Installing a 160 Thermostat - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jesse454545 · 01-30-2014, 06:48 PM

Is it easy to install this thermostat or would I have to take it to a shop to install it? also is there a DIY on this particular mod that I cant find? Any help is welcomed. Thanks in advance.

SSMickey · 01-30-2014, 08:33 PM

1. Drain radiator
2. Disconnect lower hose from the thermostat housing
3. Remove bolts from thermostat housing
4. Clean off old gasket material
5. Install new thermostat
6. Reinstall thermostat housing with new gasket
7. Reconnect lower radiator hose
8. Refill radiator and run to operating temp
9. Check for leaks

HorsemenLC-SS · 01-30-2014, 08:42 PM

Don't be surprised if your car goes wacko. Mine didn't like the 160. Kept getting alerts not in operating temps. Put the OEM one back no issues. Just tuned the fans to turn on sooner. Same effect.

EmeryZ28 · 01-30-2014, 08:50 PM

what do we have stock, 180?

Cuda7050 · 01-30-2014, 08:54 PM

The thermostat has a small hole in it that needs to be on the up side. Squeeze the radiator hoses to get air pockets out after refilling with coolant. Make sure you warm the car up in your driveway and let it warm up all the way to make sure everything is working properly before taking it out on the road.

I installed on during the summer and have driven on days as low as 12 degrees without a problem, but I do let the car warm up in my garage to about 150 before hitting the road.

litle88 · 01-30-2014, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HorsemenLC-SS

Don't be surprised if your car goes wacko. Mine didn't like the 160. Kept getting alerts not in operating temps. Put the OEM one back no issues. Just tuned the fans to turn on sooner. Same effect.

Then you did it wrong AND no tuning with the fans to come on sooner is NOT the same thing.

Mine took a few times to burp.

HorsemenLC-SS · 01-31-2014, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litle88

Then you did it wrong AND no tuning with the fans to come on sooner is NOT the same thing.

Mine took a few times to burp.

With the OEM thermostat stock tune the car would run 205° now with the oem themostat tuned the car runs 180 to 190. The 160 on my V keeps the temp at 180 to 185 as well. I may have had air stuck in there the 2 times I tried going with the 160 but i have had zero issues with the OEM thermostat. Tuned the fans to come on sooner and got the same effect i wanted. The car runs cooler than before.

BigBlock69RS · 01-31-2014, 07:53 AM

All a 160 thermostat does is make your car take long to come up to temp.

This increases engine wear (all the engine toleranes are off longer).

If you typically make short trips it has the potential to gum up your oil (due to not burning off the contaminates in your pan since you never come up to temp). At best you dramtically reduce your oil life, worst case in needing a new engine from seizing.

It's at best kludge for cooling issues. Do your engine a favor and keep the stock temp thermostat.

SNSSTR · 01-31-2014, 07:55 AM

Jannetty usually chimes in on these threads. Here's a post he had about it before:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...86&postcount=6

litle88 · 01-31-2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rohdeo16

Jannetty usually chimes in on these threads. Here's a post he had about it before:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...86&postcount=6

So?

Does it make it the law around here? No it doesn't.

SNSSTR · 01-31-2014, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litle88

So?

Does it make it the law around here? No it doesn't.

I'm not saying it does, I was just offering up one opinion on the issue to someone who probably hasn't heard all there is to hear on it.

patternpilot · 01-31-2014, 10:08 AM

I put the 160 in and have no problems. The statement about not coming up to a high enough temperature to burn off the contaminants is bunk. Getting the temp to 160 is plenty high. Its more about the length of time you keep it at temp that's important.
If your engine is stock, keep the stock thermostats. If your supercharging then lower that temperature.

chevy 3 · 01-31-2014, 11:04 AM

If Ted says it's ok to run or mod it to work better then so be it. Ted has or had 7 of the top 10 fastest camaros on the street. I think he is def worth listening too.

SolomonAKOO · 01-31-2014, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litle88

So?

Does it make it the law around here? No it doesn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy 3

If Ted says it's ok to run or mod it to work better then so be it. Ted has or had 7 of the top 10 fastest camaros on the street. I think he is def worth listening too.

Guess it does make it law since Ted said it.

