I was looking through a Summit magazine and saw a 160 SLP thermostat for 5.3 Silverados. Would this be worth $65? What are the benefits?

 

Debatable if it's worth it...idea is your engine will run cooler, which would theoretically allow you to run more timing while avoiding detonation. What part of the country are you in? cause if you have cold weather winters you probably don't want to change thermostats.

 

Also note, you will need to have a tune to run this thermostat and attain max gains. To your ECM it may look as your engine is always too cold and will keep your injectors in enrichment mode and hence run rich and decrease fuel economy.

 

I have the slp 160 thermo in my truck. I have it tuned and I keep my truck around 180.

 

I live in southern Tennessee. I figured id need a tune. I plan on getting a blackbear tune in the near future. Would the slp be worth getting with the tune? My truck runs a little below 210 right now.

 

I installed it my 07 5.3, Blackbear tuned. I am in So Cal and I run at 180-185 consistently.

 

Do you need a radiator flush? If you do,I would. Hell, I'd do it anyways. Your getting a tune at somepoint.

 

If it was me, I'd save the money for the tune, or just for more gas. I don't think you'd get very much out of it just for the sake of lowering water temps. I'd be giving different advice if you were going to mill the heads to get a higher compression ratio, or wanted to advance timing or similar stuff like that.

Mine seems to stay around 194-212 in summer.

 

That's exactly what you do with the tune...you can run a little more timing.

65 bucks is a little steep....especially when you can get one on SDPC for 24 bucks...

 

They're 19.95 at Lingenfelter. A little more for the older style thats housing and all.