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Any Way to Verify Thermostat?

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Old Apr 4, 2005 | 11:38 AM
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Default Any Way to Verify Thermostat?

I was told by the previous owner of this car that I have a 160 Thermostat in the car. The car runs basically constantly at about 200-210 degrees no matter what temperature it is outside.

I am wanting to get it setup where the fans come on at a lower temp, but I don't know what's in there. I really don't want to get in there only to find I have the stocker or worse, buy a new one and realize I didn't need it.

I've done plenty of work on cars, but how hard is it to change on the LS1?

And if I do have the 160, what temp should I set the fans for?
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Old Apr 4, 2005 | 11:44 AM
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for some reason all 99 and up temp guages ( at least my own and evey other one ive seen) seem to go straight to 210 no matter what ...was told why once but i cant remember now. I had 160 stats in both my 99s and the guages still went to 210 even though the cars were both reprogrammed/dyno tuned. My 98 TA on the other hand has the stock t-stat and it always climbs right in between 160 and 180. t-stats arent hard to change on the LS1, maybe 20-30minutes i think.
You can get a manual fan control switch to turn ur fans on when ever ya want!
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Old Apr 4, 2005 | 12:09 PM
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My temp gauge does the same with hyper programming w/160 stat as without. But the engine is 168 hot. I also ajusted the fans to come on earlyer. The program adjust the gauge also I assume. It's been a while since I mest with it. Car is in sig.
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Old Apr 4, 2005 | 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Trent
I was told by the previous owner of this car that I have a 160 Thermostat in the car. The car runs basically constantly at about 200-210 degrees no matter what temperature it is outside.

I am wanting to get it setup where the fans come on at a lower temp, but I don't know what's in there. I really don't want to get in there only to find I have the stocker or worse, buy a new one and realize I didn't need it.

I've done plenty of work on cars, but how hard is it to change on the LS1?

And if I do have the 160, what temp should I set the fans for?


as stupid as this sounds...... your car doesnt have a temp gauge.

sure it has a needle... but that doesnt show your temp.
it just sits there looking all pretty..... until the motor overheats, then it goes to red.




see, with these cars (and LT1s and 3rdgens), going down the hwy, it stays pretty cool.. then sitting still, its allowed to get really hot, then the fans kick on, and it cools some until they kick off, then it gets really hot again..... a cycle.


of course, people saw the needle moving up, and flipped out... so for 99+ fbodys, the gauge is one of the serial gauges... the computer just says what it wants to show... and it shows "normal" all the time unless it detects a prob.


98 fbodys have a real gauge.










the method id use to where the thermostat kicks on:
hook up a scan tool (find a friend with one)
let some coolent out (nows a great time to flush it anyway)
run the car... when the thermostat opens, the water will get sucked into the motor, and you'll see it go down...... look at the scan tool. thats the temp it opens.

go ahead and add more coolent back in...
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Old Apr 4, 2005 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by MrDude_1
as stupid as this sounds...... your car doesnt have a temp gauge.

sure it has a needle... but that doesnt show your temp.
it just sits there looking all pretty..... until the motor overheats, then it goes to red.




see, with these cars (and LT1s and 3rdgens), going down the hwy, it stays pretty cool.. then sitting still, its allowed to get really hot, then the fans kick on, and it cools some until they kick off, then it gets really hot again..... a cycle.


of course, people saw the needle moving up, and flipped out... so for 99+ fbodys, the gauge is one of the serial gauges... the computer just says what it wants to show... and it shows "normal" all the time unless it detects a prob.


98 fbodys have a real gauge.




the method id use to where the thermostat kicks on:
hook up a scan tool (find a friend with one)
let some coolent out (nows a great time to flush it anyway)
run the car... when the thermostat opens, the water will get sucked into the motor, and you'll see it go down...... look at the scan tool. thats the temp it opens.

go ahead and add more coolent back in...
Cant you just put it in a pot of water (on a stove) with a thermometer and see what temperature it opens?

David
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Old Apr 4, 2005 | 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by ROCNDAV
Cant you just put it in a pot of water (on a stove) with a thermometer and see what temperature it opens?

David
YES!!

I was just going to suggest that...
the temp of the thermostat is where it *STARTS* to open....
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Old Apr 5, 2005 | 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by ROCNDAV
Cant you just put it in a pot of water (on a stove) with a thermometer and see what temperature it opens?

David

yea, but then you have to take it out... lol.



edit:
i dont even have a stove... yay microwave.
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Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by MrDude_1
yea, but then you have to take it out... lol.



edit:
i dont even have a stove... yay microwave.
LOL

You're right, I better add a disclaimer:
Wait for thermostat and water to cool, before removing from pan

David
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Old Apr 5, 2005 | 03:12 PM
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I think he meant then you have to take it out of the car, not the pot.
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Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MrDude_1
yea, but then you have to take it out... lol.



edit:
i dont even have a stove... yay microwave.

I need to add a disclaimer to this one too.....

you should never put metal things in a microwave....
serious damage...injury...or death may occur from improper use of this appliance....

just making sure you dont try to put a thermostat and a thermometer in a microwave to test it....BAD BAD IDEA
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Old Apr 5, 2005 | 11:05 PM
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And wait until the car cools before removing from the car

D
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Old Apr 6, 2005 | 10:15 AM
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Put it in the oven.
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Old Apr 6, 2005 | 09:24 PM
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if your oven has a window and a good light.... kind of hard to really see it in there...
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Old Apr 6, 2005 | 11:11 PM
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my 98 guage sits at around 170-180, usually 165-170 while im driving around. it has to be idling for a long time, like in line at a drive thru where i'm constantly giving it some gas and moving up in line for it to get to 210 or the fans to come on.

if you are going thru the trouble of taking it out and TESTING it, just buy a real 160* stat and put it in. that way you will be SURE and you will have a new thermostat
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