My 94 Z28 LT1's water temp is running about 190 degrees while driving but if I sit in traffic idling it creeps up past 225 degrees. I called the dealership and they say this is normal for the LT1's as they run hot. The advisor said he has an LT1 that he races and he put a 160 degree thermostat in it to keep it cooler. Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not changing from the factory recommended 194 t-stat to a 160 t-stat is a good idea for a daily driver? Also does anyone else have an LT1 that gets this hot while idling? The car hasn't red lined on the temp gauge and the cooling fans are running when it runs this high a temp. Thanks in advance.

 

SEARCH fonction is your friend buddy.

Everyone is using a 160stat.Also if you get a tune to make the radiator fan start earlier(in conjonction with you new stat) you car will always run around 170/180.

 

Personally I got more worried if the car didn't heat up in traffic, figured something was broken then.

 

You don't have a problem to be worried about!! These are completely normal temps. Look at where the red line is on your gage. As long as your fans are coming on and you don't go anywhere near the red line, your ok.
You can put a 160* 'stat in but this will only help at speed, unless you also add a manual fan switch or have the PCM tuned to turn on the fans at a lower temp.
There is a lot of debate about the usefulness of the 160* 'stat, may not be all that good of an idea.

 

Your temperatures sound completely normal.

The stock LT1 thermostat is 180*F, not 194*.

The stock fan programming does not turn the first fan (or low speed late 94 and up) on until 226*F, and the second fan (or high speed) until 235*F. It was obviously GM's intent to have the engine operate at temperatures up to 225*F. This isn't unusual, since it increases thermal efficiency of the engine, and reduces emissions.

A 160*F t'stat, combined with reduced fan on/off temperature programming, and perhaps a bit more ignition advance has been shown to produce a power gain. But putting a 160* t'stat in the engine and doing nothing else, will not prevent it from operating at 220*F in heavy traffic, if that's where yours already operates with the 180* t'stat.

 

The LT1s do run warm from the factory. As long as your fans are kicking on, then I wouldn't worry too much. But as noted, a lower temp thermostat and some PCM programming will let your car run alot cooler.

 

installed a manual fan switch today as a matter of fact, already have the 160 thermostat, and its true, it will not get above id say 180ish even sitting for a while. i will just switch the fan off when i know i will be cruising for a lil bit. i did not like the idea of it warming up that much at idle either, hated it as a matter of fact so its gone now