160 too cold? Autozone says yes

[3400Camaro]

Real quick question. I searched the board but didn't find much on this, so don't flame me please. and the tech. database is down or something, or my computer is just a piece. but...autozone wouldn't sell me a 160 thermo, i'm serious they would not sell me it. they said it will make my car run rich and i'll hate it. are they full of crap? will it run rich sinse it's cold? i'm thinking no, but just wondering.

[Jason McCallister]

They think they know everything but they're just full of ****! :mad: Don't ever shop there again! Go somewhere else and get your t-stat and be happy with it! :D

[Red2K1]

The guys at Autozone probably mean well, but the question is not as simple as it sounds and I won't go into all of it.

I will tell you this, I have run 160 degree thermos in a large number of cars and trucks with no damage whatsoever. The only problem you may have is that the lower operating temperature may cause an SES light. However, with a '95 I do not think this will happen. It is possible, although unlikely if all other components of your car are working properly, that you may fail emissions testing if you have that kind of thing where you live.

In any case, run the 160.

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: Red2K1 ]</p>

[MustangEater8251]

We really need to make a pic that of a bunch of people pointing and a laughing and saying...


YOU LISTENED TO THE GUY AT AUTOZONE!

It will be fine mine has been in for a year or so no majpr problems it may be knda harsh in the winter, mine gets kind low in winter, but I am in florida and winter is pretty wussy.

[3400Camaro]

Okay thanks guys. I'll just go somewhere else now after all that. One good thing about Michigan is, we don't have emissions testing! Thanks again

[Devilboy28]

Does Autozone even carry a 160 T-stat? I can't find one ANYWHERE! I had to buy a 180* which is the coldest they had. :(

[pigglyroot]

you can order a 160 from hypertech

msg from navyblue: I worked at autozone, and sure didn't see any mexicans working there. Please use some discretion with what you post. thanks.

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: navyblue2000 ]</p>

[navyblue2000]

you won't have ANY heat in the winter, but if you're going to go 160*, make/get a manual fan switch to go with it, cuz it won't be of any benefit without it, if you ever stop for more than 2 minutes.
With my 180* in and the fans off, i cruise at 165-173*. sit in traffic and it goes up to 225*. OPTIMAL temperatures for a fuel injected engine is around 170*. too cold and the mixture DOES richen up too much, a little less performance and a little les gas mileage. MORE FUEL is NOT always better...unburned gas = bad. The reason thermostats are higher temperature is to 1)provide for heat in the winter. 2)emissions control. Hot = less = lean.

I went 180* and am completely happy. If you want 160*, ,go for it, i hope it works out for you. Just me .03 cents.

[Bliggida]

Be advised, AutoZone was probably working on half-truths. You do not need a 160 thermostat if your car is stock or near stock. The only reason you would need to lower your cooling system temperature (assuming its in good running condition) would be from bumping up your timing, making the engine run hotter.

With electric fans, its not always neccesary to swap to a 160 thermostat, as it was with cars like my '79 Z28 with a mechanical fan, and often times (later on in the service life, for some reason or antoher) No fan shroud. The two of these killed the engine when you ran advanced timing. So we step down to the 160 thermostat. And install a flex fan.

160 degrees is the absolute minimum temperature you want to run. Anything lower than that the block and the internals are not properly warmed up - so you're running your engine like it was still cold.

Most people also don't bother to try anything in between. Most factory cars come with a 190 or 195 thermostat. And people here the hype about 160 thermostats and run out and get one. No timing or computer chip changes, no headers etc. Trial and error it first. All you may ever need is 180 to 185 thermostat, and if so great, 185 is the perfect temperature for your engine. Not too hot, not too cold, perfect blend and the dyno will show that!

So you may indeed need a 160 thermostat, but check first and do a little research before just slapping one in. Too bad AutoZone wouldn't sell you one. Remember the people that work there "like cars" but aren't neccesarily "Car People"
If it were my chain store, all employees would be SAE certified!

[satellite98]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MustangEater8251:
We really need to make a pic that of a bunch of people pointing and a laughing and saying...


YOU LISTENED TO THE GUY AT AUTOZONE!

<hr></blockquote>

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[raxxus]

The autozone in my area is helpful, nice, and always doing more then is expected of them all the time. So please don't laugh at someone when they are trying to help. I don't know how it is around you guys, but sometimes they are wrong here, sometimes right, but at least they're trying to help! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Jason McCallister]

When I went to AutoZone to buy my 180º stat for my 2000 Camaro, the guy asked me, "how many miles are on your car?"
I told him, "six thousand." (thinking he was just curious)
He said, "You don't *NEED* a new thermostat for your car!" (speaking loudly and real sarcastic like)
I told him real quick, "don't tell me what I *NEED* or *DON'T NEED*! Just get me the damn thermostat!" (for some reason, this guy won't help me anymore! ;) )
It's none of his damn business what I need or don't need, this is what I want and if he doesn't like it... I'm leaving.

I've had nothing but this kind of bull**** from them. If I want opinions about what my car needs or doesn't need, I'll ask a freakin' mechanic!

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: Jason McCallister ]</p>

[Ttop34]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by navyblue2000:
you won't have ANY heat in the winter, but if you're going to go 160.<hr></blockquote>

Maybe we should test this. Take a pot of water and put it on the stove till it gets to 160*, then pour it on yourself. Then take a pot of water and heat it to 180* and again, pour it on yourself. Let us know which one has "ANY" heat.

Well I had AutoTap plugged up for my boring 5 hour drive to visit my parents. I noticed that on the highway with the A/C on low my tempurature would very between 185* and 195*, usually closer to 195* of which I never saw the gage on the dash move. So maybe with a 160* Tstat I might see 170*-175*, at the coolest, that wouldn't be bad.

Notice I do have FTRA so it might make a difference along with a 180* Tstat and Water Wetter.

[chas]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> Maybe we should test this. Take a pot of water and put it on the stove till it gets to 160*, then pour it on yourself. Then take a pot of water and heat it to 180* and again, pour it on yourself. Let us know which one has "ANY" heat.<hr></blockquote>

the engine does not pour the coolant over the passengers. it goes through a heater core which is a heat exchanger. air is a poor conductor of heat. i have a 180 in the firebird and its tolerable but i dont drive it in the winter much.

[SilverTAWS6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by chas:


the engine does not pour the coolant over the passengers. it goes through a heater core which is a heat exchanger. air is a poor conductor of heat. i have a 180 in the firebird and its tolerable but i dont drive it in the winter much.<hr></blockquote>

Very true. I had a 180* in my 2000 Camaro and the heat was perfect (nice and hot quick). With my WS6, after I put the 160* in, it still gets very hot, but it takes quite awhile to do so (I have to blast the heat). I got heated seats though since then and I don't notice the lack of heat anymore [img]smile.gif[/img] .

As said, 180* is fine for the 3.8L engine. You still run very cool. In fact, in scanning my Camaro, my temp would be in the 170's on a cool day while moving! It would go up pretty quickly while sitting though. You NEED programming to take full effect of this mod.

Chris