Best thermostat??

**M-Ten** · 02-12-2008, 04:36 PM

Which one actually runs at or close to what is advertised? Going to switch mine out, I think my stock one is messed up (always reads temp at ~110) so I want to know which one to get.. Thanks

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 10:02 AM

anybody?

**Firebirdjones** · 02-13-2008, 10:13 AM

If we are talking LS1???? Then none of them work at the advertised 160 degrees. We had a lengthy post on this a while back,,,,since I have a problem with a thermostat advertised to work at 160 degrees yet they don't even begin to "crack" open until 173 degrees

Anyway,,,at the moment I have seen no aftermarket thermsotats for LS1's that work at 160 degrees as of yet.

All the 160 stats are,,,are just modified stock thermostats with a spacer installed to force them to open at an earlier temp,,,problem is they say you can't go more than .090" or so,,,otherwise the stat is stuck in the open position,,,,,this .090" actually give you a working temperature of about 175 degrees,,,,not the 160 advertised.

I am currently playing with my stock thermostat so see if a cooler temp can be reached. You can save yourself $60 and just modify your own for the cost of an 1/8" ferrel.

**2001NBMZ28** · 02-13-2008, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by M-Ten

I think my stock one is messed up (always reads temp at ~110)

Did you mean to type ~210? 110 is really low, on a scanner the first mark on my stock gauge is 140.

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28

Did you mean to type ~210? 110 is really low, on a scanner the first mark on my stock gauge is 140.

yeah i know that's the problem, my first mark is 100 and it goes maybe a centimeter or two above that.. I replaced the sensor and that didn't change anything, so I'm going to try changing the thermostat

**2001NBMZ28** · 02-13-2008, 10:42 AM

Yeah something is wrong if you've already changed the ECT sensor. By the first mark on mine I should've said the 1/4 mark, not the first mark. Opps.

**Firebirdjones** · 02-13-2008, 11:58 AM

I would hook up a scan tool first,,,and see exactly what the computer is reading,,,it's really the only accurate way,,,as the gauge in the dash isn't dead nuts on.

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 12:54 PM

oh yeah while my buddy was tuning it he checked the temp and it was running at like 210 or somewhere around that, but I would still like to have an idea what it's really running at while i'm driving it

**Firebirdjones** · 02-13-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by M-Ten

oh yeah while my buddy was tuning it he checked the temp and it was running at like 210 or somewhere around that, but I would still like to have an idea what it's really running at while i'm driving it

I guess your saying the car was sitting still all this time????

That sounds about normal,,,,somewhere around that point the fans should have kicked on with a stock tune,,,and keep the temp hovering in that area.

What was your (in car) gauge reading at that time????

Before throwing parts and spending money,,,I would ask your buddy to hook up the laptop again, go for a ride and see what ya got.

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 03:39 PM

it NEVER goes above 110, no matter how far i'm driving or what i'm doing.. it will start at 0* and as it heats up the highest it will go is 110. The temp that was around 205* was after the car was running and was warmed up..

I've gotten the guage to work one time, it was while i was flushing the old coolant out, and i had the heater turned up all the way on high, and it went up to like 240 or something.. that was the only time i've ever seen it go past 110

**SVG210** · 02-13-2008, 03:42 PM

thats imposible, check your sensor, if anything at all the temperature should go down with the heater on.

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 03:45 PM

that was the first thing i replaced, was the sensor.. it didn't do anything

**Firebirdjones** · 02-13-2008, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by M-Ten

that was the first thing i replaced, was the sensor.. it didn't do anything

The engine coolant temp for the gauge or for the computer.

I could be wrong but I am thinking they are 2 different sensors.

**SVG210** · 02-13-2008, 04:01 PM

theres one on the block and there should be another one, but i dont know nothing about FI Motors, but on a comom diesel motors theres two ones on the block and the other is at the radiator.

**2001NBMZ28** · 02-13-2008, 04:03 PM

Just one sensor. ECT>PCM>gauge.

**SVG210** · 02-13-2008, 04:04 PM

could it be bad sensor?

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 05:51 PM

yeah i replaced the sensor on the driver side of the engine, never helped it..

**Demon_Z28** · 02-13-2008, 06:14 PM

get a stock 185 or a 180 degree thermo, LS1's run better when warmed up.

**tctech1** · 02-13-2008, 06:50 PM

gm has alot of problems with the guages i dont think ive ever seen an acurate one thats why ford doesnt use numbers.

**M-Ten** · 02-13-2008, 07:33 PM

either way it should be at LEAST pointing straight up.. like showing 210 or something.. if the car is overheating I don't think I'll ever be able to tell...