Why do people put 160 stats on their basically stock engine?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, OH
Why do people put 160 stats on their basically stock engine? why? im just wondering, everything ive heard is it is bad for the engine in the long run, forces the fan to run quicker, and keeps the engine to cool for its own good.
thanks.
MIKE
thanks.
MIKE
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I don't know either. I've tried lots of different running temps on the 3 LS1s I've owned, and running temps in the 195-205 range seem to be ideal for performance. This can be done easily with the stock stat by simply reprogramming the fans.
Granted, that's running a stock compression, near stock timing, NA motor though. Going with forced induction, high compression, and/or heavily modded motors and I'd want cooler temps. Otherwise, I don't see the advantage performance wise.
Stock fan settings can allow the motor to reach 230 degrees pretty easy in the heat, the fans are what need to be addressed more than the t-stat, IMO.
Granted, that's running a stock compression, near stock timing, NA motor though. Going with forced induction, high compression, and/or heavily modded motors and I'd want cooler temps. Otherwise, I don't see the advantage performance wise.
Stock fan settings can allow the motor to reach 230 degrees pretty easy in the heat, the fans are what need to be addressed more than the t-stat, IMO.
With the 160 my car would run too cool, then it would heat up and run hotter than with the stock t-stat. The 180 is perfect for me, but probably only opens a hair before the stock one.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by Redneck Z
With the 160 my car would run too cool, then it would heat up and run hotter than with the stock t-stat. The 180 is perfect for me, but probably only opens a hair before the stock one.
The aftermarket (hypertech) 180 is only starting to open at 180, it's not fully open till about 190-192 either.
Basically, going from a stock stat to a (hypertech) 180 really isn't worth the money. Just fix your fans.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo I thought the stock thermostat was a 186. I've seen posts where testing has shown the hypertech to open a few degrees earlier than the stocker. It isn't noticeably different to me though.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by Redneck Z
I thought the stock thermostat was a 186. I've seen posts where testing has shown the hypertech to open a few degrees earlier than the stocker. It isn't noticeably different to me though.
I did some swapping back and forth between the stock t-stat and the hypertech 180. What I observed was that, once the motor was fully warmed, no matter what I did I could not get either stat to post temps lower than 192* as per a-tap, even cruising at a very low rpm for a long distance (no stopping) in 40* outside temps. So I can't say for sure what temp exactly they each begin to open at, but it seems that any difference in fully open temp must be very minimal, and running temps will basically be the same with identicle fan settings.
PS. FWIW, the '98 owners manual says the stock stat starts to open between 177-184.
Originally Posted by Nourdmrolnmt1
why? im just wondering, everything ive heard is it is bad for the engine in the long run, forces the fan to run quicker, and keeps the engine to cool for its own good.
thanks.
MIKE
thanks.
MIKE
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: south jersey. again
well what i remember from mechanics school, an engine runs it best when hot, but of course it cant be too hot, if i remember correctly optimum temps for a street car are around 200-220 lower is better for longevity. heat makes power but also kills. if anything i would play with the fan settings.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by LS1SS4ever
So which is better 160 or 180? I am confused.
Personally, for a stock motor I never saw any benefit to a 160. These days I just use a stock stat with reprogrammed fans for running temps in the 195-205 range.
I wouldn't buy the 180 again either, unless I just needed a new stat. The 180 will not give you any signifigantly cooler running temps than the stock stat no matter what you do with the fan settings, in my experiance.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: west coast
I have 02 WS6. If you look it up it says it has a 180. But what it really does is BEGIN to open at 180 and fully open at 212. When you take it out and read whats on the thermo it says 100C right on it. Way too hot for me. When watching the live data when driving I was always in the high 190's and well over 200. I put in a hyper tech 160 and set fans to go with it. Driving stop and go or even cruising at 70 on the freeway I now run around 172 - 174 and the fans rarely come on. Much better. Your just roasting everything in the engine bay and the trans. I can now run more timing advance with out knock and get better milage and more power. But hey whatever right? Everybody has there own idea on whats right.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by WS6 RULES
Your just roasting everything in the engine bay and the trans.
The stock fan settings allow these cars to reach 230 regularly (I do agree that's too hot). Just so happens I know of quite a few stock LS1s with well over 100K miles on the stock motor and auto trans that haven't been roasted yet.
Running too cool can cause issues as well.....
But as you said, to each his own.
I tried the 160 and 180 t-stats with an ls1 edit tune for the fans. Neither set up worked very good for me. My car now, has the 180 in it with the slp fan switch. The slp fan switch has done the most for me in keeping the temp where I want it. I wouldn't waste money on the 180 t-stat if I had to do it over again. I would just buy the slp fan switch and call it good.
Back when I got my LT1 I put a 160* stat in just because I ran one in my old carb TA thinking it would have the same effect, not realizing the lt1 came stock w/ a 180 degree. It just took a bit longer to get to the same temp. Pointless w/o reprogrammed fans. In the cold, my car would never get above like 170 when I'd take it out every once in a while, but I think that did more harm than good. It never got to operating temp all winter! Anyways, last year my water pump began to seep @60k miles though. don't know if this is a coincedence. I now have a stock 180, fan switch, and new water pump.
I went from stock to a 160 Hypertech. I didn't lose any gas mileage, and the car warms up as fast as it did with the stock 195, it just runs cooler. A 160 will allow more room for advancing timing, and will help reduce KR more than a 180. LS1's generally run best around 180 degrees, right where a 160 t-stat will put them.
Jason
Jason