160 stat, the gauge reads on the big notch halfway in between 160 and 210 (which should be 185) but on my scan tool it's only running 172*.

 

yep my truck only reads about 175 on HPtuners. But is on the mark rhino is talking about.

I love the cooler stat. It can be 100+ outside AC crankin and seein the water temp at about 185 is awesome. TO me that is.

 

that's good to know.

i use HPTuners and can tune in the e-fans according to the climate.

as for my other question, does the hypertech stat replace the whole stat housing including the waterneck or is it just like an old school stat swap?

 

On yours I think it just swaps the stat like the old school ones, on on 04 and older I think they swap the whole housing.

 

Do the 180* T-stat. The 160* is not worth the loss in MPG average. I know personally. My truck lost 1mpg on average after the 160* t-stat install.
The only reason I'm keeping it is because I'm adding the Radix S/C.
Unless you will be doing a high compression engine or going with FI, I'd stay away from the 160* stat.

Jim