Thermostat temp questions

[Eclipse420A]

what temp does the stock thermostat open at on a 97 420A n/t. im guessing its a 200 degree t-stat.

i was thinking of installing a 180 degree t-stat. or should i go to a 170 or even a 160. i live in gerogia and it gets pretty hot here. any sugestions???

im also going to wire a fan switch so the fans come on low or high speed with a dtdp switch and led lights.

 

[Defiant]

No, you're thinking in people-temperatures. The motor wants high temperatures, it's where efficiency and engine life live so long as your cooling system is adequate. Piston clearances, oiling systems, engine management and bearings want the temps the engine was designed for. These cars are popular and healthy in LA, San Diego, Arizona, and Texas- you're going for mods that just aren't needed.

 

[Kirby]

I would get the 160 stat the stock is 190. I have a 160 and I love it. It's not going to help performance but it will help things stay cooler.

 

[Eclipse420A]

well i went to auto zone and they didnt have one and neither did pepboys. they both said the car has to be at 195 degrees in order to run properly. i think thats BS. what happens when you first start it or are in freezing weather.

they both said that some of the sensors wont work right if they are not that hot. i asked what ones and they didnt know. a cooler engine may not be a big power adder but maybe thats why everyones head gasket is going.

i have a 1995 firebird and have been running a 160 in it since i got it and no problems. on a v8 firebird it has shown on a dyno that having the engine between 160-180 degrees will make more power and have less stress on the engine than a 195. i know these are 2 diffrent engines but an engine is an engine.

btw - where can i get a lower t-stat??? i want at least a 180 or a 170.

 

[Eclipse420A]

Anyone know where i can order a 180 degree thermostat???

 

[boostedinaz]

The guys at Auotzone or where ever are somewhat right. when the car starts it runs rich to help it warm up faster then when it reaches a cartain temp it will run in closed loop. If the car always run cold then it MIGHT run in open loop all the time. Im not sure what the temp is on our car but I doubt a thermostat aroud 170-180 would it.

 

[jah2707]

Originally posted by Eclipse420A
well i went to auto zone and they didnt have one and neither did pepboys. they both said the car has to be at 195 degrees in order to run properly. i think thats BS. what happens when you first start it or are in freezing weather.

they both said that some of the sensors wont work right if they are not that hot. i asked what ones and they didnt know. a cooler engine may not be a big power adder but maybe thats why everyones head gasket is going.

i have a 1995 firebird and have been running a 160 in it since i got it and no problems. on a v8 firebird it has shown on a dyno that having the engine between 160-180 degrees will make more power and have less stress on the engine than a 195. i know these are 2 diffrent engines but an engine is an engine.

btw - where can i get a lower t-stat??? i want at least a 180 or a 170.

I was also told to get a cooler thermostat so if anyone knows where to get one I also want one.

 

[DSM-ZERO]

Go to www.howellautomotive.com

 

[4UH8ERS]

Hey guys, diggin this up from the dead because its a question that seems to have never been answered on here or 2gnt or neons.org. (or i just can't find it. i have searched for aout 2 hrs including on google and the vendors site)

Fellas please help me get the part # for the stant 160 degree or 180 degree thermostats that fit are car. I need to get one from advance auto, but i can't find the part numbers anywhere.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

14209 (Regular)
45209 ("Premium")

I don't know what the difference is; they're both listed as 195* thermostats.

 

[Focker420]

So the stock thermostat is set to 190 deg. F says the Haynes manual.

And changing your thermostat to a lower deg might not be benefiting you. Because our cars were designed to reach operating temp fast and maintain that temp.

So if you dropped your thermostat to say 16o deg. Than your ecu would be trying to get it up to operating temp 190 deg by running rich, and your cooling system will be fighting it. Might run into problems.

I recommend upgrading the rad. Its a bit more pricey, but it will benefit you much more.
As for the thermostat don't sway too far from stock operating temp.. Unless you run a standalone to accommodate this.

 

[BigRand]

Just curious, I thought the by lowering the thermostat, it just meant that that at 160 degrees or 180 degrees the fans kick on and the thermostat opens up, the car still gets up to the correct tempture running inbetween 190-210 degrees. I have a friend with a 160 and while riding with him and checking out megatune his temps still got up to normal.

 

[4UH8ERS]

So if you dropped your thermostat to say 16o deg. Than your ecu would be trying to get it up to operating temp 190 deg by running rich, and your cooling system will be fighting it

Thanks for the input but what your referring to is called, "closed loop" and our cars quit running in closed loop at 150 degrees so this would not be an issue.

