New predator with 160 t-stat
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
New predator with 160 t-stat i was looking through some of the old posts about fuel efficiency when using a 160 deg thermostat and changing the electric fan temps. After seeing some people post saying they lost 5 mpg when doing this, i think i decided maybe i don't want to do this. Am i going to harm anything if i install the thermostat anyways but don't do many changes to the cooling fan settings if anything at all? thanks
Thermostat w/o fans will be worthless around town and
only lower the temps on the highway. Fans w/o thermostat
will put you to a more consistent coolant temp (194F) and
make you able to "tune tighter" - no stoplight ping on a
tune that's otherwise good, etc. The 160 'stat will put you
about 177F instead of 194, if you set the fans to support
it (most advice seems to turn the fans on above the crack
point, in which case you will have wider swings but operate
generally at a higher temp.
I saw a 1MPG city hit at most from a combination of cooler
'stat and converter. It's a nit as far as I'm concerned. Also
got little difference in maximum no-KR timing or minimum
no-KR power enrichment (Predator) out of the 'stat, but
this was with well-managed fans.
I would say set the fans, leave the 'stat in the box and
tune it up as best you can for a consistent 194F coolant
temp.
only lower the temps on the highway. Fans w/o thermostat
will put you to a more consistent coolant temp (194F) and
make you able to "tune tighter" - no stoplight ping on a
tune that's otherwise good, etc. The 160 'stat will put you
about 177F instead of 194, if you set the fans to support
it (most advice seems to turn the fans on above the crack
point, in which case you will have wider swings but operate
generally at a higher temp.
I saw a 1MPG city hit at most from a combination of cooler
'stat and converter. It's a nit as far as I'm concerned. Also
got little difference in maximum no-KR timing or minimum
no-KR power enrichment (Predator) out of the 'stat, but
this was with well-managed fans.
I would say set the fans, leave the 'stat in the box and
tune it up as best you can for a consistent 194F coolant
temp.
