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Which operating temperature with 180F thermo?

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Old Aug 15, 2004 | 09:13 AM
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Default Which operating temperature with 180F thermo?

I installed a 180F thermostat in my 98 TA and set the fan switch as Hypertech does for this modification (1st stage ON @195, OFF @186 - 2nd stage ON @206, OFF @ 197).
The temperature is now constant at 198F (idle until it remains constant).
Is this normal?
What is the meaning of "180F thermo"? Does it begins to open at 180 or is this the aimed operating temperature?
I ask because with the stock thermostat and the same fan settings I had about the same temperature!

Thanks - Stefano
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Old Aug 15, 2004 | 10:26 AM
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180F is very nearly the stock 'stat rating.

My "160" Hypertech tries to "pivot" about 177F
(but it is "looser" than the stocker and will swing
from about 175 to 179 with load, if there is enough
surplus airflow to keep the radiator cool.
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Old Aug 15, 2004 | 06:53 PM
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I've got the stock thermo (I believe) in my 98 Corvette and my coolant temps stay in the 187-190F range at 70mph on the highway (when temps are in the 70s outside)
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 03:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Patman
I've got the stock thermo (I believe) in my 98 Corvette and my coolant temps stay in the 187-190F range at 70mph on the highway (when temps are in the 70s outside)
OMG, you got your Vette dude? That's awesome, congrats!
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:04 AM
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The thing is that now the fans are always on (1st stage), also on the highway where the wind is supposed to cool enough.
This is a hypertech thermo and I'm using the hypertech settings.
Is it fine to have the 1st stage always on or should I modify the thermo? Or adjust the settings with edit?
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 08:39 AM
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Here's what I prefer for fans - watch your ECT
reading during some light, moderate speed cruise.
This should show you the "natural" thermostat
temp call it "T"). I set the low speed OFF to T-2,
ON to T-1 and the high speed fan OFF to T+1,
ON to T+2. This makes the low speed fans run
basically full time once engine is hot and the high
speed are a close-in "backstop".

If you don't like having the fans run a lot, try
FAN1 OFF = T+1, FAN1 ON=T+2, FAN2 OFF=T+4,
FAN2 ON=T+5 or something like that. Then your
fans will kick off when the 'stat is satisfied with
airflow.

Personally I like running the low fan to cool the
radiator tank below its barely-good-enough
temperature, so as to have a little "cool on tap"
for surge thermal loads. But this is just a notion.

Proper would be, put a 170F hardware thermostat
on the radiator itself and use that to run the
high speed fans, "fan switch mod" style. I wanted
to add a pusher fan to my car but there just ain't
room in the nose duct....
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 11:13 AM
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I agree with your settings if you want to keep the engine bay cool (it also helps my additional transmission oil cooler). But is it ok to run the fans all time? (1st stage isn't that bad, but still...).

If a thermostat is rated 180F does it mean it starts to open at 180 or that it will keep the engine at this temperature (assuming there is enough air too cool)?

This is the question...

I ask just because the stock thermo was able to keep the engine at the same temperature (highway, same weather conditions), and I'm "a little" pissed off 'cause of the money and the time for the install...
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