Lower temp thermostat...

A

audiophile

New member
Will putting a lower temp. thermostat in my truck have any adverse effects to it? My temp is hovering right above 200 and I dont like it. It's a 210 'stat I believe. I want a 180 or even a 160 if I can get ahold of one. When my lead-foot option sets in (about 90 mph for about a mile or so), my temp jumps up to one line right below flashing(I have the digital guages) and it just makes me uncomfortable. (not going that fast in a brick-like suv, but the temps :razz: )

thanks

-Burns
 
A

audiophile

New member
Thanks!
Now another question, do local small-town parts stores carry 160 deg. thermostats? or do i have to order on the internet (where i get everything for my truck)
Now that I think about it, everything on my truck has come from the net...
 
G

GM TURBO

Sell Out
I believe Rob from Florida (could be someone else) was getting 142* stats. There are quite a few running 160* - I am using 180* and did get it at my local We Don't Have A Clue Parts Store.
 
SY2932

SY2932

Administrator
If you have an Autozone near you, they should have Robert Shaw 160 degree thermostats for less than $10. That's where I picked up mine from. If there isn't, any autoparts store should be able to special order one if they don't have any in stock.

Mike
 
A

audiophile

New member
Cool.
Thanks for all the info.

-Burns

_________________
92 GMC Jimmy (now running strong) with 175xxx miles
ADS Superchip
Crystal eyes headlamps with installed strobes.
The crystal eyes signal and parking lenses look SWEET


Edit: I wish I had my old stat again. It was stuck wide open and could only get to about 120*!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: audiophile on 2002-03-26 23:02 ]</font>
 
ParTyBoy

ParTyBoy

New member
On 2002-03-27 09:25, manitoufs wrote:
You definitely want to specify the Robert Shaw. It flows more than any other I have seen.
Click to expand...

What's the longevity/performance difference of those units like??
Just wondering because I have masses of little parts hangin around to install.. a 160 thermo is one of them... If there's a huge difference between a generic 160 and a specified brand.. then I might as well order the right one for $10..

_________________
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Major Domo on 2002-03-27 09:30 ]</font>
 
manitoufs

manitoufs

Member
When I installed my 160 I had purchased a Stant. We were having a tech session at Sean Morris's. I pulled out the Stant and Sean suggested the Robert Shaw. He happened to have one and I couldn't believe the diff.
It is significant.

He was kind enough to give me his to install that day (about a year ago). So far there have been no reliability issues and temps are down.

Spend the $10.00 - you won't be sorry.
 
A

apun

New member
When chaging the thermostat, do you need to drain the coolant? Do you need to bleed the cooling system afterwards?

Thanks,
Alex
 
Loeryder

Loeryder

New member
Nope, I jsut let out enoguh so it wouldnt go everywhere once the thermostat cover came off.
Probably less than a gallon.

Have a new gasket on hand as well, and yes premix your coolant before you add it back in.

This is a good time to flush your emtire radiator and block though.

I drained mine stuck a hose in the rad and let it run for about an hour.
 
K

kwick6

Donating Member
Loeryder said:
Nope, I jsut let out enoguh so it wouldnt go everywhere once the thermostat cover came off.
Probably less than a gallon.

Have a new gasket on hand as well, and yes premix your coolant before you add it back in.

This is a good time to flush your emtire radiator and block though.

I drained mine stuck a hose in the rad and let it run for about an hour.
Click to expand...

My coolant temps were around 200, with a 160* stat in there.
Went and bought a new robertshaw 160(part#330-160) and felpro gasket (pn# 35562T)

So once you drained the radiator, you left the petcock open at the bottom and let a hose run water just through the radiator for an hour? Or did you somehow circulate the water through the block?
I'm wondering how you were able to flush the block.
What did you use to premix the coolant? what ratio?


Thanks,
Scott
 
Tooky

Tooky

Serious about performance
I've been performing a radiator flush on my other turbo car and I'm following this Prestone Super Flush product's directions. It says to drain the radiator, pour in the Super Flush, fill it with water and drive for 3-6 hours (over several days if need be). Then drain the radiator, and fill with just water. Drive 3-6 more hours. Finally drain the radiator and the coolant overflow tank and rinse it, and then fill the radiator and coolant tank with 50/50 antifreeze/water or whatever you need to make the total overall mixture 50/50.

I'm sure the steps would be the same if you were just flushing it without the use of the Super Flush cleaner. Driving it around allows the thermostat to open and the stuff to get circulated and doing it multiple times increases the amount of old coolant you'll get out. I dont think you can get "all of it" out without opening the freeze plugs (?) so this little triple-flush method sounds good enough to me.
 
K

kwick6

Donating Member
TookyCat said:
I've been performing a radiator flush on my other turbo car and I'm following this Prestone Super Flush product's directions. It says to drain the radiator, pour in the Super Flush, fill it with water and drive for 3-6 hours (over several days if need be). Then drain the radiator, and fill with just water. Drive 3-6 more hours. Finally drain the radiator and the coolant overflow tank and rinse it, and then fill the radiator and coolant tank with 50/50 antifreeze/water or whatever you need to make the total overall mixture 50/50.

I'm sure the steps would be the same if you were just flushing it without the use of the Super Flush cleaner. Driving it around allows the thermostat to open and the stuff to get circulated and doing it multiple times increases the amount of old coolant you'll get out. I dont think you can get "all of it" out without opening the freeze plugs (?) so this little triple-flush method sounds good enough to me.
Click to expand...

Now that you mention it, I think I have a bottle of that stuff around the garage somewhere. Probably won't hurt to flush out the system. I'll put the new t-stat in and hopefully it will circulate the coolant. I probably put too much antifreeze in last winter. I know I didn't measure it out, so maybe it clogged up the t-stat.

Later,
Scott
 
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