Moparts Main Index | READ - Info & Help Page | Moparts Sponsors | Tech Archive

Forums Calendar Active Threads Search Forum Help
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv #1035843
07/19/11 12:41 PM 07/19/11 12:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,497
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12 Offline OP
Too Many Posts
A12  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,497
N.E. OHIO, USA
What's the theory or thought behind using a 160 degree thermostat instead of a 180 in a '69 GTX 440 stock engine, should it run cooler with the 160?

MikeR
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: A12] #1035844
07/19/11 12:49 PM 07/19/11 12:49 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,424
Florida STAYcation
dOc ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dOc !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,424
Florida STAYcation
IF your cooling system is 100% effective .. whichever stat is in the car .. it should run dead-nutz on-it. But that very rarely happens.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: dOc !] #1035845
07/19/11 01:08 PM 07/19/11 01:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
M
MoparforLife Offline
Too Many Posts
MoparforLife  Offline
Too Many Posts
M

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
The stat cannot regulate temperatures above the stat rating. If that engine has a tendency to run at 190 with a160 stat the stat can't control that situation.
160 is really too cool anyway. Better lubrication and runs cleaner for better efficiency at higher temps.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: A12] #1035846
07/19/11 05:17 PM 07/19/11 05:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,883
Northern OH
R
rapom Offline
top fuel
rapom  Offline
top fuel
R

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,883
Northern OH
If you have a good cooling system, a 160 degree thermostat allows you to run without fear of detonation especially if your compression is high and you are running pump gas. You can have your timing set more advanced when you engine runs cooler. Your fuel won't vaporize as quickly after shutting down your engine.
Buy a Milodeon 160 degree stat. It's a lot better than the Napa superstats.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: rapom] #1035847
07/19/11 05:35 PM 07/19/11 05:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,916
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,916
Grand Prairie,Texas
Enigine needs to run at leats 180* or it won't run at it's best. It also won't burn off the condensation in the oil as it should.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: stumpy] #1035848
07/19/11 09:12 PM 07/19/11 09:12 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,275
Desert Tracker
H
HYPER8oSoNic Offline
top fuel
HYPER8oSoNic  Offline
top fuel
H

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,275
Desert Tracker
Great point Stumpy!!


Last edited by HYPER8oSoNic; 07/19/11 09:13 PM.
"Stupidity is Ignorance on Steroids"
"Yeah, it's hopped to over 160" (quote by Kowalski in the movie Vanishing Point 1970 - Cupid Productions)
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: stumpy] #1035849
07/20/11 12:00 AM 07/20/11 12:00 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
R
RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
RapidRobert  Offline
Circle Track
R

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
180 (minimum)

live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: RapidRobert] #1035850
07/20/11 07:59 AM 07/20/11 07:59 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 277
Palmyra, NY
6
63stabamatic Offline
enthusiast
63stabamatic  Offline
enthusiast
6

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 277
Palmyra, NY
I agree, 160 is too cold. I run a high flow 180 degree stat in my stock 69GTX 440 with A/C.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: 63stabamatic] #1035851
07/20/11 08:43 AM 07/20/11 08:43 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383 Offline
Too Many Posts
70Cuda383  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
I saw a chart that showed how engine wear reduced exponentially as engine temp comes up, with wear being almost nil at 180-185.

**Photobucket sucks**
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: 63stabamatic] #1035852
07/20/11 09:30 AM 07/20/11 09:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,278
San Jose, California
D
DennisH Offline
Vacation
DennisH  Offline
Vacation
D

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,278
San Jose, California
Quote:

I agree, 160 is too cold. I run a high flow 180 degree stat in my stock 69GTX 440 with A/C.


180 Napa superstat. Minimum.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: DennisH ] #1035853
07/20/11 10:26 AM 07/20/11 10:26 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,465
Carson City, NV
B
babarracuda Offline
pro stock
babarracuda  Offline
pro stock
B

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,465
Carson City, NV
Back in the 60-70's, we ran 160 thermostats so it wouldn't overheat on hot days. If your radiator is adeqate, 180 is by far better. 160 only helps with an undersized radiator, and then only until there are really hot days. If you need a 160 thermostat, don't cruise on hot night or take trips more than 60 miles. Been there, done that, got the Tshirt.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: A12] #1035854
07/20/11 10:53 AM 07/20/11 10:53 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Pendleton NY
T
terzmo Offline
top fuel
terzmo  Offline
top fuel
T

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Pendleton NY
If it's cold weather(definition of cold ?) 180 is the way to go but in hot weather...85 on up....I run a 160 as it will heat quickly to 160...open and allow the engine to "potentially" run cooler than a 180. Old cars need to run cool...unlike the new cars today that are designed for higher temps. My silverado runs a steady 210 when warm..I wouldn't run My Bee very long at 210. AND as far as burning bad stuff off...would Your finger be hurt any less in a vat of 180 oil or 160 oil ?

In the 50's/60's we'd run no thermostat in summer. Why...keep the old iron cool...High temps...210 plus is not good...I've run a 160 for decades and I'll wager I get more miles out of a block than higher temp stats. My experience of driving for over 45 years.

