New guy with questions

**cruzincamaro** · 01-09-2012, 05:08 PM

I'm new to this forum and LS1 engines. Have a 2001 Camaro SS, changed the thermo to 160. With a Diablo, changed on/off temps for fans. Stock temp gauge still shows same reading (just shy of 210) Is this par for the change? Read another guy saying his goes only 1/4 way. Any advice?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-09-2012, 05:13 PM

Unfortunately, the temp gauges in the 01/02's are merely a low-medium-high type reading. They're not very accurate. When the temp gauge starts to climb, do the fans actually come on sooner? Could you physically hear or see them come on sooner?

**cruzincamaro** · 01-09-2012, 05:33 PM

Yes the fans do come on and if the fans are coming on at the temp I programmed, just shy of 210 is actually around 170. Make sense?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-09-2012, 05:42 PM

There are 5 hash marks on the OEM gauge cluster for the temp reading; 160, quarter mark, 210, three quarter mark, and 260.

Therefore, the 2nd hash mark (the 1/4 mark) would be 185 degrees.

If your gauge is "just shy" of the 210 reading, that is not 170 degrees. 170 would be less than the 1/4 mark.

**pajeff02** · 01-09-2012, 05:47 PM

Welcome!

I run a 180 degree stat in ours with reprogrammed fans. The stock temp gauge is a complete POS and reads around 205 all the time when the engine is warm. Actual temps on my scanner are anywhere from 183 to 196 for the most part. Don't place any faith in your stock gauge -- check it with a scanner or a laser temp gun if you want to be certain.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-09-2012, 05:55 PM

I'll add for anybody reading this later on, the 98's are the only yr that the gauges give accurate readings.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-09-2012, 06:20 PM

My temp gauge also reads around 205 and I have the 160 thermostat and have the fan reprogrammed. This was with the Procharger install which adds a lot of heat though. I want to say I was around 190 prior to that install on the stock OEM thermostat with the stock PCM settings.

Like we all have mentioned though, the stock gauge is a POS.

**cruzincamaro** · 01-09-2012, 06:25 PM

To 35th..if you think of the oem temp gauge like a gas gauge, E is says 100, 1/4 is blank, 1/2 says 210, 3/4 is blank and full is 260 with a red strip in front of it. My temp runs just shy of 1/2 tank. What do you think? Oops, sorry , re read your post...we were talking about the same thing..By the way, what temps did you program your fans for? Do they run together or at different temps?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-09-2012, 07:04 PM

I'm not really a good candidate to ask because with my front mount intercooler for my supercharger I had to remove the dual stock ls1 fans and run a different fan due to space confinement.

Just so you are aware though, the 160 degree thermostat is a mis-leading name. It is not designed to keep the temperature at 160. The thermostat begins to open at around 160 and is not fully opened until about 180 degrees.

Your stock LS1 has 2 fans. One is a low fan setting and the other is a high fan setting. The lower speed fan setting on stock settings turns on around 226 degrees and shuts off around 219 degrees. The higher speed fan setting comes on around 235 degrees and shuts off around 226 degrees.

Both fans run simultaneously in either low or high speed mode.

This changes depending on whether the A/C is on and the vehicle speed as well though.

**cruzincamaro** · 01-30-2012, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by 35th-ANV-SS

There are 5 hash marks on the OEM gauge cluster for the temp reading; 160, quarter mark, 210, three quarter mark, and 260.

Therefore, the 2nd hash mark (the 1/4 mark) would be 185 degrees.

If your gauge is "just shy" of the 210 reading, that is not 170 degrees. 170 would be less than the 1/4 mark.

Wow, to say that the oem is NOT dependable is an understatement. Hooked up a scanner and "just shy" of 210 show 168 deg.