Cambo3

iTrader: (1)

I know guys do the 160 thermostat but after research it didn't seem like it was the best thing. I know the temp guage is just a guide but my car is a just below 210 all the time. I think the factory is 187-195 if I am correct. So I was wondering would it be worth it to get the 180 thermostat since it is close to stock but a little lower?

conan

iTrader: (5)

If your looking to swap it out just to swap it out... Waste of time. If you need a new one a 180 wouldn't hurt anything. I wouldn't go 160 unless your building a high hp motor that needs some cooling help.

Fry_

What year and model car do you have? If it's a 99+ f-body the temp gauge is more like a 3 or 4 position dummy light and never really tells you the actual temp, just cold, normal, and hot.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Stock t-stat is 86°C (187°F) so it would in fact be a waste of time to swap it out with a 180 unless you just happened to need a new t-stat anyway.

A 160° is rarely the right answer for most LS1 setups, IMO.

Cambo3

iTrader: (1)

It is a 2000 but I need to replace it. It is getting stuck open every once in a while.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

i have 160s in both of my cars with no problems. only thing is if its really cold my heat is barely adequate.


id go 160 or a stock one.

ironmikektm525

I recently swapped out stat with a 160. I was already there doing the p.s.cooler delete so I said what the heck I can always change it back. . my fans def come on less( they used to come on more than I liked) and temp gauge is noticably little lower. No difference in gas mileage and have great heat in colder weather(45-50) . I'm happy with the 160 but thats just my opinion.

ironmikektm525

[QUOTE=ironmikektm525;18203692]I recently swapped out stat with a 160. I was already there doing the p.s.cooler delete so I said what the heck I can always change it back. . my fans def come on less( they used to come on more than I liked) and temp gauge is noticably little lower. No difference in gas mileage and have great heat in colder weather(45-50) . I'm happy with the 160 but thats just my opinion. I also did a ton of reading on the 160vs180.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

yeah,for the most part my heat is fine it was this past really cold winter where it took a few minutes to get warm obviously from my car running cooler.

Cambo3

iTrader: (1)

I just plan on doing some bolt ons so that's why I was going to go with the 180 or stock.

ironmikektm525

Yeah I just have full Bolton's. I talked with new era and they recommend the 160. They don't even sell a 180. Auto zone sells 187 or 160 only

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

180 or stock, with adjusted fan settings, is the better choice IMO. I've always gotten best performance out of my NA LS1s (stock internals or not) with coolant temp in the 19x° range. Cool combustion chambers don't make power as well, the best combo is a nice warm chamber and a COLD air intake charge. Low temp t-stats are a trick to get that cooler air intake charge to happen in applications where coolant is running through the intake, and/or with metal intakes that are much more prone to heat soak - not the case for an LS1. So in this application, the only reason for a 160° would be to avoid detonation with a max effort setup, such as a super aggressive tune (very lean mixture, aggressive timing), compression bordering on non-pump gas friendly, or certain power adder applications.

A bolt on LS1 absolutely doesn't need a 160° t-stat, but that's just my opinion/experience.

Cosmik de Bris

I'm a 160 person myself but it doesn't make much sense to me unless you lower the fan temps as well.

ironmikektm525

When I'm cruising my temp gauge is lower with 160 compared to 187 without fan reprogram

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

I'm full bolt-ons with a tune; I chose to stick with the stock thermostat with no plans on changing.

DANOZ28

iTrader: (1)

i put in the 160 therm but never changed the computer so my dummy temp gauge stays around 200.

Cambo3

iTrader: (1)

Yea, as mine is now factory the temp says 210 but I doubt that's a true reading. So it seems a lot of you guys have the 160 thermostat.