160 Degree thermostat - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

tnspd · 11-19-2014, 11:10 AM

I have a CAI, Headers with cats, and a tune. My car is an Auto and I dyno'd at 541 RWHP. My ENG temp usually runs at 196 degrees during normal driving. Would I gain anything by putting in a 160 degree thermostat? I see where people are putting these in. What does your ENG temp run at during normal driving?

JANNETTYRACING · 11-19-2014, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnspd

I have a CAI, Headers with cats, and a tune. My car is an Auto and I dyno'd at 541 RWHP. My ENG temp usually runs at 196 degrees during normal driving. Would I gain anything by putting in a 160 degree thermostat? I see where people are putting these in. What does your ENG temp run at during normal driving?

Unlikely you will see any advantages.

GM says min operating temp is 185 hence the 185 stat.

Oil companies state additive packages don't become active until 185 degrees oil temp.

The fans settings will have more affect on operating temp than a thermostat

The thermostat only sets the lowest operating temp

You will burn more gas because of longer warm up times and induce added wear on your engine due to longer warm ups.

Hope this helps.

Ted.

tnspd · 11-19-2014, 11:21 AM

Thanks Ted....I really did not see a need for it but was just wondering if my thinking was wrong and everyone knew something I was not in the loop on.

Red Jewel RS · 11-19-2014, 11:23 PM

I was wondering about the same thing on the 160 thermo. Thanks for the info.

Trackman · 11-20-2014, 10:05 AM

I think it might provide a bit of an advantage at the strip. It should lower engine bay temps lowering iats.

JANNETTYRACING · 11-20-2014, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackman

I think it might provide a bit of an advantage at the strip. It should lower engine bay temps lowering iats.

Agreed but most don't go to the track Like you, Awesome numbers

kgendron71 · 03-03-2015, 11:36 AM

Sorry for digging up an old thread but it beats starting a new one. :wink:

I was wondering the same reguarding the 165 thermostat. Why does it seem to be included in all hop up kits? Living in Florida, Is the lower thermostat better/worse for my car?
Thanks,
Ken

jessrayo · 03-03-2015, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgendron71

Sorry for digging up an old thread but it beats starting a new one. :wink:

I was wondering the same reguarding the 165 thermostat. Why does it seem to be included in all hop up kits? Living in Florida, Is the lower thermostat better/worse for my car?
Thanks,
Ken

Here is the answer that Ted pretty much gave. The higher temps are better for you car as long as the car does not overheat. Higher engine temps give better fuel economy and actually a little less wear as long as your engine stays in that 195 to 225 range.

The reason most shops alter the thermostat in their kits is because the cooling system in the car is only designed to keep the car cool with stock horsepower. And that cooling range is pretty small. If you add a bunch of power you add a lot of heat and if you don't start cooling until the car is almost 200 degrees then it is pretty easy for an upgraded engine to blow through the stock cooling systems capacity to keep up.

No tuning shop wants to build your car power up and then have you come back and say, it has more power but everytime I put it on the track or drive it hard it over heats. The easiest way to improve your cooling system is to give it a head start and get it to go into full cool mode at 165 degrees. This makes a huge difference if your car ever gets close to running hot. 165 is not a bad temp, it is not quite as efficient as 195 but nothing like 100 degrees.

If I had no intention of racing my car ever,... the 195 t-stat should be fine. If you ever do race your car in any type of event then I would switch to 165.

dcpatters · 03-03-2015, 07:57 PM

With a 160 thermostat the engine still runs in the ~180 range. Some tuners recommend a cooler thermostat for consistency, when running leaner and more timing.

kgendron71 · 03-03-2015, 10:53 PM

ty

Stephen12ZL1 · 03-04-2015, 07:01 AM

GM must have rethought this in the Z/28 as my car runs 172-176 at cruise and my ZL1 with a "160" thermostat runs at 178-180.

