C5XTASY

I'm thinking of going to a cooler thermostat. I was thinking of the Vinci 170 degree version. Currently, my fans are set such that the warmest the car ever gets is 207 degrees. That is with a stock thermostat, in stop-and-go traffic. Normal running temps are 192-194 degrees. Would a cooler running thermostat buy me anything at all? BTW, I have a heads and cam car. Experiences, and opinions, all welcome. thanks! :cheers
Ed

Speed Density

iTrader: (38)

For $15 you cant go wrong with getting a stat!

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

get the 160 degree and set your fans to turn on around 175 so you can keep the coolant between 165-170........


cooler coolant = cooler heads = less detonation = more advance

maro-man

I thought that if you get your engine running too cool it would cause problems, not help anything. Who knows though I could be wrong!

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

yeah......too cold (ie: running the engine hard while COLD) is bad......but the 160 degree is the OPENING temp of the T-stat (where it STARTS to open) and it won't become FULL open till ~180.....also remember that the "160" is the temp of the coolant going INTO the engine......not the temp leaving.....the engine (more importantly the heads) are quite a bit hotter (thus the point of reverse cooling so the heads stay cooler).......


finally, the best HP is usually seen with water temps of about 160degrees and oil temps of about 210degrees.....

maro-man

Dude, I was just trying to say you don't want it too damn cold!!!

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Lots of info on this, been discussed in depth and good points made on both sides. Try a search.

Personally, I see no point in running coolant temps any cooler than 185-190 on a stock compression, NA LS1. I've tried it and seen no gains, only a loss in MPG. To each his own......

TAQuickness

iTrader: (28)

no it's not worth it. save your money for gas or something useful

Y2K SS

iTrader: (1)

Its worth it if you got someone that can program your fans to turn on sooner like RPM said. The too cold thing is a factor also, I have my fans come on at 185 and 195.

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

All in all I'd say you'd do better with stock 'stat,
smart fan settings and a better radiator. Radiator
costs can be low, I snarfed a LT1 rad off eBay for
$25 never-wet (cost less than the shipping). The 160
thermostats demand a -way- better radiator if you
want to keep the temp there, under load with A/C
on. The goal is to minimize temp swing and at high
loads the thermostat is no part of the thermal-dump
limitation.

Better to have rock-solid 195F than a 175-225F
bouncing ball, for tuning it down to the bone.

mikecronis

I had used a Hypertech (now stollen) to set my fans to come on at 180 with a 160-stat inside. I'm getting a Vinci handheld in a few days in the mail but I noticed the lowest temp for fan turn-on is 190 (!)

Will Vinci overwrite Hypertech's coding or will it stack?

RedHardSupra

iTrader: (1)

jimmyblue, which radiator did you get? i know different years of the LT1 have different thickness IIRC. which one fits LS1/A4 cars with AC condenser in place?

shouldaboughttheZ

iTrader: (8)

I have the Hypertech 160* thermostat and have had my fans programed to 180 for the low and 188 for the high speed. I live in Houston, Tx and it gets pretty damn hot here. If I would have lived up north, I probably would have went with a 180* thermostat.