Thermostat

[LethalEagle]

Has anyone experimented with lower temp thermostats? What is the lowest that works? How do you tune the computer to run with the different engine temp without getting a lot of knock?

Thanks.......

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

Where can you get one that's less than 180 for our cars?

later,

 

[Turbo Guru]

I got a Robert Shaw 180deg thermostat from Autozone. I have not had the ability to drive my car with it yet, but I will let you know of any problems (if there are any.)

Joe

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

180 degree is the stock thermostat.

later,

 

[Turbo Guru]

Autozone lists the factory thermostat as a 195deg, I will check the service manuals and get back to you.

 

[Turbo Guru]

DSM Backup CD states:

valve opening temperature of thermostat c/f - 88(190)
Full-opening temperature of thermostat c/f - 100(212) or more

So in effect the Robert Shaw thermostat @180deg is 10 deg lower in opening temperature.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

I looked at the service manual for a 2G and it says

Valve opening tempeture 2.0 Turbo (82)180 Degrees.
Full opening 2.0 turbo (95)203 Degrees
Later,

 

[Turbo Guru]

There's the difference I have a 1G, I guess they are different.

 

[candela]

Alamo motorsports sells 170 degree thermostats for a little over a hundred bones... I think, like 115 or so, but dont quote me guys

 

[Turbo Guru]

Damn, my Robert Shaw 180 deg. cost $11.95 w/ a lifetime warranty! $115 (or so) is a rediculous price for a thermostat IMO.

 

[candela]

Yah I know, mine was only 12.95$, but supposedly they really do help out a lot if you have overheating problems. They sell fully adjustable ones as well, from like 170 or 180 to 220 or something...

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

for 115 I'll buy a spal High-flow radiator fan instead

Later,

 

[BoostinAWD]

Just drill a couple holes in the thermastat it will make you run cooler.
At least thats what my dad does in the boat to get that perfect temp.
Dunno about these cars though.

 

[InferiorWang]

use boat technology to tune your car. that sounds like something id do.

 

[RocketDSM]

I like the cross training there.... I can vouch that my thermo opens at 195 dead on. We took a thermocouple to a few different areas of my engine a few weeks ago and found that anywhere on my engine was 195 dead on, no wavering. I might try that drill thing, who knows.

 

[jdmawd]

spoolinup has 160* ones for 20 bucks ,anyone that pays $100 for a thermostat should be shot on site.

 

[Turbo Guru]

Originally posted by jdmawd
anyone that pays $100 for a thermostat should be shot on site.

I agree!

I would not drill my t-stat either, It would take longer for the car to warm up. Also the cooling system relies on the t-stat to hold the coolant until it reaches a certain temp in the engine and the radiator. If you had a constant leak in the t-stat (from drilling it) I can foresee many problems developing from that situation.

my $.02,
Joe

 

[Violater101]

What are the pro's and con's of going to a lower degree thermastat such as the one you can get from spoolin up? Its 170 vs the stock 180. Will this in effect make the car run cooler? I'm having cooling problems now since its the first summer with the FMIC. I havn't been running the AC because my temps are already high enough without it :< I wouldn't mind having an aluminum radiator, but thats 350 bucks I could spend towards cams :>

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

The lower degree Thermostat will open sooner to keep the car cooler. Intead of the therm opening at 180 or 195 to start cooling the car it opens earlier at 160 so the temps stay lower sooner.

Later,


P.S. The spoolinup ones aren't ready yet like usual.

 

[toshi128]

So, i have the over heating problem, and i guess it's my thermostat. And, i'm confused... by getting lower thermostat, it keeps my engine cooler by how? I have a 2g, so i should have the 180 deg. one as stock thermostat, right? how lower shall i go? or by putting lower thermostat would cause any problems???

 

[SPEEDY]

Originally posted by toshi128
So, i have the over heating problem, and i guess it's my thermostat. And, i'm confused... by getting lower thermostat, it keeps my engine cooler by how? I have a 2g, so i should have the 180 deg. one as stock thermostat, right? how lower shall i go? or by putting lower thermostat would cause any problems???

I'm not to sure on your first set of questions, but I think by going to a lower T-stat, it will take your car longer to come up to normal operating temps, and possibly your car's heater won't put out the heat that it should normally. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. I personally don't see what it would hurt by going lower in T-stat temps, the v8 guys have been doing it for years to gain a performance edge, so I don't see the difference. Running cooler, could and SHOULD always help in the performance area, and that's a PLUS. I think I'm going to check into the Spoolinup T-stat myself. Sounds nice!

 

[toshi128]

ok.. still confused...

if i put a lower thermostat on my car, which overheats easily when i'm driving it for a long time(2hrs~), or using A/C while long driving, then... shouldn't my car overheat easier??? since the thermostat still only measure up to lower temp??? i.e. if the actual water temp is 170 F, it's almost overheating on the 180F thermostat, but with 160 F thermostat, it's already overheating...

sorry, i just don't get it... someone explain it please!!! thanx

 

[toshi128]

one more question...

as violator101 said about FMIC with overheating problem... is this common??? when i called extreme, they told me that it's not my FMIC's fault. so i'm curious about this...

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

Only the really Big FMIC's overheat. (IRC race core)

Later,

 

[Violater101]

I don't "Overheat", and i'm still below the half-way mark, but its too hot for my liking AC=216 degrees cruising @75. What's odd is that tonight coming home, its only like 75 outside and without A/C and cruising at same speed temps were around 213. Yall think is a stuck thermastat? If I put on the defroster, the temps come down to around 196. My Greddy is blocking the front area. I was thinking of ducting some air to the radiator via the side holes by the foglights.
Thanks,