01-30-2014, 06:48 PM	#1
jesse454545 Drives: 2011 CAMARO 2SS/RS Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: SAN DIEGO & TEXAS Posts: 345	Installing a 160 Thermostat Is it easy to install this thermostat or would I have to take it to a shop to install it? also is there a DIY on this particular mod that I cant find? Any help is welcomed. Thanks in advance.

01-30-2014, 08:33 PM	#2
SSMickey Drives: 2010 IBM 2SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Columbia S.C. Posts: 1,455 View My Garage	1. Drain radiator 2. Disconnect lower hose from the thermostat housing 3. Remove bolts from thermostat housing 4. Clean off old gasket material 5. Install new thermostat 6. Reinstall thermostat housing with new gasket 7. Reconnect lower radiator hose 8. Refill radiator and run to operating temp 9. Check for leaks __________________ ProCharger P1X, Vengeance Racing Kaotic Cam, ARH Headers and Exhaust with Borla ATAK mufflers, MGW Shifter, MTI Drop Springs, Forgeline RB3C Wheels, 3.91 gears, Night Owl LED Control System

01-30-2014, 08:50 PM	#4
EmeryZ28 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 812	what do we have stock, 180? __________________ 2015 Silverado Z71 6.2/2011 Camaro 2SSRS LS3/2014 Cadillac ATS 2.0T

01-30-2014, 08:54 PM	#5
Cuda7050 Drives: 2012 SS LS3 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NorCal Posts: 818	The thermostat has a small hole in it that needs to be on the up side. Squeeze the radiator hoses to get air pockets out after refilling with coolant. Make sure you warm the car up in your driveway and let it warm up all the way to make sure everything is working properly before taking it out on the road. I installed on during the summer and have driven on days as low as 12 degrees without a problem, but I do let the car warm up in my garage to about 150 before hitting the road. __________________ Buttonwillow 2:23.736 Sacramento Raceway 12.89 at 112 mph Thunderhill 2:22.242

01-31-2014, 07:53 AM	#8
BigBlock69RS Ed Drives: 2013 AGM Camaro 2SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 951	All a 160 thermostat does is make your car take long to come up to temp. This increases engine wear (all the engine toleranes are off longer). If you typically make short trips it has the potential to gum up your oil (due to not burning off the contaminates in your pan since you never come up to temp). At best you dramtically reduce your oil life, worst case in needing a new engine from seizing. It's at best kludge for cooling issues. Do your engine a favor and keep the stock temp thermostat. __________________

01-30-2014, 08:42 PM	#3
HorsemenLC-SS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS, 2005 CTS-V Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Las Cruces Posts: 51 View My Garage	Don't be surprised if your car goes wacko. Mine didn't like the 160. Kept getting alerts not in operating temps. Put the OEM one back no issues. Just tuned the fans to turn on sooner. Same effect.

01-31-2014, 07:55 AM	#9
SNSSTR All About That Speed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Memphis Posts: 1,181	Jannetty usually chimes in on these threads. Here's a post he had about it before: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...86&postcount=6 __________________ 2010 SS M6 \| 416 CI \| H/C/I \| GPI TUNED \| SNSSTR

01-31-2014, 10:08 AM	#12
patternpilot Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tri-Cities WA. Posts: 928 View My Garage	I put the 160 in and have no problems. The statement about not coming up to a high enough temperature to burn off the contaminants is bunk. Getting the temp to 160 is plenty high. Its more about the length of time you keep it at temp that's important. If your engine is stock, keep the stock thermostats. If your supercharging then lower that temperature. __________________ There's more to life than gas mileage LS3, Whipple, Custom Comp Cam, springs, pushrods, timing set, CAI intake, Apex cold air scoop, Doug Thorley TRI-Y headers, Billet Custom Products baffled Valve covers, Mighty Mouse Catch can, ADM FPCM, ZL1 fuel pump, MSD boost-a-pump, Hex Vent hood vents, ProSport gauges(fuel pressure, AFR, Boost), Corsa, 100 cell Cats. Jannetty remote tuned, Pfadt trailing arms, all parts user installed. No Dyno yet. Manual trans. 3.45 gears.

01-31-2014, 11:04 AM	#13
chevy 3 NEcamaro5 Drives: Black 2ss rs 1LE Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mass Posts: 4,328 View My Garage	If Ted says it's ok to run or mod it to work better then so be it. Ted has or had 7 of the top 10 fastest camaros on the street. I think he is def worth listening too.