Thread: 160 or 180 thermostat

180, no lower.

Originally Posted by Fem

Lol well even so. Opinion is invalid for replying like a 13yr old teeny bopper


Thermostat upgrades will benefit or hurt depending on your climate.

For example: if you live in the northern states I'd imagine that this mod would not be helpful really do to the temperatures.

-I've seen this mod reduce kr. I agree, do NOT depend on this mod alone to reduce yours. But if your car isn't prone to KR then I wouldn't worry about it.

In other words its very circumstantial. Scan your car first.

←Android→

if your coolant temperature is the reason why youre seeing detonation then your thermostat is broke. the motor runs best efficiency wise at about 210*, which the 195* thermostat allows readily. you will not make any noticeable power (unless you do a dyno pull, like flake said) and it's just a waste of gas to run anything lower. given that you are beating on the car constantly it might make sense to run a slightly lower thermostat (180*) so that you dont see coolant temperatures in the 230*+ range. in no way shape or form will it hurt being that 'high', but it makes for a healthier running motor if you don't attempt to overheat it.

never, EVER would i recommend anyone to run a 160* thermostat. even the 180* thermostat is overkill for literally 98% of people modding their car because unless you're throwing a ton of heat (see: boost) at the motor then you should have no issues making the power you are supposed to. the thermostat thing is a bandaid fix they used in 1998 since tuners and advanced modifications of the like were not available yet. the best you could do back then was race gas, a super low thermostat, and a dumb small pulley to make power. this is no longer the case and no one should attempt to take these routes when there are more clearly defined ends to the means.

this is why i have told nick time and time again to remove the thermostat crap from the 'modding your 3800' thread because it is useless, but he seems to think it is beneficial. everyone can do what they want, im just pointing out its useless to go lower and just increases wear on the motor and decreases gas mileage.

How does decreasing the thermal range your motor normally sees, increase wear on your motor. Seems opposite to me.

Why aren't you supposed to go beating on a car before it gets up to temp? Same reason.

Cold rotating assembly doesn't like to be hammered on.

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

Why aren't you supposed to go beating on a car before it gets up to temp? Same reason.

Cold rotating assembly doesn't like to be hammered on.

Because your knock sensor isn't on until engine is up to 160*. How is 180* "cold"?

M90 is especially known for heat seeing as the cars they were put on did not come factory with their own heat exchangers and intercoolers like the LSJ or LNF.

Any cooling mods that you can do, that wont over work your systems, is beneficial if you're looking to make more power.

←Android→

Originally Posted by footballplaya3k

How does decreasing the thermal range your motor normally sees, increase wear on your motor. Seems opposite to me.

Originally Posted by footballplaya3k

Because your knock sensor isn't on until engine is up to 160*. How is 180* "cold"?

Temperature inside the combustion chamber is the same, but water temp is lower, resulting in an increased thermal stress gradient.

Just make sure to have the car tuned for it. Otherwise it will have no effect.

Originally Posted by footballplaya3k

Because your knock sensor isn't on until engine is up to 160*. How is 180* "cold"?

Considering the motor was designed to run at 210*~

Yeah, a 30*~ drop is probably colder than it likes.

Originally Posted by Fem

M90 is especially known for heat seeing as the cars they were put on did not come factory with their own heat exchangers and intercoolers like the LSJ or LNF.

Any cooling mods that you can do, that wont over work your systems, is beneficial if you're looking to make more power.

←Android→

Lowered ECT as substitute for manifold intercooling? Where did you hear about this?

I don't believe I said Substitute for manifold intercooling did i?


*shrug* Arguing is moot. I refer to my second post. Do what you see is fit for YOUR car. I've seen a benefits in my own.

*done*

likes all of mechguys posts because he is stating things that are not only correct, but intelligent.

I like when we revisit these topics twice a year or more, despite the redundancy. We cycle in new people, and the continuing education for both new and veteran members is healthy.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/what-...tml#post571674

http://www.grandprixforums.net/what-...html#post30916

http://www.grandprixforums.net/therm...tml#post583109

Not sure if anyone said this, but keep 195º.