|
C5 Open Discussion General and technical C5 Corvette discussion - ownership, maintenance, repairs, modifications, tuning |
|
Share | Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
11-02-2009, 2:56pm | #1 | ||||||
Charter Member - Vendor
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 109
Thanks: 9
Thanked 21 Times in 17 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $807
|
Riddle me this
Why do some tuners ask that you install a 160 degree T-Stat when you do certain mods.
I was always under the impression that when the T-Stat opens, it opens. So if it opens at 160 or 180, the car still goes to 194-210ish when running. Why the 160 T-Stat? Peace Chip |
||||||
11-02-2009, 3:59pm | #2 | |||||||
Administrator
Barn Stall Owner #7 Barn Raising I,II,IV NCM Supporter '13,'14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pewaukee,WI
Posts: 8,217
Thanks: 1,044
Thanked 5,025 Times in 2,238 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $30682687
|
Quote:
With an adequately efficient radiator, when the car is moving, coolant temp should run at or near the thermostat rating. The Tstat is actually starting to close, or remaining in a partially closed state. It is doing it's job of keeping the temperature warm enough by controlling the flow through the radiator. Now, when the car comes to a stop, and there is no airflow through the radiator, the Tstat fully opens, but despite that, the temperatures continue to climb, until such a time the fans turn on and bring some air through the radiator. Now, here's where the two components tie together. We've been told by many engineers and experts that the LS engines have a "sweet spot" of optimum coolant temps in the 180-195° range. With the stock thermostat, you probably find your temps while moving hover right around 192°, right in the range you want to keep it at. But what about the fans....they don't trigger on until at least 219° (depending on year of car). So we want to reprogram the fans to come on sooner, and not let it get so hot, that's easy...but you cannot cool it down more than what your normal moving temps are, because the Tstat will begin to close, and the fans will never reach thei turn off setpoint, and thus, never shut off. So with the stock Tstat, you can probably set the fans to cool down to maybe 195° at best. (I prefer to have them turn off at least 10° higher than normal moving temps, but this can be pushed. So, now with a tune, and perhaps some changes to the timing, lets say you want to keep it even cooler to prevent any knock retard from occurring, and run the fans down even more. This is where the lower temp Tstat is needed. I have a 160 stat in mine. With it, I find my normal moving temps run about 176-178°...kinda tells me it's not really a 160 stat, but that's ok, I really don't desire it to run at 160 anyways. I have my fans turning on at 195°, and turning off at 185°. My total window of operating temp is now 176-195°....right where I want it to be at all times. That would not be possible with the stock thermostat. Hope that makes sense. |
|||||||
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Y2Kvert4me For This Useful Post: |
11-02-2009, 4:08pm | #3 | |||||||
Charter Member - C5 Mod
Barn Stall Owner #41
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: hagerstown, md
Posts: 5,780
Thanks: 1,206
Thanked 1,291 Times in 827 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $8192878
|
Quote:
__________________
'98 Pewter coupe. A little of this and a little of that..... |
|||||||
11-02-2009, 4:18pm | #4 | ||||||
Charter Member
Barn Stall Owner #777
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: If they told you that wolverines would make good house pets . . . would you believe them?
Posts: 8,512
Thanks: 3,791
Thanked 1,414 Times in 928 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $6589249
|
Great info, Thanks!
|
||||||
11-02-2009, 4:42pm | #5 | ||||||
Charter Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,358
Thanks: 52
Thanked 179 Times in 145 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $5852
|
Consider yourself riddled.
|
||||||
11-04-2009, 10:51pm | #6 | ||||||
Charter Member
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 1,333
Thanks: 43
Thanked 141 Times in 104 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $1297
|
Wow, Tom you know your stuff. Thanks for the info.
|
||||||
11-07-2009, 11:01pm | #7 | ||||||
Charter Member - Vendor
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dickeyville, Wi.
