thermostats

[DiabloGT]

how does changing your thermostat add hp? and how much hp? and will you gain any more hp with a 180 thermo instead of a 160?

[89IROC&RS]

perhaps a few ponies, in light that a cooler running engine will transferr less heat to the intake charge before combustion, however it will negatively impact warm up time and emissions, so its more of a trade off, id say run a 180-190 thermostat if you want to drop the temp downa bit. 160 is a bit extream for a street car in my opinion.

[Joseph1082]

Yea... I think that changing a thermostat is like changing pullies... some things are better left at factory specifications, and changing one thing will adversly affect many others, like a butterfly effect (excuse the corny metaphor). Plus, if you have a 98+ they dropped the stat from 195 to 180 anyway.

[DiabloGT]

if i put in the 180 will anything hurt the engine or no?

[89IROC&RS]

i dont think it will hurt anything.

[DiabloGT]

how much hp would probably be gained w/ a 180 thermo?

[ridge_runner]

i doubt any will be gained....

[Joseph1082]

yea... me too, it is one of those mods that really only shows gain on a very very heavily modified car... on a side note, I dropped from 195 to 180 in my 96 RS... had to change back in the Winter, it wouldn't get hot enough and I had barely any heat inside.

[DaMoNe6969]

Originally Posted by DiabloGT

how much hp would probably be gained w/ a 180 thermo?

The 15 degree coolant temp drop wont affect incoming air temps enough to give you any noticeable power.. If you really want a cooler running engine, I suggest the Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ a hypertech or similar 160 degree thermostat..

It'l adjust your closed and open loop operation temps to keep your engine running properly and taking a/f info from the proper sensors

But as 89Iroc said.. Definatly gonna affect warm up time, no heat in the winter, and it might affect your emissions..

[DaMoNe6969]

oh, do a throttlebody coolant bypass to keep the coolant away from your incoming air all together

[gurrzt]

The line of thinking is the cooler the temperature is that the engine is operating the less detonation, and more horsepower can be obtained.

This however is true to a point. Unless you are blown or turboed, I would not run a 160 thermostat, it is just too cool of a temperature for the LS1 engines. I am running a 180F in my 2001.

HOWEVER, IF YOU DO NOT CHANGE THE FAN ON/OFF SETTINGS IN THE PCM, OR GET A MANUAL FAN ACTIVATION SWITCH, IT IS ALL IN VAIN ANYWAY. With stock on/off settings the engine will heat up to stock settings anyway.

[DiabloGT]

what if i get a hypertech kit thing and a 160 thermostat?

[Hypsi87]

I Went from a 180 to a 160 in my GN, I did not gain a damn thing, but my theroy is that something cooler will last longer than something that is hot. Heat kills all.

[Chevyracincamaro]

my thoughts exactly. not to mention the fact that the engine HAS to be more efficient somehow, its physics...

[91HO305TPI]

AC delco makes a 170 degree t-stat that should give good heat in winter and will keep cars from over heating in summer espically the 3rd gens