I have a 160 thermo and my heater doesn't work.

I asked one of my mechanic friends, who is ASE certified, and GM certifed, and he also owns a modified LT1 about it.

he said the water that circulates through the heater core will never get hot enough with that thermo. and that his does the same thing.

I just want a second opinion.

also the computer is tuned to have the fans come on more to accomdate the thermo.

so if all this is true is it ok to switch to a 180 thermo in the winter and back to the 160 in the summer, I just want the engine to stay cool and run it's best.

here in texas it's hotter than hell in the summe and gets pretty cold in the winter.

 

You most likley have air in your cooling system, bleed out your system with the 2 brass nuts (obd1) or the 1 nut onthe termo housing (obd2). Bleed it until coolant comes gushing out, make sure all the bubbles are gone.

 

I've had a 160 thermostat for about 7 years now, and always have heat in the winter, it just takes longer to heat up. I also had the computer programmed for it. Fred

 

I am going to have to agree with your mechanic friend I have the same problem that you are talking about. I have the Hypertech Programer and when I program the fans to come on the heater sucks, pretty much doesn't work. However once I took off the setting for the fans to come on at lower temp. for the 160 thermo the heat rose up about 20 degrees on the gauge and the heater was Blowing some really hot air. I am pretty sure that our cars heating system was designed for the normal operating temp. which are around 235, so if the temp is around 160-180 I am sure that it isn't going to work as well. I guess it is just the price you pay for more performance.

 

i'll try bleeding it, but would it hurt anything to switch to the 180 for the winter????

 

I know I have a 160 degree 'stat in mine, and I have a very hard time building water temp. It very rarely gets above 160 degrees now....My heater seems to work, but not near as well as it did with the 180.

Frank

 

I've got a 160 thermo as well.. My heat works good. after about 10 mins of driving it was 35 here today with 29 wind chill. Worked like charm bleed your coolant system or try a good flushing. the heater core may be clogged ??