What will a 160 thermostat do for my car?

[1stunna]

i have a 2000 3.8 firebird, what does a thermostat do to my car in performance terms?

[QuicksilverRS]

Well, a 160 degree thermostat doesn't do anything by itself. From what I understand all it does is tell the waterpump when to start circulating water to cool your engine. So, the lower the number, the earlier the water kicks on, the cooler your engine runs. A cooler running engine is always good. Remember Heat=BAD. You'll get a little extra power....maybe. However, the drawback will be a small hit to your fuel economy, as the engine now has to work harder to power the water pump, a little earlier.

Good Luck,
Ryan

[Steve Caroccia]

Now, if you have a 2001 and try to put a 160 in, you will get an SEs light, constant cooling fans, and lose your engine temperature. But, I haven;t heard of problems with the 2000's. But, the purpose is to lower your engine temperature to get colder air. Colder air is denser air, therefore for the same volume, you can get a litle more air (although working for an air separation company, it isn't much!!). Relative to the PCM, the engine is colder. The PCM injects more fuel to try to raise the engine temperature. With the 160 stat, the engine temperature will not increase. So, a little more power at the expense of fuel. An hpp III increases the spark time to try to combust the extra fuel.

[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[ItalianStallion1]

Don't put it on unless you get a programmer.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

A 180 thermo is working for me. I would recommend it, but I think the 2000 models come with one.