for over all performance whats better or does it really matter?

 

160, it allows your engine to stay cooler because the faster temp the thermo opens which is always good to have a cool engine, and it also goes along the theory the cooler the air coming in the more air tha goes in

 

o.k. lets think on this a second. The manufacturer's (almost all of them not only Chevy) uses between 180-195* thermostats on the cars they build. They have the engineers, resources and testing facilities that must deliver a product that has low polution, gives good gas mileage, good overall performance (not just the test track) and at the same time be durable.

The average person does not have a degree in fluid dynamics, thermo efficiency etc. etc. etc.

Also ponder on this, the temperature that the thermostats open is just that. They fully open ay 160, 180, 195 etc. That does not mean that the engine will operate at that temp. Come down to South FLorida and get stuck in traffic and see how quickly the temperature gauges climb up.

You would either have to be driving continually (non-stop) without traffic and lights or reprogram the cooling fans to take advantage of a cooler themostat to have your engine run cooler.

Why is it, that most the post I read about thermostats are from guys up north where its cool worrying about their engine temps ?

In the post above, killinformula has the right idea. The cooler the air to the engine the denser the air thus more efficiency and H.P.
That's why if you notice almost all of todays cars have a snorkel that gets the air from the front of the car and away from the engine and not the old air cleaner sitting on top of the engine. (now if we could just get the manufactures to give us low restriction air filters that would be nice)

 

My Z28 runs at 160° and I live up north in Chicago.
The car runs great, BUT only in conjunction with the re-programming of the computer, to be more precise, the cooling fans are set to run at 160°.
If I try to run her without the programming, which I have, the temperature will climb very fast and the risk of overheating is increased, even despite my geographical location.

Remember: the stock CPU thinks that the ideal operating temperature is between 180-190° and will try to maintain that.

Another way would be to install a manual fan switch to offset the difference.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

"the risk of overheating is increased"

um....increased from what...if the fans are working properly, than even the factory settings will prevent this.

no matter what kind of stat you have, with no air over the radiator the temp will rise.

but honestly, who the hell cares about that extra 5hp from a cooler engine when you are sitting in rush hour traffic?? for my everyday driving, my coolant stays around 170-175, that's with my 160 degree stat. i haven't checked it on the highway yet...but i don't see it being much lower. AND I DON'T HAVE THE FANS REPROGRAMED

so your theory of it being useless is kindda bunk for me...i take advantage of the cooler temp every time i drive, and i'm in even more south florida

 

Now, now, now.... I grew up in S. FLA and spent every summer in the keys. I know it never feels that hot there cause of the seabreeze, so.... pipe down

Man I miss South Florida and the keys

 

my gas mileage sucks, always have thats why i was wondering if i reprogrammed the fans to kick on at 180 and buy a 180 stat if i would get better gas mileage, or just to leave what i have in the car for 3 years now, and if i did get better gas mileage how much diffrence would i really see, i have to change my coolant thats why i was wondering if its worth changing to a hotter runing engine or just leave it alone, BTW ive had the 160 stat and programmed the fans to come on at 160 for 3 years now, just sick of the bad gas mileage and the price of gas now geez,

 

I have 160 with proper programming. Engine running cooler under all conditions, and that is fine. The only pain is that heater is totally sucks on winter, almost no point to turn it on

 

you program your fans to come on a the temp that your stat is??

um...so basically if your car is up to operating temp, the fans are on 100% of the time...talk about overkill

i've always heard of having the fans on and 185, off at 180 for the 160* stat. that way under normal driving and highway use the fans are not running...

 

YOU ARE RIGHT, I also have the 160 stat
and my fans are program to come on at 185 (low) 190 (high)
zoso

 

so your saying i could keep the 160 stat in the car and just have the fans come on at 180, wouldnt it be better to change the stat to 180? i always thought you had to match the stat with when the fans turn on

 

YOUR 160 STAT.
Is really operating at 180* degrees, just take one of those
thermal reading tools, even though it says 160 stat, the temp is
more like 180 degrees.
you want tp program your fans to come on a little higher than the stat. so 180 stat......... 195(low) 200(high)
zoso

 

Seems to me it's not a great idea. There always should be a temperature gap between t-stat opening and fans engaging due to the nature of heating and cooling - they are relatively slow processes. Mine fans programmed a little higher than 170, and it fits good in mine driving conditions. But anyway, opening at 160 with 20-25F outside definitely feels different at winter

 

i just programmed the fans to turn on at 180 degree's, having a 160 stat i think this will work better than the way i had it with the fans turning on at 160, i wonder if ill get better gas mileage now?

 

My car has a 160 and it runs at about 170 it seems. I noticed a gain in power when I did the 160* stat along with the TBBP. Seemed to pick it up a bit.