Should I change out my stock thermostat?

[NC_SS]

With my tune my car usually stays below 210, and recently with the really hot weather it'll creep up to around 212 if I'm in a drive thru or something

I'm running longtubes which probably doesn't help engine temps, but I've been thinking about going with a lower temp thermostat since it's a cheap change out.

I don't want a 160 degree or anything that low cause my engine is just bolt ons and I know these motors are happy around 190.

[acammer]

You may just unleash a flood of conflict here - some folks are going to tell you that a 160*F stat is completely unnecessary and even dangerous as it will accelerate the wear of your engine.

Others will tell you (myself included) that a 160*F stat will run at about 175*F under cruising conditions, and with correct fan tuning will keep the cars temps well controlled and under 185*F in almost all conditions. This allows for a little more margin of aggression in the overall calibration of the tune. More importantly, it allows for very consistent performance. As the cars temps head into the 200+ *F range there are a few different things within the stock calibration that start to gut power. Just ask anybody who's hot-lapped a stock 5th gen on a hot day at the drag strip what happens to their trap speeds.

The commonly accepted minimum temperature for not increasing engine wear is ~175*F of water temp. A 160*F stat runs right at the edge of that margin. Lingenfelter does offer a 174*F stat if being that cool worries you.

[NC_SS]

Yea I am going off of what Jannetty said in a thread a few years back about going with a 160 degree thermostat

I have done pulls at 185-190 and they are what noticeably different than how the pulls feel at 200+. With it being nearly 100 out from here on out I was just thinking maybe a 180 degree thermostat would be good for the cooling system

[acammer]

Originally Posted by NC_SS

Yea I am going off of what Jannetty said in a thread a few years back about going with a 160 degree thermostat

I have done pulls at 185-190 and they are what noticeably different than how the pulls feel at 200+. With it being nearly 100 out from here on out I was just thinking maybe a 180 degree thermostat would be good for the cooling system

You can look right at the tables in the stock calibration and see where the car pulls timing based on heat, both in the engine coolant as well as intake air temps. I know Ted is pretty against the cooler T-stats. You can also find plenty of tuners that will tell you it should be on your short list of To-Dos.

[WoodBoss]

I just went through all this, I put in a 180, 174 & a 160 and decided I like the 160 the best. I run about 180 driving and 185 sitting. I have a brand new Lingenfelter 174* thermostat I will sell you if you want it. Stock thermostat is 187 so with a 180 you will not see a difference.

[maddoggyusa]

i don't think a lower thermostat will fix driving through a drive thru.... even with the lower thermostat the temp will creep up slowly.

The lower thermostat will make a big difference while driving.

[acammer]

Originally Posted by maddoggyusa

i don't think a lower thermostat will fix driving through a drive thru.... even with the lower thermostat the temp will creep up slowly.

The lower thermostat will make a big difference while driving.

Fan tuning. I never go over 185*F. Ever. It'll creep up to 180-185*F, then the fans will smack it back down.

[WoodBoss]

Originally Posted by acammer

Fan tuning. I never go over 185*F. Ever. It'll creep up to 180-185*F, then the fans will smack it back down.

I agree. I can sit in the hot sun car idles in park for 10 minutes with the engine hot, 95* out brutally hot here in NC. I have never seen it go above 187*, when I had the stock thermostat in it would go to 220*. My fans are tuned to come on earlier. Driving around I run 180*. The 160* Thermostat is the way to go unless it's winter.

[NC_SS]

My fans kick on full blast around 208 but they're kind of what I'd call idling from 190 or so on

I guess I could get the thermo then just go back to PCM and get my tune adjusted for the thermostat

[qcman]

I find the stock thermostat doesn't open until around 220 or its when the fans kick on not sure.... and then the car cools down and goes back up again. Oddly enough if I have the AC on my car never goes above 200 F or thereabouts. I'm guessing as we use Celsius here for temps.

I find the fans running full with the AC on is more efficient than running with the AC off and the fans not on much at all.

[WoodBoss]

Originally Posted by NC_SS

My fans kick on full blast around 208 but they're kind of what I'd call idling from 190 or so on

I guess I could get the thermo then just go back to PCM and get my tune adjusted for the thermostat

PCM Has the 160* thermostats, that is where I got mine !!

[acammer]

Stock PCM only has fan control down to 192*F - getting them on sooner requires a different OS. Stock, the fans come on at low speed at 221*F. At 228*F they go to high speed. Cooling back down they will go to low speed once coolant is back under 217*F, and turn off when the coolant drops under 210*F.

I'm referencing this post here, and the stock HPT file I have for a 2010 SS.

[WoodBoss]

Originally Posted by acammer

Stock PCM only has fan control down to 192*F - getting them on sooner requires a different OS. Stock, the fans come on at low speed at 221*F. At 228*F they go to high speed. Cooling back down they will go to low speed once coolant is back under 217*F, and turn off when the coolant drops under 210*F.

I'm referencing this post here, and the stock HPT file I have for a 2010 SS.

We are talking about "PCM of NC" they are an LS shop in Mooresville and stock the thermostats.

[NC_SS]

Yea I've already been tuned there once, and I think it's only $25 for a retune each time