I just installed a 160 stat from the WS6Store on my 02 SS. The old stat worked fine I just wanted it to run a little cooler. After installing the stat I refilled the system using a vac cooling machine so there are no air pocket's. The car still run's at close to 210 and the fan's are even coming after idling for abou 5 minutes on a 30 degree day. I put the same stat in a C-5 a few years ago and it ran MUCH cooler. Is this common to the F-body or should I start troubleshooting the cooling system? The coolant was clean but had that rotten fish smell. The only abnormal thing I saw was the dip stick on the overflow reservior was brown and scummy which make's me think my rad may be clogged with the same scum. Anyone else have any suggestion's or is this just the nature of the beast?

 

The F-body '99 and up gauges all read like that - mine reads just under 210 with a 160 and low speed fans programmed to come on/off at 184/175.

 

ive heard the gauges on the 98-02 were kinda like dummy gauges (arent as accurate as possible) but im not quite sure

 

actually the 98 gauge is right.. the 99+ isnt

 

don't worry my cooling system has that same scum in it. Never had a problem. Get a autometer water temp gauge and you will notice the difference also get a manual fan switch and the thermo will work better too. Also a tune to change your fan settings will cure it with out the manual fan switch.

 

The funny thing is, on my 00, the guage does work to an extent. After the 160* t-stat is sits lower than before. Just under 200* where as before it would sit at 210*. Do I think its accurate to the degree? No, but probably within 10. Just so it lets me know when its getting hot thats fine. I don't need to know of its 201 or 205*.

 

I'm pretty sure my car came with a stat installed, The needle is all over the place as far as temp goes. That's the nice thing about 98 cars, it reads real time. 200 idle for a long time but will slowly but surely move down to the first needle mark if the car gets moving.

I've seen in 99+ cars the needle just snaps into its temp zone. It's due to being a "dummy" style guage, hot, not or overheat are the only readings that guage will give.

 

Don't much care what the guage says but if the cooling fan is coming on after 5 minutes on a 30° day then you probably have air in the cooling system.

 

I must have a freak 00 model then...

 

it doesnt' just snap there it gradually goes to 210.

 

Thank's for the help. I know there is no air in the system because I used a coolant evac and fill machine which put's the system into a vac and than uses psi to refill. I will check the output temp with an infered thermometer and I'm sure the guage is not dead on now that I've heard what you guy's have to say. Thank's for the info...

 

besides for the temp guage reading a little cooler on some of your cars, does it FEEL like the 160 stat makes the car run better (cooler). im about to get one myself, and a manual fan switch but im wondering if it is really worth it. i got a 99 z28 thats cammed, LTs, high flow cats, lots of suspension work, slp cold air kit w/ lid. you guys think it would really be worth getting the stat and the switch? im only a few clicks away from getting em so let me know. and also how easy is it to install the switch and stat? pain in the a$$ ?

 

You won't FEEL any difference.
Forget the switch, just get the fans tuned to come on earlier ro leave them alone. Once you're moving the temp will drop lower anyway.
I got my 160* stat from Autozone for ~$20.