General LSX Automobile Discussion - Help! My ls1 runs too cold.

I recently bought a 98 LS1 trans am and it runs way too cold. Like the temperature gauge basically doesn't move. How do I make my car run hotter?

what temp is it at?

Look at the temp sensor and make sure it's plugged in, also do you have good heat coming out your vents?

The temp gauge does work, but it usually stays right at the bottom line (I'm at work so I can't look at it right now but I believe it hovers at about 170) I know the temp gauge is reading correctly too because my radiator cover went bad and boiled off all my coolant and my temp gauge went all the way to the red before I was able to fix the problem.

The heater works extremely well, except in the case when my radiator cap went bad, in which case, obviously, the heater didn't work at all and only blew cold air.

Actually my ls1 runs at about 160

Are you running a after market thermostat? Sounds like you have the same one as me.

I don't know if the thermostat is after market

Drain the water and run it like that...that WILL warm it up! Or check the sensor and try to change that and see what happens.

Was that a joke about removing the coolant? or were you serious?

Sounds like aftermarket fan settings and a cooler aftermarket t-stat. I'd scan the car to see what the temp really is before going any further.

thermostat suck open? do you have a infrared thermometer? could point it at the inlet of the thermostat housing and see what it is reading.. mine runs at 195* normally, with AC on 210*

Was that a joke about removing the coolant? or were you serious?
It was a joke, never do that.
Sounds like aftermarket fan settings and a cooler aftermarket t-stat. I'd scan the car to see what the temp really is before going any further.

Take his advice.

I am going to replace my thermostat. Should I replace the housing and the gasket while I am down there?

Was that a joke about removing the coolant? or were you serious?
Damn squid...can't see a joke if it hit him!
Sounds like aftermarket fan settings and a cooler aftermarket t-stat. I'd scan the car to see what the temp really is before going any further.

This would be your best bet.

Should I replace the housing and the gasket while I am down there?

is 170 really too cold?

It's actually usually around 160.

I wouldn't replace anything until you scan it, and see what the actual temp is. I would also take this time to verify what temps your fans cut on/off at. If someone installed a cooler temp t-stat and lowered the fan settings, and you put a stock t-stat back in, the fans may never cut off once the engine warms up.

The '98 gauge works better than the '99+ cars, but it's still not as accurate as a scanner. The problem could possibily be your gauge/temp sensor, in which case a new t-stat will do nothing.

If you want to just throw parts at the car without basic OBD diagnostics then good luck to you. Hopefully your first guess is the right guess. Sometimes simple scanning can tell you a lot, and save you from doing things you don't need to do and/or potentially creating new problems.

isnt this a common thing? a 160 stat and earlier fan temps? My 02 Camaro ran like that for the two years I owned it...

Very common. These mods are cheap and usually one of the first things done. In reality, stock t stat and fan settings work fine for a stock internal vehicle. Adding a lower t stat actually makes the car run less efficient and usually makes no more power than it did before the t stat.

Ls1's are designed to run about 190 to 210 ish.

The only time a lower t stat and lower fan settings is necessary is when you raise the compression and cylinder pressures and temps go up and the stock t stat and fan settings are having problems keeping it between 190 and 210.

Just check it. Check the temp with a infrared temp gun after a good long drive, see what temp. The fans pop on at.

Go from there.

I have a 98, a 160 slp thermostat and lowered fan settings.

The 98 guage reads at the bottom usually when cruising. It's just a 1/8 of an inch from the bottom line. HP tuners indicate I'm hovering around 172-174F. The fans come on around 184 and shut off 178 and that's around the first 1/4 mark on the guage. This makes the 1/4 mark around the 187-193F zone.

It's not LS1 ideal but I'm running 11.3 compression now on my setup and LS1 temps will cause detonation with 91 octane with that compression.