Is a 160* thermostat worth it? My car is totally stock right now. Can they really increase performance all that much??? I've never really understood how it works, even though many people have tried to explain it to me(They make it too complicated). Does it just keep the engine running cooler than normal???

 

okay this is how it works.
your car gets hot as you drive it right? okay well there is a little temperature sensor in the engine that tells the computer how hot your engine is at the time. as soon as the computer gets a reading of 190 degrees (what stock thermostats are rated at) the thermostat (which is like a valve) will open up and allow coolant to be flown in and out of the engine.
Now generally when it comes to performance we want the engine to run a little colder than stock... so what we do is take the 190 degree thermo out and put in a 160 degree, so the coolant comes out quicker... hence keeping engine cooler.

this is VERY basic.... and doesn't go into much detail, but that is the 'jist' of it... the thermo opens up earlier and allows coolant to cool the engine down quicker... so a little bit more power.

get it?

it'll give you maybe 3-5 horsepower... but it's good just to replace the thermostat anyways once in a while, so while you're at it might as well do a 160 degree, right?

good luck oh and it's EASY to install...

 

The biggest benefit of it is that your engine will run cooler hence having cooler underhood temperatures. So what happens is since the air under the hood is cooler, you have cooler air entering the intake, which results in more HP. However, this is minimal, and with a computer controlled car, you might have to get a new chip as it will throw off the computer.

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"Rice burners are like tampons...Every pu$$y has to have one"
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

As long as you run a decent cold air intake, a thermostat will only marginally affect the inlet temerature of the air. Where a cooler themostat helps is controlling detonation when you advance the timing. A cooler T-stat without advancing the timing will actually cause a loss of power due to the increased heat transfer into the coolant instead of turning that heat energy into mechanical work. The factory used the 195 becuase if emissions purposes. A 180 is better suited for perfomance with a slightly recalibrated timing curve. You can run a 180 without affecting the computer controls, other than a few minor tuning calibrations, but it't not all that important. A 160 will allow a little more timing advance, but you really should recalibrate the PROM chip becuase there are certain functions that only work above 160 degrees. You will probably notice that a 180 produces more power too.
You will also need to replace the cooling fan switch with a cooler one. Jet makes one that tuns on at 200 degrees, instead of the factory 225 degrees. If you have dual fans, one is controled by the temp switch, and the other is controled by the computer. I use the 180 T-stat, and the 200 degree fan switch with the stock chip. If runs at 180-200 most of the time, and only gets to 225 when i'm sitting in traffic. One day i'll get a custom chip, but this works good enough for now.

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89 Transam GTA, 350TPI, auto, 3.27 rear, dual cats, gray.
Magnaflow cat-back,
K&N open element,
Best E.T. 14.63@95mph

 

I recently put a 160 stat in my TA, I have had no problems as far as sensors go, I have a 200 degree fan switch also, the first fan comes on at about 200 and the second is manually controlled by me in the car. I live in Orlando so you can imagine the heat index, especially in rush hour traffic. Before my 3.23 rear my car never reached 220 and I never used the manual fan switch. Now I just flip on the switch at about 180 and it will sit around that temp. Personally I think a manual fan switch is easier to do than replacing your cars fan switch, just don't forget and leave your fan on when you shut off the car.

https://www.thirdgen.org/rides/index...ew&rideid=6280

 

So what would be better for me, the 180 or the 160? I don't want to mess up the computer. Where do I get these fan switches? Can I find em at a local auto parts store or do I have to get it from Summit or something?

 

I put a 160 stat in my stock 89 5.7 IROC
Didn't like it it never warms up in colder weather i'm putting a 180 in soon

I did notice performance gain tho but think 180 will be better

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Blue 1989 IROC Z28

 

The computer controls the t-stat??
Man I never heard of that, mine operates based on coolant temp, independent of the computer. If you pet a 160* t-stat in a pot of water and warm the pot up the stat should slowly open up, when the water is at 160* the stat is fully open allowing the coolant to flow at its max. Its opening and closing are based on the temp of the metal which expands linearly with temp change.- Second semester of statics( thermal exansion )
You wanted to know how it works, that how, in my 92 RS at least.

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1 5/8 Hooker Competetion Headers, custom y-pipe,no cat, modified Flowmaster,Edelbrock open filliment filter with K&N filter in it
160 stat, BF G-Force w-rated tires

 

No, we're not saying the computer controls the stat, we're saying that because of a lower stat it will affect the computer and how it operates, as far as loop mode and all that stuff. I would not recommend putting a 160* in with winter coming. Definately if you live where it gets cold. Look in my sig. as why I changed to a 180* stat.


------------------
"Rice burners are like tampons...Every pu$$y has to have one"
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

Thanks guys, I think I'm gonna put in a 180* this spring.