Gun5

iTrader: (37)

Well I was thinking all of us that are running the 160 stats are we hurting ourselves... not letting the engine heat up enough to maximize combustion?

car runs 175-180 all day usualy have to beat on it real hard to get near 200-210 middle line

anyone switches from a 160 to a 180 and found better anything?? just wondering

jasonp31

My opinion:

Daily driving, use the stock temp t-stat. The engine is designed to run at that temperature. It helps the engine keep itself clean.

Drag racing, use a 160. This, along with fan control, will allow you to keep the engine cooler while waiting in line.

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

Put a 180 in it, the best of both worlds!

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

i recently switched to a 180...160 made my heater useless,and it gets cold this time of year.

Formula350

iTrader: (3)

They come with a 185º stock LOL

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

no they dont LOL! 195 is stock LOL!

buffman

iTrader: (9)

it's a 180* last time I checked. I ran a 160* T-stat in the winter and the heat was just fine. Output air was cooler than the 180* T-stat but it was just fine. If you're concerned about not getting your car up to operating temps then you're not driving it long enough.

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

195 stock

buffman

iTrader: (9)

want to bet

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

+1 for above, again all of gm 350's have 195ts stock! 180 is about optimal for a daily driver, unless you tune for a 160.

buffman

iTrader: (9)

sorry King, the LT1 was an exception. All LT1s OEM Thermostats are 180*. For awhile the 180* and 160* T-stats were the only LT1 specific units available. Just in the recent years have they come out with the oddball temps.

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

word? why is my heater cooler with a 180 then...

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

Yes your right I just checked. The haynes manual say operating temp for factory thermostat is 185-205.

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

oh **** that sucks then...i think my heater core is clogged

96lt1m6

iTrader: (31)

my 95 formula had the original t-stat in it and it said "192-195" on the bottom side of the copper.the same for my 95 and 96 when stock.
192-195 is stock
180 is great all around
160 is for racing etc.

buffman

iTrader: (9)

for teh last time it's 180*

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

I could of swore that mine said 192-195 also, but buffman say's it's 180. I thought the only aftermarket thermostats was 180 and 160, stock was 195. Like I said the haynes manual says operating temp range for the thermostat is 185 to 205. So it would make sense that 195 is stock, that wouls give it plus or minus 10 degrees of variance. IDK?

buffman

iTrader: (9)

12555290 Part #

SLawson86

iTrader: (8)

its not a matter of heating up for combustion, the idea with running these motors hotter, and getting them up to temp faster is mostly for emissions. sure from the factory the engine specs were assembled for the temp, but for efficiency... the heat brings it down. i run a 160 Thermostat, but my car is tuned to not go into closed loop... it was compensated for in the tune. but the only thing i could see is the heat being a bit warmer with 180 tstat

buffman

iTrader: (9)

and remember an LTX will have hotter cylinder bore temperatures because of the reverse cooling.