this isnt really an lt1 question (more of a general one) but I've heard that the colder the thermostat rating ( ie 160 or 180 vs 195) it somehow causes your car to use more fuel? is this true?

 

hm... on that line of thought.. it will take longer for cat and other stuff to get up to operating temp?

 

Yes, it will take longer to warm up, but living in Georgia I wouldn't worry about it.

I put the stock thermostat back in, in the winter months, as the car never gets hot enough to even get past the "steam" stage.

 

for an engine to run properly, it has to be at a certain temp. aobut 200-220 is the perfect temp for emissions due to the engines ability to properly burn fuel. below that, it will not burn all the fuel as efficently. so it will let more raw fuel out of the exhaust, causing worse emissions and fuel economy. but only by about 1 MPG. a lower thermostat just means it will take longer for the engine to warm up. just switch to the 160*. a lower thermostat just means it will take longer for the engine to warm up. I did, and i still get anywhere form 16-22 MPG. and if you are worried about emissions, just make sure your car is completely warmed up when you go, or just switch the thermostat. it only takes aobut 5 minutes.

Sean

 

16-22 is exactly what i get city/highway, my mods are about the same but a little bit more.. I was just making sure the lower gas mileage wasnt indictive of some other problem or whatever... thanks for replies