Just curious, I thought the by lowering the thermostat, it just meant that that at 160 degrees or 180 degrees the fans kick on and the thermostat opens up, the car still gets up to the correct tempture running inbetween 190-210 degrees. I have a friend with a 160 and while riding with him and checking out megatune his temps still got up to normal.

Fans are controlled by your ecu, your thermostat has no control over them. With 160 degree thermostat your thermostat will open earlier but the fans still wont kick on until the ecu reads around 205 degrees. Therfore during interstate travel and high speed pulls your car would be running around 160 degrees and would still reach regular operating temp while idling.

 

[totaleclipse_05]

I wouldn't recommend a 160* thermostat. Like focker stated above, if you keep your temps down too far, the ECU will stay in open loop mode and run rich as it thinks the car hasn't warmed up to operation temp yet. I say get 180* at the lowest if your car heats up on those hot days.

 

[4UH8ERS]

I wouldn't recommend a 160* thermostat. Like focker stated above, if you keep your temps down too far, the ECU will stay in open loop mode and run rich as it thinks the car hasn't warmed up to operation temp yet. I say get 180* at the lowest if your car heats up on those hot days.

arggggg......... Ok.!!! Let me correct myself and dismiss the confusion.

Open Loop = The ECU controls the A/F ration usually set at about 14.7:1, which is rich. This stops at 150 degrees it then goes into closed loop.

Closed Loop = The ECU takes readings from the upstream o2 sensor to make A/F ratio corrections. <---- This you want. This Starts at 150 degress therefore unaffected by 160 degree thermostat.

Wow!!! think I got that Right I'm confusing myself now.

 

[shiftdrift06]

I had a FailSafe Thermostat, and when it goes out, it sticks open as a "safety". Well mines went out and stuck open. I didn't mind at first, since it reach normal temp in the city. But when on the highway the temp needle would only reach 1/4 of the temp gauge.

I drove like this for quite some time. Then it threw a code for "not reaching operating temp, closed loop etc..." I also believe running rich, causes premature failure of the CAT. Correct me if I am wrong.

On the other hand, CI has a 180Thermostat. Check it out.

 

[Locke]

The thermostat is only used for warming the vehicle up, and maintaining a temperature range while on the highway. If you need extra cooling, why not upgrade the radiator, or fans, or some such thing that will help with cooling?

 

[Defiant]

As Locke explained, thermostats are for warming engines. Radiators are for cooling them.
You want to run as warm as is safe for the motor and its oil. It's where the efficiency is.

 

[4UH8ERS]

As Locke explained, thermostats are for warming engines. Radiators are for cooling them.
You want to run as warm as is safe for the motor and its oil. It's where the efficiency is.

, Thanks guys, but I know this. I was just looking for something to keep cruising temps about 10 degrees lower on my commute to work, With the A/C on in this HOT Arkansas weather. Thank anyways I guess noone knows the part #'s thats all I wanted. Guess I'll stick with the 195er

edit: What you say defiant is most definately researched and true for a stock engine, but when different variants are introduced like, synthetic fluids, higher octane fuels and forced induction. Then your kinda comparing apples to oranges.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

What the hell? I just posted them; those are the only thermostat's Stant makes for the 420A or any variant thereof.

 

[4UH8ERS]

What the hell? I just posted them; those are the only thermostat's Stant makes for the 420A or any variant thereof.

Sorry Paul, I didn't mean it like that. You did provide those part numbers and they are correct, but there is another thermostat thats 180 that does fit our cars you just have to remove the gasket that comes on it and put ours on it. Its not a direct application for our cars just like CI's and Howells theres are for different applications that they found fit or our car.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Interesting... Let me see what I can dig up.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

The thermostats Howell sells aren't from Stant, they're from MotoRad.

The part number for the 180* MotoRad thermostat is:
340-180

Stock thermostat:
340-195

High-flow thermostat (195*):
2340-195

 

[4UH8ERS]

The thermostats Howell sells aren't from Stant, they're from MotoRad.

The part number for the 180* MotoRad thermostat is:
340-180

Stock thermostat:
340-195

High-flow thermostat (195*):
2340-195

eww, saweet. thanks paul.

 

[4UH8ERS]

That workerd perfect, I just gave them the motorad part# at auto zone and they just used it to cross reference to other brands. Got a 180 degree I'll try and see how I like it. Thanks again.

edit: I figure it will work well for boosted applications of the 420a since the gs-t and gsx o.e. replacement is a 180.