Alright gentlemen, another question.

I have noticed that when I start up my car for the first time in the day, the engine is cold (temp gauge all the way low). If I get on it, the car shifts really hard (good). Now when the engine has warmed up (almost halfway on the temp gauge), it doesn't perform nearly as well (but better mileage I assume).

Is there anything I can do to bring that tempurature gauge back down some when I'm running normally. I haven't heard of any replacement thermostats for a Civic or anything like that. A friend of mine said we could take the thermostat out and drill a tiny hole in it for more flow. From what I'm reading, that might even be detrimental to what I'd like to do!

Anyone have an idea? Or has anyone see a lower-temp stat for Hondas?

yeah they do have thermosats that open earlier than the stock ones. just look on yahoo or ebay and see if you can find one.

A friend of mine said we could take the thermostat out and drill a tiny hole in it for more flow.

Dont do that, just buy an aftermarket thermostat.

Changing the thermostat will have little or no effect at all to the transmission fluid temp & shifting

Installing a LARGE seperate trans cooler will help cool the trans, but not enough to make it shift like it does when cold.

Do ya 'spose the car will be faster anyways if I install a lower-temp thermostat?

cooler engine = more horsepower, warmer engine = better economy

Originally posted by iawix
Do ya 'spose the car will be faster anyways if I install a lower-temp thermostat?

Slightly, the only way you will see a difference is on a dyno, maybe:bloated:

(jackson) makes a 160 thermostat for 88-00 civic's