which thermostat...160 or 180 for 2004 GTO?
05-02-2005, 01:21 AM
#1
which thermostat...160 or 180 for 2004 GTO? which thermostat...160 or 180 for 2004 GTO?
I have tuning done, and have fans coming on sooner, but now they run all the time since I still have the stock t-stat in it....I will buy a hypertech unit, but didn't know which one to get...the 160 or 180 degree? Basically, is 160 too cold for the GTO (or any LS1 for that matter) or not?
SDB
I have tuning done, and have fans coming on sooner, but now they run all the time since I still have the stock t-stat in it....I will buy a hypertech unit, but didn't know which one to get...the 160 or 180 degree? Basically, is 160 too cold for the GTO (or any LS1 for that matter) or not?
SDB
05-04-2005, 08:56 AM
#3
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Stock thermostats are like 86C nominal which is
about 184F. So there's no point in getting a 180.
The actual operating temp will be 10-15 degrees
above the nominal thermostat temp (need more
temp to get a -meaningful- coolant flow).
Without big power adder you're probably better
off with the stock thermostat and a more closely
tailored set of fan temp settings. The 20 degrees
of ECT difference is not that big a deal to a low-
mods car and you will be marginally more fuel
efficient at 194F. The key is to keep your ECT
tight so you don't get out to the temps where
the PCM starts to pull spark or add / subtract fuel,
and keep the same temp all the time so you can
tweak in the spark/fuel to its best without having
to accommodate "mood swings".
I personally prefer to set my car up with the low
speed fans running almost all the time but the high
speed only as a backstop. I can't hear the low
speed fans above the exhaust note.
I have a 160F and I can't say it's made any
difference (but what the hell, it's almost a
"why not?" mod).
Your fans will have to work harder to maintain
a decent radiator temp to support 175F block
temp, than 194F block temp. The radiators are
only as big as they need to be, and that's "need"
in the GM bean counter sense, not "I want to
accelerate hard, and often as possible, especially
in the summertine with the A/C on". That's
one good reason to stay at 194F and tune for
that, if you aren't pushing detonation at 194F
(and you should not be).
So bottom line is I would revisit the fan settings
and leave the thermostat be, unless you are all
het up about it (heh). Or unless you have plans
to go well past stock power output.
about 184F. So there's no point in getting a 180.
The actual operating temp will be 10-15 degrees
above the nominal thermostat temp (need more
temp to get a -meaningful- coolant flow).
Without big power adder you're probably better
off with the stock thermostat and a more closely
tailored set of fan temp settings. The 20 degrees
of ECT difference is not that big a deal to a low-
mods car and you will be marginally more fuel
efficient at 194F. The key is to keep your ECT
tight so you don't get out to the temps where
the PCM starts to pull spark or add / subtract fuel,
and keep the same temp all the time so you can
tweak in the spark/fuel to its best without having
to accommodate "mood swings".
I personally prefer to set my car up with the low
speed fans running almost all the time but the high
speed only as a backstop. I can't hear the low
speed fans above the exhaust note.
I have a 160F and I can't say it's made any
difference (but what the hell, it's almost a
"why not?" mod).
Your fans will have to work harder to maintain
a decent radiator temp to support 175F block
temp, than 194F block temp. The radiators are
only as big as they need to be, and that's "need"
in the GM bean counter sense, not "I want to
accelerate hard, and often as possible, especially
in the summertine with the A/C on". That's
one good reason to stay at 194F and tune for
that, if you aren't pushing detonation at 194F
(and you should not be).
So bottom line is I would revisit the fan settings
and leave the thermostat be, unless you are all
het up about it (heh). Or unless you have plans
to go well past stock power output.
