160 degree thermostat on jegs.

[TheBandit18]

I'm looking at ordering a 160 thermostat I was looking at jegs and there are two on there that are 160 thermostat what is the diff emergence if the both fit an ls3. There I a $5 difference in price

[TheBandit18]

And the other

[1Slow6.2]

Waste of money!


If you're reading this objects In side view mirrors are losing as I'm rowing the 3:91's

[Spartan01]

Looks like one of them is specifically for the Camaro, even though the first will fit.
Ted jannetty posted a great thread on here about why not to get a 160 degree thermostat- basically the LS3 is designed to reach a certain operating temp, if it does not it is out of spec and wears out prematurely.

[nyny69]

Do you believe everything you read on the internet. Its a hotly debatable subject with those for and those against. I will say I had stock thermostat in for last 3 years. The downside, the car sounded like a airplane with my fans on all the time and my temp hovered around 200... Now I have a 160 and temps are in the 180's and no more airplane from the fans....

I mean cmon, people are throwing sc, LTs, intakes on the cars but they are going to worry about a thermostat hurting the motor.

[TheBandit18]

I called up Shawn at lethal racing and he says they always put them on there cammed vehicles. So I'm trusting a well known tech/tuner

[Spartan01]

Originally Posted by nyny69

Do you believe everything you read on the internet. Its a hotly debatable subject with those for and those against. I will say I had stock thermostat in for last 3 years. The downside, the car sounded like a airplane with my fans on all the time and my temp hovered around 200... Now I have a 160 and temps are in the 180's and no more airplane from the fans....

I mean cmon, people are throwing sc, LTs, intakes on the cars but they are going to worry about a thermostat hurting the motor.

No, I don't believe everything that I see on the internet, however, I do trust EVERYTHING that I hear from Ted jannetty regarding this engine.

[Kelly@PCMofNC]

Originally Posted by Spartan01

Ted jannetty posted a great thread on here about why not to get a 160 degree thermostat- basically the LS3 is designed to reach a certain operating temp, if it does not it is out of spec and wears out prematurely.

Installing a 160 degree stat doesn't mean it runs at 160 degrees. They still reach appropriate operating temperatures. Now, if you live in a super cold climate that may be something you have to worry about, but the majority of people can run 160-180 stats and not have any issues.

[ZO6 Bryan]

The thermostat controls the MINIMUM temp at which the engine will operate. Once warmed up you will see the same temp with a 160 thermostat unless you program the fans to come on sooner. You don't want to run the engine at 160 deg all the time. 180 deg would be better. And this issue has nothing to do with THESE engines or what Ted says. It applies to all water cooled auto engines. And the rules haven't changed for the proper temp an internal combustion engine should run since before Ted was born. Only difference is the electronic control of the fans. But the idea that a 160 deg thermostat will wear out your engine is BS.

[nyny69]

Originally Posted by TheBandit18

I called up Shawn at lethal racing and he says they always put them on there cammed vehicles. So I'm trusting a well known tech/tuner

Good for you. I think most experienced LS motor shops would recommend them.

[justa25thTA]

Originally Posted by nyny69

Good for you. I think most experienced LS motor shops would recommend them.

I don't have a dog in this fight, so forgive me.

Are these the same shops that are making money on rebuilding engines? VS the manufacturer who loses money on rebuilding engines? The manufacturer wants durability and longevity. The performance shops want...

[dekan513]

Originally Posted by Spartan01

No, I don't believe everything that I see on the internet, however, I do trust EVERYTHING that I hear from Ted jannetty regarding this engine.

well thats mistake 1. but a tuner wants a car to run at certain temp. all the 160* does is cause the fans not to run as much. car will run at a desired temp. this just lets it cool quicker and easier. but its not gonna make or break u.

[Anthony @ LG Motorsports]

Originally Posted by nyny69

Good for you. I think most experienced LS motor shops would recommend them.

Depends on the car, the use, the climate.....

If it is mostly a stock car with headers and a cold air kit and you live in Michigan......I would say don't worry about it.

If your in Texas and your going to be road racing the car on weekends during the summer, then yes it is very worth while to do it. Again like they said above this is just the point at which the water starts to flow, it doesn't mean it is going to stay at that. Fans don't even begin to turn on until 192 degree's anyway.

Ideal temps for our race cars would be water between 185 and 220 and oil temps between 230-260. Running those temps the car should be able to do the 24hrs of Le Mans......well at least the temps wouldn't be what killed it.

[nyny69]

Originally Posted by justa25thTA

I don't have a dog in this fight, so forgive me.

Are these the same shops that are making money on rebuilding engines? VS the manufacturer who loses money on rebuilding engines? The manufacturer wants durability and longevity. The performance shops want...

So the same theory can be applied to any modification you do to the vehicle. Let's just keep them all stock and not worry about it then. Once you start modding the car all bets are off.