Thermostat

[Chris Hacker]

What is the actual purpose of upgrading (downgrading your actual one) to a lower degree thermostat? I've read on here all sorts of stuff about gaining/losing 1-2 hp, making it colder in the winter months, gaining/losing a few miles to the gallon. If this thing only costs $20 and it really doesn't do anything at all, what the heck? Isn't my $20 towards an exhaust or anything else better?

[camaro_speedemon]

There is a review about it in our Tech database.

http://reviews.firebirdv6.com/hypertech160thermo.html

[silicuda]

After reading all sorts of stuff about the low temp thermo I have learned that what it does is increase the fan cycle on the engine so the fans run more often to keep the engine cooler. Thus resulting in more fuel consumption.

This mod is only an effective one if you consider adding a Stage 2 JET Chip to your car.... otherwise all it really does for your is increase your fuel consumption... which I know you probably don't want..

[V6Bob]

This is a really good question. It's complicated and there is little real data on precisely what it does, mostly just guesses.

A really low thermostat (160) will fool the fuel injection into running a bit richer (which is why it can give a bit more power and can give a bit less mileage). It possibly can lower the temp of the incoming mixture a bit, which is good for power. These are why the review found more power with a cold engine. With optimum fuel mixture for power and really good cold air induction, a hot engine actually would produce a bit more power.

It will reduce the heat from your heater and could possibly cause more engine wear due to the oil not heating up properly. It could cause increased emissions.

It will be a lot less effective at doing any of this unless you mod your fans to come on sooner. If you don't the fans will not come on more often, if anything, a bit less often.

All in all, a controversial mod.

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>

[navyblue2000]

i run a 180* thermo except in winter.

during the warmer months, a cooler engine is better since there's hotter intake charge. I also like to run copper plugs at the stock heat range (copper is colder than platinum). hot air intake charge with hot engine temp and hot plugs = heat getting outside the combustion chamber = detonation = pulled timing = less power.

cool engine and cool plugs help counter this.

however, in winter months, the engine stays cooler with a cooler intake charge, which leads obviously to better combustion/performance, as more air equals more fuel, therefore not as good fuel economy. couple in colder plugs, and you might not be getting a complete burn. I'm still running copper plugs, and i can't feel a differnce in performance like i did during the summer. it runs about the same.

but for best gas mileage in the winter(and when i say winter, i mean in places where it actually snows [img]tongue.gif[/img] ), go back to the stock plugs and the stock thermo.