Just wondering with this cold weather should I switch back to a 180 T stat? I have a 160 and the car doesnt get that warm, also its running richer(tail pipe soot) I blocked off the lower ram air super sucker scoop, due to the rain we had.

 

i run the 160* all year long. Never had a problem

 

this is my 1st ls car ever but its had 160 sense i got it and it runs fine in houston. but it dont get that cold here

 

do not think changing would make much/any differant as to car feeling warm.

"'....also its running richer(tail pipe soot) I blocked off the lower ram air super sucker scoop ......"do you have ample air intake on top ?
if so do you block off the top when using lower ?

just my .02' Johnny

 

Im using the stock location under the hood for air intake into an SLP intake lid. Today driving home I drive spirited and really warmed her up

 

Hi,
i run a 160 year round with no issues. Our temps run about 15-30 degrees at night during the winter months. Good luck and stay warm......
Have a blessed day...........jim

 

I have a 160 and it runs fine

 

I'm not liking my 160* stat right now. Its been mid 30's last few mornings and I'll let my car 'warm up' for a good 10-15 minutes and it still blows lukewarm. Gauge shows it wont go above about 120*. I know it will blow hot when its warmer outside and my car seems to run unusually cool but damn, I gotta put on an extra jacket just to drive to work

 

mine takes a little longer to warm up, not much tho, but once its warm it runs great and blows hot enough for me

 

Odd man, I have the 160 and it still blows hot air.

 

Coolant exchanges do wonders for hot air as well just in case its low or hasntbeen changed in a long time

 

I have a 160, and I have no issues with driving my car right now. And it's speed density tuned too... It warms up to the same temperature it would on any normal day...

 

U have another problem. Your 160 should not affect your heater. Sounds like u might be low in coolant or have a bad heater core or something....

 

Sure it does. You're blowing air over the heaver core with 180 degree coolant in it instead of 220 so the heater is not as efficient. Mine is not.

Having said that, the fact that his temps are not getting above 120 points to a tstat problem.

 

With a colder tstat it takes longer for the engine to get to operating temperature. In other words, it will take longer for your heater to produce heat. The colder the engine the less effective your heater is. Since the colder tstat only effects the temps while cruising on the freeway, this will also effect the heater since it runs much colder during 30degree weather. The only time a colder tstat doesn't make a big difference is while your ripping on it, or at idle.

Also if you are using a 99-02 fbody temp guage, it is far from an accurate source.

Considering the soot, these engines are said to be optimally efficient (power in relation to emmissions) at higher 200-220 temps.

 

I am running carbed in mine, but it does seem to warm up as fast as my 2001 silverado with the stock piece. I am usually around 170* operating temperature in the summer, 180* beating on it, but right now, 160*, no matter what.

 

I to run a 160 and havent noticed any excessive black soot and with a white car its very noticable .I only see it when i have to but cheap fuel .

 

A 160 tstat if working properly should warm the engine up to operating temperature just as fast as a 180. If the flow of coolant is blocked then it makes no difference what the opening temperature is at that point. Once open your heater will not get as warm as with a 180. Like 5 Liter Eater says, blowing air over a cooler heater core isn't going to produce as much heat.

I have a 160 in my 08 Corvette and it seems to warm up just as fast as my factory tstat. Just doesn't get as warm. My engine temp. stays around 180-185 normally. If in stop and start driving then it will heat up farther due to my fan programming.

As far as soot in your tail pipes, probably normal but if it is actually too rich then tuning should take care of that.

 

I had a 160* on the 3.8L and programed to 160* did not run rich but took 10-15mins for "good" hot air to blowout on max, but the temp is upper 20- lower 30s at 4am. later in the day ( suns out ) would take 5mins maybe, no warm up just crank and drive.

 

Yea I don't know what you guys are talking about with regards to soot and taking longer to warm up. I mean I have plenty of soot but I'm pretty sure it's from <11:1 AFRs under WOT.