I have searched everywhere and cannot seem to find a straight answer about the 160* stat. I thought roughly every 10* temp change was worth 3hp. I know with the lt1 the 160* stat definitly helps. But nobody can seem to agree on this issue with the ls1. Some say it runs best at the stock temp some say cool it down. What are your opinions on it? Thanks for your help

P.S. I am asking all the questions because my brother just got a 2002 z28 A4 with 2.73's. I already got him a Direct flow airlid and a cutout. Just wondering about the 160* stat.
He will be coming down to NC in a couple weeks. So we will get to see how he does against my 96 TA (my best run 13.55@105) ANY PREDICTIONS ON WHO WILL WIN?

 

well, IMO the thermostat won't give you any hp.
Another thing is, you have to program the fans to come on sooner for it to make any difference anyway. If you just add the 160 stat, it will still run at stock temp.

 

I would take care of that by hooking up a manual fan switch I am just wondering if the 160* stat benifits the ls1 or if its better to leave in the stock one?

 

Well, if you have a manual switch to turn on the fans, it would be worth it. It's not going to give you any horsepower, but it will keep the heat from taking any existing horsey's away.

 

Maybe I asked the question wrong I know what the purpose of putting in a cooler stat. The cooler engine temp cooles down the incoming air and cooler air makes more power. I have done this mod to my lt1 and it worked great. What I have just heard alot of people that know alot about the ls1's say stay with the stock stat that the ls1 likes to run alittle hotter.

 

"Heat" robs horsepower, and especially having an all aluminum block, you would benefit from running the engine cooler.

I live in a very smog restrictive state (California), and even though 160 degree thermostats do pass smog, I am going to go for a 180, with the fan temps adjusted.

SteveC

 

Well, get one man! hehe, I got one, but I havent noticed any difference. Hot, cold, whatever.. its still fast.

 

Not true.


Specially in hot weather you are most likely to turn your AC on and your car will never see over 160 unless you freaking live in FiresHell or some place like that.


How do I know? I live in Hawaii. Never adjusted the fans at the computer and unless I idle for about 10 minutes or so it wont come close to Stock temp. Get that car moving and the temp will drop to just a hair above 160 degree. (measured with an infra red temp meter and a contact temp meter.) My indash temp meter is off by about 10 degrees so its not a good indication of coolant temp.

I designed a piggy back adjustable automatic fan switch and it works great but its cooling effect in engine performance must be negligable cause I didnt feel a thing . If you spend a lot of time in stop and go traffic like the 110/10/405 freeways by Los Angeles in California (with the AC off) then I would say it runs at Stock temp since the fans will keep it that way. Otherwise it will run cooler.


Marvin