GQ

iTrader: (5)

Just curious as to what would be the ideal thermostat temp. for a slightly modded ls1. I was thinking about getting a 160, but i remember when i had my lt1, people would tell me not to because the computer still thought the car was warming up, when in fact the thermostat would not allow the car to get any hotter...not sure if the ls1 has a different temp setting. I also have a hypertech, not sure of that makes a diff. lmk -g

Strahley

iTrader: (4)

When you install the new thermo, you'll have to reset the fan settings to kick in earlier. I do beleive you can do that with your Hypertech, so good thing you have that. If you can't do it with that, LS1Edit will

As for 160 or 180, I'm not too sure. I have not seen a 180 for sale in a long time, and most people I see install the 160. So I'm guessing it's not a problem at all for an LS1 car to have the 160 rather than 180

slow

iTrader: (7)

my 180 dropped my coolant temps a whooping 4 degrees, from 195 all day long, to 190-191 now.

I wish i went with the 160.

and that is with a manual fan switch, activating the fans.

I really wish there was a 170 stat around.

Ryan

unit213

I used to run mid 11's in the low 120's in my LS1 and I never touched the thermostat. It's an overrated mod IMO.

OCSSleeper

It kinda is an over rated mod, atleast at fifty $. But with the 160 stat you still don't run that cool. But you do need to reprogram the fans is you change the stat. I had a 180 in my car at first and the needle on the temp gauge moved about 1/16 of a needle to the left. So I put the 180 in my truck and got a 160 off Ebay for $28. With the 160 and reprogramed fans, the needle on the temp guage moved about 3/16 of an inch to the left of the center mark.

Firehawk853

wouldnt you want the 160 if you were going to go with an underdrive pulley???

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

Cooler 'stat will only -try- to make up for reduced
water flow. When it's wide open though, it is no
longer the main restriction to flow and has no
further "authority". The difference in full-open
flow between 160 and 180 is nil.

samz28

yah i run 160, daily driving =183F (programmed) and hotlapping = 225F ECT.


Only people that would suffer from a 160F would be someone who does alot of driving in freezing temps where the car would hover in 160F-180F, for me that's never.


but it used to idle at 210F before the 160F thermostat and tuning of the fan's so to go from 213F to 183F is a good thing.

shaneSS

iTrader: (2)

Weather or not is is a usfull mod it yet to be seen. I can tell you that it will obviously open at 160 and that will send all that hot coolant to your radiator and the cool water from you radiator into your engine. However, If you do not set your fans to turn on sooner then in the long run you can end up with an overheating issue because your fans will never turn on sooner than your therm is opening therefor sending 'not so cold' water back to the engine. After a few cycles the water would maintain a temp higher than 160 and force to therm to stay open (a bad thing). The flow really has nothing to do with it as the orphice size is the same and the therm is amlost never open for an extended period of time if fans are adjusted properly.

Im putting a 160 in my car just because its slightly modded, I get on it regularly and I like to run the A/C in the summer so it cant hurt to try to keep the engine a little bit cooler. Just make sure you set the fans!

Enjoy.

samz28

what do you set your fans to?

i have fan 1 183 on fan two 196 on
fan 1 173 off fan two 186 off

temps usually stay at 183 during normal driving. I may put both fans on at 183 at track events (hptuners!!!! --------------> )

sawedoff

iTrader: (3)

There aren't any advantages to over cooling an engine. You lose power and efficiency. Just leave the OEM unit in. Your fuel economy will be better. I would so a search on the board about the thermostat. There's been alot said about these. You'd be better off with a tune.

DANSLS1GTO

Heat = power - so long as you don't get into knock retard mode.
Dan

GQ

iTrader: (5)

thanks for all the input fellas. it seems like kind of a mixed opinion issue.