Posts: 325
Thanks: 34
Thanked 51 Times in 32 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $155
|
Great bit of info there Tom
|
||||||
11-08-2009, 11:40am | #8 | ||||||
Charter Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Bennett, CO
Posts: 178
Thanks: 38
Thanked 58 Times in 31 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $1001113
|
[QUOTE]Wow, Tom you know your stuff. Thanks for the info. QUOTE]
[/ Well put ! Bluezey |
||||||
11-13-2009, 5:16pm | #9 | ||||||
A Real Barner
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 53072 By Day 53066 By Night
Posts: 1,056
Thanks: 208
Thanked 899 Times in 222 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $1510990
|
I have a question. If the sweet spot is 185 - 195 and with a 160 t-stat you are only reaching 175 ish. Aren't you missing the ultimate running temp?
|
||||||
11-13-2009, 5:46pm | #10 | |||||||
Administrator
Barn Stall Owner #7 Barn Raising I,II,IV NCM Supporter '13,'14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pewaukee,WI
Posts: 8,217
Thanks: 1,044
Thanked 5,025 Times in 2,238 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $30682687
|
Quote:
So to answer the question I guess I'd prefer it to run it a little cooler, rather than a little hotter, if forced to run outside that window. I also said that "sweet spot" statement had been made by GM engineers, which assume a stock engine....not quite as applicable to the guy running boost or a 12:1 compression engine. Coolant temp affects the cylinder heads and combustion chamber more than anything else. Oil temperature is important, but not in that area so much. The argument of running the engine (coolant temp) "too cold", is because you may not get the oil temp hot enough to burn off contaminants and allow for planned expansion and fit between moving components. Even running at 175, I never have troubles getting oil temp up over 200, so that logic doesn't seem to apply. The bottom line is you want cool heads, and a hot engine for the best of all worlds. There's nothing wrong with running coolant temp too low, if the engine itself (oil) is getting hot enough. |
|||||||
11-14-2009, 1:15pm | #11 | ||||||
Charter Member
Detailing Guru
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 116
Thanks: 0
Thanked 42 Times in 16 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $950
|
Just so I'm clear with your description, you are NOT saying that the thermostat can regulate the final engine temperature, correct?
|
||||||
11-14-2009, 1:41pm | #12 | |||||||
Administrator
Barn Stall Owner #7 Barn Raising I,II,IV NCM Supporter '13,'14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pewaukee,WI
Posts: 8,217
Thanks: 1,044
Thanked 5,025 Times in 2,238 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $30682687
|
Quote:
While moving (abundant airflow through the radiator), you should find your coolant temp hovering near the rating of the thermostat. In this case, yes, the thermostat is regulating the temperature - it is doing it's job of keeping the coolant hot enough by controlling coolant flow through the radiator. On a stock C5, this temperature will be right around 192°. As stated, mine normally runs about 176° when moving. That is the difference in Tstat only. My normal operating temperature definitely did drop. The thermostat can NOT limit the maximum temperature the coolant reaches. If you find it running hotter than say 200° while moving, it suggests blockage or reduced airflow through the radiator, or in extremely hot climates, the capacity of the stock radiator might be exceeded. If the car is idling, or not moving, then it is the job of the fans to introduce airflow and control the maximum temps. Last edited by Y2Kvert4me; 11-14-2009 at 1:43pm. |
|||||||
11-14-2009, 1:54pm | #13 | ||||||
Charter Member
Detailing Guru
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 116
Thanks: 0
Thanked 42 Times in 16 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $950
|
Okay, I'll say this and see if you agree with me because I'm still a liitle unclear with your description. The thermostat does not regulate engine temperature. It only dictates at what temperature coolant begans to flow througout the engine. Actual regulation of engine temperature is dependent on all of the components of the cooling system (radiator, tstat, cooling fans, water pump and air flow).
|
||||||
11-14-2009, 2:00pm | #14 | ||||||
Administrator
Barn Stall Owner #7 Barn Raising I,II,IV NCM Supporter '13,'14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pewaukee,WI
Posts: 8,217
Thanks: 1,044
Thanked 5,025 Times in 2,238 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $30682687
|
|
||||||
11-14-2009, 2:11pm | #15 | ||||||
Charter Member
Detailing Guru
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 116
Thanks: 0
Thanked 42 Times in 16 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $950
|
|
||||||
11-14-2009, 2:43pm | #16 | |||||||
Charter Member - C5 Mod
Barn Stall Owner #41
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: hagerstown, md
Posts: 5,780
Thanks: 1,206
Thanked 1,291 Times in 827 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $8192878
|
Quote:
Better now AJ?
__________________
'98 Pewter coupe. A little of this and a little of that..... |
|||||||
11-14-2009, 3:07pm | #17 | ||||||
Charter Member
Detailing Guru
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 116
Thanks: 0
Thanked 42 Times in 16 Posts
Gameroom Barn Bucks: $950
|
|
||||||
|
|
Support the Barn: |
Download the Mobile App; |
Follow us on Facebook: |
||