MA2010SS · 03-04-2015, 07:55 AM

My car runs at 188 when stuck in traffic for extended periods of time with a 160* but moving along it's around 177* The cooler it runs the less chance timing will be pulled and less chance of detonation. No issues whatsoever running it, hope that helps

lownslowss · 03-04-2015, 09:02 AM

I have a 160 stat. Oil temp runs just over 200 all the time. That's what I care about. But the fans don't kick on soon enough so my trams temps are a little high. Going to add a bigger or additional cooler

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Trackman · 03-04-2015, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

GM must have rethought this in the Z/28 as my car runs 172-176 at cruise and my ZL1 with a "160" thermostat runs at 178-180.

Interesting
What oil does that motor call for?

11-19-2014, 11:10 AM	#1
tnspd Drives: 18 Camaro ZL1 1LE (WILSON) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,340	160 Degree thermostat I have a CAI, Headers with cats, and a tune. My car is an Auto and I dyno'd at 541 RWHP. My ENG temp usually runs at 196 degrees during normal driving. Would I gain anything by putting in a 160 degree thermostat? I see where people are putting these in. What does your ENG temp run at during normal driving? __________________ Camaro South Hot Cars and Hospitality on FB camarosouth@hotmail.com

11-19-2014, 11:21 AM	#3
tnspd Drives: 18 Camaro ZL1 1LE (WILSON) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,340	Thanks Ted....I really did not see a need for it but was just wondering if my thinking was wrong and everyone knew something I was not in the loop on. __________________ Camaro South Hot Cars and Hospitality on FB camarosouth@hotmail.com

03-04-2015, 07:01 AM	#11
Stephen12ZL1 Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 6,824	GM must have rethought this in the Z/28 as my car runs 172-176 at cruise and my ZL1 with a "160" thermostat runs at 178-180. __________________ '21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60' '17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold)

03-04-2015, 07:55 AM	#12
MA2010SS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Somerset MA Posts: 725 View My Garage	My car runs at 188 when stuck in traffic for extended periods of time with a 160* but moving along it's around 177* The cooler it runs the less chance timing will be pulled and less chance of detonation. No issues whatsoever running it, hope that helps __________________ 2010 Camaro SS Whipple SC, CAI Inc Intake, TSP 1 7/8" LT headers no cats, 3" magnaflow exhaust, HPT, RX Catch Can, LSR Toe Rods, LSR Trailing Arms, ALKY Control Meth, McLeod RXT Twin Disc, ZL1 fuel pump, 3.73 ZL1 Differential Kit, BTR PDS Stage 2 Cam, Tuned by SLOWHAWK Performance Bridgewater MA

03-04-2015, 09:02 AM	#13
lownslowss PaPa Smurf Drives: 2022 SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: League City Posts: 632 View My Garage	I have a 160 stat. Oil temp runs just over 200 all the time. That's what I care about. But the fans don't kick on soon enough so my trams temps are a little high. Going to add a bigger or additional cooler Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2022 Rapid Blue SS 1LE

11-19-2014, 11:23 PM	#4
Red Jewel RS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Billings, MT Posts: 891 View My Garage	I was wondering about the same thing on the 160 thermo. Thanks for the info.

11-20-2014, 10:05 AM	#5
Trackman Drives: 67RS Camaro ,Black 2013 ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,409	I think it might provide a bit of an advantage at the strip. It should lower engine bay temps lowering iats.

03-03-2015, 11:36 AM	#7
kgendron71 REDHOT_ZL1 Drives: 2014 Red Hot ZL1 M6 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Gainesville, Fl. Posts: 194	Sorry for digging up an old thread but it beats starting a new one. :wink: I was wondering the same reguarding the 165 thermostat. Why does it seem to be included in all hop up kits? Living in Florida, Is the lower thermostat better/worse for my car? Thanks, Ken

03-03-2015, 07:57 PM	#9
dcpatters Drives: 2015 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 206	With a 160 thermostat the engine still runs in the ~180 range. Some tuners recommend a cooler thermostat for consistency, when running leaner and more timing.

03-03-2015, 10:53 PM	#10
kgendron71 REDHOT_ZL1 Drives: 2014 Red Hot ZL1 M6 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Gainesville, Fl. Posts: 194	ty