if keeping the engine kool is the game why not just take the thermostat out during the summer and warmer months. please dont think im an idiot.

 

Some people do it. However, the coolant will flow too quick to ensure a proper heat transfer cycle. I wouldn't recommend it on a car that is used for purposes other than strictly racing.

 

Not only that, you run the chance of it being too cool and never getting the car to run closed loop.

 

The game may be "keeping the engine kool", but the qualifier on that is "within reason". Too cool and the oil doesn't get warm enough to drive off the water and other stuff that condenses in it, combustion efficiency goes down hill, fuel mileage goes downhill, emissions increase, and if you managed to run it cool enough, it wouldn't go into closed loop.

 

Thanks, you guys are so smart

 

The LT1 cooling system is complicated and uses a long thermostat that opens/closes several passages in the water pump. Simply put, it makes all the coolant go where it is supposed to when cold or hot. It's best to not circumvent it's operation and let it function the way it was intended. It works well when operating correctly.

 

so are you worse off performance wise with a 160 degree stat compared to the stock temp stat or is the 160 warm enuf to avoid off these issues?

 

160 is a waste of time in my opinion. Unless you have your fans lowered as well. But even then it just wastes gas compared to the gains. I took mine out.

 

How does it waste gas exactly?

 

I think, some have said due to the lower temp. you're combustion temp would be lower too, causing the pcm to dump more fuel to compensate.

 

With my 160 T-Stat my car runs around 180 at the water pump once the car warms up. 180 is hot enough IMO.

 

Hmm I would disagree on that. I would think 180* is more than enough heat to completely combust and air/fuel mixture. And heat doesnt really ignite the mixture like in diesel engines, its the spark plug. Usually my car will idle down to 500 (like it did with the 180 thermo) which i would assume means its warmed up enough to get out of its warmup mode. And if its warm enough to do that, GM probably thinks its warm enough to completely combust the mixture.

 

At what temperature does the car go into closed loop? Will it go into closed loop with a 160 stat? Thanks

 

Generally, my '92 Y-body goes into closed loop at 120 degrees.
But, it does depend on more than temperature to go into closed loop.


Tom Piper

 

The closed loop enable temperature seems to vary over the range of 120-140degF. It's hard to tell just by watching with a scanner, because the PCM also requires that the O2 sensors are heated up and "active", and there is a "timer" that the PCM uses as well. So all three conditions have to be met.

Running a 160degF t'stat will not cause problems with the PCM going into closed loop.