sz28aro

iTrader: (9)

How can u tell if ur car has a 160° Thermostat. I was told it did but runs at close to 210

Wnts2Go10O

iTrader: (12)

the stock gauge (except in 98's) is a dummy gauge

Gohard

iTrader: (3)

Is there a way to get an accurate reading?

conor.davis

iTrader: (20)

yeah, an aftermarket gauge.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

I've read that here before. BUT, my gauge (stock) does read lower since I did the 160 degree stat & PCM fan on change.

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

A scanner will read accurate engine coolant temp.

While driving at highway speed in reasonably cool weather, see what temp your engine is running at...your thermostat is probably within 5degF of that temp assuming your cooling system is working properly.

projectX

iTrader: (51)

I heard its not good to run 160 thermostats cause the ls1's run the best stock. They need to get hot to burn the gases up to be efficient.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

jus cuz the stat is 160.........does NOT mean the engine is 160!!!!!

orangeapeel

iTrader: (18)

that is true. They need to be in a proper operating heat range to be efficent for power and gas mileage.

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

Good point, but "just cuz u own a car...does NOT mean u know anything about internal combustion engines!!!1!1"

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

To get the engine to run at a certain temperature, the thermostat and the PCM’s fan turn on temperature need to match.

If you have a 160 degree thermostat but the fans don’t come on until the temperature is 210 degrees, your running temperature will be 210 degrees.

The running temperature will match the higher of the two.

If you in fact have a 160 degree thermostat installed and you’re still running 210, you’ll need to have the PCM checked to find out it’s fan turn on settings.

UberTruck

iTrader: (1)

160* Tstats can often collaborate with nonconsistant tuning temperatures to mess your tune up. I run a 192 tstat (or whatever * it is that SLP sells) and it does just fine.

160 tstats are for old chevy engines. lol.

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

That's half true - around town in traffic where you don't have enough airflow going through the radiator, the fans will be required to lower the ECT to match the new thermostat's switch point. At highway speeds, the fan settings don't matter, and the lower temp thermostat will cause a reduction in engine coolant temps. As soon as you stop, though, those temps will come right back up to where they were.

thatguy383

iTrader: (1)

werd...............

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Quite right, meent. Here in the NYC area, the words "highway" or "expressway" usually mean walking speed traffic jams.

To the OP: On the highway at speed, does the gauge start to drop below where it is when sitting in traffic?

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

Needless to say, I didn't think about that.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

This is true for emissions purposes. Most of the stock heat range specifications are designed around the engine being able to burn off enough gases to pass emissions.

160 stats being bad for these motors is a complete and total myth. I've installed 100's of them over the years.

To the original poster. FYI, you can have a 160 stat in the car but if the fans are not programmed to come on earlier your car will still run at near stock operating temps during city driving. Only while HWY cruising will it cool down. The fans needs to be dropped in the 180 degree range to take advantage of the thermostat.

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

Couldn't agree more with this post. I just swapped from a 180* t-stat to a 160* this past weekend (along with reprogramming the fans), and it kept the coolant temps 10-15* cooler, and also dropped my oil temps from 230* range down to 215-220* on a 90* day (and that's with an FTRA blocking a good portion of the airflow over the radiator).

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Yep. Keeping the engine cool has several benefits like keeping away unwanted timing retard due to heat soak or overall engine temps.