160 or 180 degree thermostat

[GTO from Hell]

I live in Wichita, Kansas where we get hot and sticky summers and mild to cold winters. I would like to get a lower degree thermostat and I was curious if the 160 degree might be too low and would take awhile for my engine to warm up during the winter. Is this true? Any information about both thermostats would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I drive a 97 Camaro 3.8. Thanks.

[cam98aro]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

yes, a 160 thermo will take forever to warm up in winter.

i think ym car has one, and it takes 10 minutes of constant driving to start getting warm, my dads car gets warm in the first few min

[UDLOSE98]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

a few people have dyno'd and I believe they found when running at 180 they saw the best gains.

[BobbyZ72]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

I have 185, never had a problem with it

[97rs4life]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

i have a 160 in my 1997, no problems here. Takes like 3 more minutes to blow heat, no biggy.

I got a brand new 160* hypertech thermo sitting here if you want it. $15 shipped I will let it go for.

For more info on thermostats, use the search feature and you will get piles of threads on it. Lots of info there about the gains/differences of each.

[kuttman]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

I have a 180 changing to a 160 becouse Im getting cpu programed they say too low well throw a code low temp unless cpu is redone

[97rs4life]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

160* only throw codes on the new ones and need to be tuned for them, like 00+ or something, can't remember the year that they started not liking them.

[stevethepirate]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

yeah, i went with a 180. its sitting in my garage waiting to get put in. i wasnt in the mood to throw a code, and i heard the 180 isnt much worse than 160.

[logan13883]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

Yea someone told me that if u get a 160 , that it wont run right and your car will perform worse and will have horrible MPG. ...i might be interested in that thermostat ..97rs..

[97rs4life]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

just let me know. paypal is travis.dyke@hope.edu

[Big Tymer]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

i had the 160 in my old one..... that thing too years to warm up..... i put the 180 in my current one a couple weeks ago.... i havnt had a winter with it yet.... sorry :-)

[RadRacer]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

If I bought a 180, I just swap it out with the stock thermo right? No reprogramming or anything needed? I was told that then my car has to be reprogrammed to run at that temp.....

[Big Tymer]

Re: 160 or 180 degree thermostat

If I bought a 180, I just swap it out with the stock thermo right? No reprogramming or anything needed? I was told that then my car has to be reprogrammed to run at that temp.....

no thats just dumb ... the themostat just opens up at a cooler temp.... now the fans still dont turn on to something like 210 i believe, but u could get it reprogramed for that, but i dont see the point..... maybe a manual fan switch since our fans are electrical and not belt driven.... but no.... not true at all