New LS1 Owners - Newbie Tech - Quick coolant flush question

Hey guys,

Is it absolutely necessary that I change the thermostat in the car when I do a coolant system flush? I will be staying with the same coolant, and I have no cooling issues or leaks. Just trying to save a few bucks if possible and was wondering if its one of those "if its not broken..."

Thanks!

if its fine then i would'nt touch it.

Cheap...do it. What if it goes out right after you flush the coolant? You just wasted all that new expensive coolant.

T stats usually don't give any warning before they go bad...they just stick one day. Just because it's working fine today doesn't mean it will be working tomorrow.

Didn't you post in another thread that your car only has 23k miles? If so, I wouldn't even consider replacing the t-stat unless you're having cooling system issues. They normally last a whole lot longer than that. ;) I didn't replace my stock one until about 90k miles when it needed a water pump.

Didn't you post in another thread that your car only has 23k miles? If so, I wouldn't even consider replacing the t-stat unless you're having cooling system issues. They normally last a whole lot longer than that. ;) I didn't replace my stock one until about 90k miles when it needed a water pump.

Haha, good eye. Yeah it only has 23k miles and the previous owner put in a 160 stat. I've had it for roughly 8-10 k miles and the 160 was in there prior to that, so its next to brand new I guess. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a "requirement".

Thanks guys

Haha, good eye. Yeah it only has 23k miles and the previous owner put in a 160 stat. I've had it for roughly 8-10 k miles and the 160 was in there prior to that, so its next to brand new I guess. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a "requirement".

Thanks guys

Not a requirement at all. I've changed coolant in all of my cars several times without changing the t-stat. Yours is so new that it would be a waste to toss it out. :)

I agree with the don't change it guys. I have a 2000 gmc yukon xl / 5.3L with 226,xxx miles, still has the T-stat that GM blessed it with from the factory. I'll change it when she starts to give me problems.

If it were a stock t stat, I would agree, don't change it, but its a 160...I would put a stock temp one back in.

If it were a stock t stat, I would agree, don't change it, but its a 160...I would put a stock temp one back in.

In this regard I agree, no need for a 160° unless you've got a forced induction setup or super high compression with an aggressive tune. I'd rather have a 180-187° t-stat as well.

After I think about it, even with 25k miles, I would still change it. It's still 13 years old and has sat more of the 13 years than ran. In all honesty, the. Are so cheap, I'd change it every time I had to drain the coolant for some reason or another.

After I think about it, even with 25k miles, I would still change it. It's still 13 years old and has sat more of the 13 years than ran. In all honesty, the. Are so cheap, I'd change it every time I had to drain the coolant for some reason or another.

Haha.... coolant in my '98 has been changed about 6 times in the last 14 years, the car sits most of the time..... 16k miles currently. Stock t-stat still in place. I'll probably keep it in for another 14 years. :lol:

I'll let you guys know if it ever fails. Consider mine the "control" sample, to see how long a stock t-stat can last in a seldom-use car with proper coolant maintenance.

I just bought a 2000 SS Camaro with only 12,500 miles on it. Took it to a shop and had all the fluids changed out, including the coolant. While at it, I replaced the radiator hoses (all three) and the thermostat as well. Put in a 180 degree stat as the car is all stock. Was not having cooling problems but the car sat most of its life and the stock stat was over 12 years old. May not have needed a new one but just trying to eliminate any potential weak link in the system. My recommendation is to change out the stat and hoses if for nothing else but peace of mind. All very easy to do yourself.

i would personally change it out. Might not be needed, but theyre under 20 bucks and youre already in there.

I just bought a 2000 SS Camaro with only 12,500 miles on it. Took it to a shop and had all the fluids changed out, including the coolant. While at it, I replaced the radiator hoses (all three) and the thermostat as well. Put in a 180 degree stat as the car is all stock. Was not having cooling problems but the car sat most of its life and the stock stat was over 12 years old. May not have needed a new one but just trying to eliminate any potential weak link in the system. My recommendation is to change out the stat and hoses if for nothing else but peace of mind. All very easy to do yourself.

If you are swapping hoses out because you need the peace of mind, you should have done the heater hoses as well. Personally I wouldn't worry about it though, as I've still got my original hoses from '98. They aren't cracked or dried, and still feel very healthy as of this spring when I checked them. I plan to keep them (and the t-stat) in service for many more years on this rarely driven car.