Thread: Engine light flashing never seen that before?

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

No, your not missing anything.

The point was made that running anything colder than a 195* TStat was stupid...no matter your mods or tune. I disagreed.

Old motor, old technology...they like to run cold.

So just so im doin the right thing, im gonna do a coolant flush and I figured while im at it I should go ahead and replace the Tstat since it will be part of the work anyways...

I just want my GTP to run her best im not into racing the thing or tryin to have a kick ass motor my only goal is efficiency.

Originally Posted by TLSheff

You've never had the pleasure of working on a LS1 have you?

Glad you found the easy way to do things, makes it much more fun vs being a pain in the ars and leaving you wanting to shoot yourself in the face.

Honestly it's a very simple engine to work on. Loved working on them.

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

While I agree...195's suck...people can't seem to grasp the concept that these motors run on average 10-20 degrees hotter than the opening degree of the thermostat. So your "195 is better" ISN'T correct...because techinically...especially if your not tuned and still have dexsludge sloshing around in the radiator...your saying 225 is better. I'd recommend a tune before a colder tstat since tossing a colder tstat in the car really does nothing but hinder mpgs until you lower the fan turn on point with a tune. Also...cop...like I said before...you don't like this site...easy. Don't post. I like the fact you give opinions but other forums are no better or worse. Thanks.

But what is the reason for putting in a colder t-stat. Everyone seems to do, but do they know why? Usually the reason is combat knock. A hot engine will knock sooner than a cool one. So people will mod up and pulley up, get KR, and instead of demodding or tuning the KR out, they throw in a cooler t-stat. Cause that will fix it! No, it just masks the problem. I firmly believe that your car will run better properly modded with no knock on a 195 t-stat than trying to run higher timing or more boost and a 180/160 t-stat.

Originally Posted by Zef_66

But what is the reason for putting in a colder t-stat. Everyone seems to do, but do they know why?

Why you say?

Originally Posted by Zef_66

Usually the reason is combat knock. A hot engine will knock sooner than a cool one. So people will mod up and pulley up, get KR, and instead of demodding or tuning the KR out, they throw in a cooler t-stat.

While you particially answered your own question...there is more too it. Tossing in a colder T-Stat without tuning the car for it will do nothing but hinder performance and MPG's and put more of a premature wear on internal parts when not warmed up. The reason to run a cooler t-stat is also for the sake of...and the reason I do it...since the motor is running a little cooler (and like 15-20* difference is going to destroy your motor anywho...lol hardly) your not getting all those parts that like to break, rot, and fail due to heat...example, coolant elbows, LIM gaskets, Upper Intake Manifolds (97-03 cars), vacuum lines, rubber "T" and "L" fittings...and other misc. electrical things.

Originally Posted by Zef_66

I firmly believe that your car will run better properly modded with no knock on a 195 t-stat than trying to run higher timing or more boost and a 180/160 t-stat.

And what is the firm beliefs on that? How else would you cool the motor itself down? Stock Thermostats are for stock cars. No mods...no intentions of going fast. If you see it a different way, I'm more than open to listen to ideas.

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

And what is the firm beliefs on that? How else would you cool the motor itself down? Stock Thermostats are for stock cars. No mods...no intentions of going fast. If you see it a different way, I'm more than open to listen to ideas.

This is where I think we are differing. I am speaking towards most of the people that choose to run a colder t-stat on the forums. Much like spark plugs, most people read that you need to run colder for better performance, so they do it. And most of the people on the forums are not highly modded. I would venture to say that the majority are stock or very minor mods.

The few that are highly modded, yes, I agree you should be running a cooler t-stat. And those people know that. What I find trouble with is people putting out the blanket statement that a cooler t-stat is beneficial. Much like you have trouble with people saying a stock 195 t-stat is fine for everyone. It is all dependent on the situation and mod level of the car.

That said, for the majority of cars on the forum, most of which having no mods to very few engine mods, I believe a stock t-stat is better than a cooler one. Most people are not going to see temps that are very extreme for long periods of time. And most are not going to get a tune that will make using a cooler t-stat worthwhile. Sure some may get a canned tune that changes the fan turn on points. But to make a cooler t-stat more beneficial than a stock one, a true driving tune needs to be done, and most are not going to get that done.

So actually...we both agree with each other 100% LOL.

Nice to know.

But thanks for letting me see where you were coming from with that...cleared it up.