Note...not to scare you but a 180 in a car with a good cooling system will NOT hurt anything..it's just with a 180...engines tend to run 190 plus..then cool..then heat...where a 160 will keep them under 180 and that's what I prefer

Last edited by terzmo; 07/20/11 10:55 AM.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: babarracuda] #1035855
07/20/11 10:55 AM 07/20/11 10:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
M
MoparforLife Offline
Too Many Posts
MoparforLife  Offline
Too Many Posts
M

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
Quote:

Back in the 60-70's, we ran 160 thermostats so it wouldn't overheat on hot days. If your radiator is adeqate, 180 is by far better. 160 only helps with an undersized radiator, and then only until there are really hot days. If you need a 160 thermostat, don't cruise on hot night or take trips more than 60 miles. Been there, done that, got the Tshirt.

A stat can't keep a vehicle from over heating. It was another myth. A stat cannot regulate temps above the stat rating. Once it is open it open whether it is a 160 or a 190. Just like the thermostat in your house cannot regulate the temperature above what the thermostat is set at on a hot day. If you have your stat set a \t 68 and the sun wants to up teh temp to 90 there is no way that the stat can regulate that. (AC equiped house not withstanding)
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: MoparforLife] #1035856
07/20/11 11:54 AM 07/20/11 11:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
S
StealthWedge67 Offline
master
StealthWedge67  Offline
master
S

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
My car makes more power at 160-165 than it does at 180-185. I went to a 160 stat, and gained a consistant 1-1.5 MPH at the track. So I'm going to rely on that evidence. As far as wear....... makes sense for a daily driver, my car sees about 1000 miles a year, I'm not too worried about it.

LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: StealthWedge67] #1035857
07/20/11 11:59 AM 07/20/11 11:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
D
dogdays Offline
I Live Here
dogdays  Offline
I Live Here
D

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
If you could keep the intake at 35 degrees and the oil at around 180 it's be ideal for making power. On the other hand a warm intake vaporizes the fuel better resulting in better mileage. I imagine this wouldn't be true with direct injection, but we don't have to worry about that on our older cars.
R.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: dogdays] #1035858
07/20/11 01:50 PM 07/20/11 01:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383 Offline
Too Many Posts
70Cuda383  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
true, max power vs longevity. it's a trade off.

as it always is.

wanna make 8,000 hp? well, consider yourself lucky if it stays together for 1/2 mile.

want to run 200K miles on one rebuild? then you're not going to run a massive cam with aggressive ramps that require insane spring pressures

on the engine dyno, we made max power by doing 4 back to back pulls to get the oil temp up as high as we could. it was at 185 degrees.

then we dumped the hot water out, and cycled in cold water until the water was coming out at 110 degrees.

then made another pull, and picked up 15 hp over the other pulls we had been making.


but...when are you ever going to be able to duplicate that on the street?

**Photobucket sucks**
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: 70Cuda383] #1035859
07/20/11 02:49 PM 07/20/11 02:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,883
Northern OH
R
rapom Offline
top fuel
rapom  Offline
top fuel
R

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,883
Northern OH
I would like to add that my car runs a constant 172 with my 160 degree stat. I also had a 180 stat in mine and it would run 195 degree plus.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: MoparforLife] #1035860
07/20/11 02:50 PM 07/20/11 02:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Pendleton NY
T
terzmo Offline
top fuel
terzmo  Offline
top fuel
T

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Pendleton NY
Quote:

Quote:

Back in the 60-70's, we ran 160 thermostats so it wouldn't overheat on hot days. If your radiator is adeqate, 180 is by far better. 160 only helps with an undersized radiator, and then only until there are really hot days. If you need a 160 thermostat, don't cruise on hot night or take trips more than 60 miles. Been there, done that, got the Tshirt.

A stat can't keep a vehicle from over heating. It was another myth. A stat cannot regulate temps above the stat rating. Once it is open it open whether it is a 160 or a 190. Just like the thermostat in your house cannot regulate the temperature above what the thermostat is set at on a hot day. If you have your stat set a \t 68 and the sun wants to up teh temp to 90 there is no way that the stat can regulate that. (AC equiped house not withstanding)



I agree as if the water temp is over 160..the stat is going to open and won't close till under 160. A stat will heat up a car faster than a non stat system as it won't allow flow through the rad untill the water temp is over the stat rating. With no stat..you get "potential" max cooling all the time as the is no water obstruction. Even an open stat reduces the opening,thus reducing water flow.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: terzmo] #1035861
07/21/11 01:45 PM 07/21/11 01:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,497
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12 Offline OP
Too Many Posts
A12  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,497
N.E. OHIO, USA
FWIW: Edit: I put a 160 thermostat in Tuesday (07-19-11) night. Yesterday (07-20-11) with a 160 standard flow thermostat, outside/ambient temps in the mid 90's (F) and cruising on the Ohio Turnpike at 70 mph it definately ran cooler than last Sunday (07-17-11). Sunday (07-17-11) with similar conditions (driving at 70 mph on I90) but a little cooler outside the temp gauge needle was right on the next to the last line (higher engine running temp) and the car puked coolant two minutes after I shut the engine off at a local cruise . just FYI and I have no clue on a 160 versus a 180 thermostat????


MikeR

Last edited by A12; 07/21/11 02:32 PM.
Re: 160 thermostat-vs-180 thermostat & no cold weather driv [Re: A12] #1035862
07/21/11 01:50 PM 07/21/11 01:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,497
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12 Offline OP
Too Many Posts
A12  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,497
N.E. OHIO, USA
It was hotter yesterday than Sunday and this was my go to work car's temp gauge when I was going home to pick up the GTX to head to another cruise and "It's a WET heat"


MikeR
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer 
Privacy Policy · Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Moparts




Moparts Main Index | READ - Info & Help Page | Moparts Sponsors | Tech Archive


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1