Which is better for a daily driver? I've heard of people getting 180° t-stats, but never a 160°.
Thanks!
Thanks!
160° vs 180° Thermostat?
- Thread starter topless98gt
- Start date
02nightmaregt
To hell with your Mustang, I want to see your HOG!
I had a 160 for a while and now i have a 180, but i honestly cant tell any difference. Mine is daily driven also
For a daily driver...stick with the stock t-stat or maybe a 180 tstat.
Modern EFI engines run more efficiently when hotter.
Modern EFI engines run more efficiently when hotter.
CobraRed_96_GT
Active Member
160? The lingenfelter corvette over in the talk forum uses a 160, stick to the 192 - or the 180 if it sees the strip once and awhile or you plan on abusing it like it should be
the98stang
Active Member
The stock T-stat is 192^ . You should use that because the computer is tuned for that temperature. You won't gain any power from a colder T-stat. More than likely you will lose power.
jivepepper
Founding Member
180*, 160 is to low for our cars.
Did you reprogram the ecu to turn the fan on at a lower temp? If not, it will still run at the normal temp.
Did you reprogram the ecu to turn the fan on at a lower temp? If not, it will still run at the normal temp.
deftsound
Please ask me how much my supercharger cost
i dont know if i agree here, the slp performance packs come with 180 degree stats, i highly doubt their engineers would include one if they thought it would hurt performance
CobraRed_96_GT
Active Member
the98stang
Active Member
That's nice. The fact of the matter is Ford designed the car to run with a 192^ T-stat. When you change that, the car is not running to its optimum performance level. Old carb'd engines might benefit from colder T-stats because there is no computer controlling the fuel maps or engine operating temperature. It has been proven on the dyno that EFI cars make more power with stock operating temperature T-stats.
jivepepper
Founding Member
CobraRed_96_GT
Active Member
Ford also designed the car to be a daily grocery getter with stock parts, yet 95% of the people on here don't have stock cars and/or visit the track. 180 thermostat should be fine for any medium to heavily modded car that sees the track or just is abused often. When it comes down to it, it's up to the mustang owner - not ford. Because if i used the factory recommended sparkplugs in my 10.5:1 compression engine it'd run like crap.
the98stang
Active Member
Your missing the point. Modded or stock, a colder T-stat will not improve your horsepower, torque, or any other performance aspect whatsoever. It has been proven on the dyno.
SRT Handz
I tripped & fell down and cut myself & got blood
Concerning T-Stats. My Car runs at 210 Degrees when running Normal is Stock T-Stat. IMO, thats REALLY High, Couldn't I drop the temp with a 180 a little?
oxfordgt
Member
You should never run a 160* t stat in our cars. The computer does not come out of cold drive off mode until 185* ECT. If you run a 160* you will stay in that mode and run rich losing power. 180* is recommended when tuning the fans down which will make the car run at 190* depending on cooling system and aspiration type (FI or NA).
160* t stat is used only for some FI aplications making over 600rwhp, carb aplications and speed density cars. Those are the ones that benifit from it.
160* t stat is used only for some FI aplications making over 600rwhp, carb aplications and speed density cars. Those are the ones that benifit from it.
04sleeper
Founding Member
Just wanted to add that not all thermostats are created equal. The stock 180 that comes in the 03-04 Cobra for instance does not fully open until over 200.
With that being said Kenne Bell offers a quicker opening 180 degree thermostat with it's supercharger kits.
A proper thermostat along with correct fan settings should always be used.
FWIW: my car runs between 184-190 degrees with my fan settings and a KB thermostat.
With that being said Kenne Bell offers a quicker opening 180 degree thermostat with it's supercharger kits.
A proper thermostat along with correct fan settings should always be used.
FWIW: my car runs between 184-190 degrees with my fan settings and a KB thermostat.
That's what I have always thought too. I just bought a stock T-stat for my 4.6L in my notch. As long as you have a good efficient cooling system, then I wouldn't go cooler. Ford designed the car that way for a reason. I put a new water pump in my motor while it was out, and I even bought a new radiator. Things are fine my way.
03TrueBlue
Member
The computer wont go into closed loop if not the right temp. That would be bad for mileage. My stat was screwed up and opening to early and throwing a code. Read it while it was warmed up and running and it was right at 180 degrees and wouldnt go into closed loop.
the98stang
Active Member
210^ is fine, especially in this hot summer weather. If your highway driving, your temps will still a little cooler. In town, it will generally run hotter. Anything over 225^ I would worry.
CobraRed_96_GT
Active Member
i plan on running in the 195-200 range with the 180 - which is perfectly fine for my region of the country and for a modular V8. I'm not looking for more performance like you're assuming, just more leeway for the track days and extended traffic on the I-5 which have both caused my car to nearly overheat. Perhaps it's just my car, or how i beat on it; but no thermostat choice is universal for everyone's application.
the98stang
Active Member
If your car overheats with the stock thermostat, you have a problem elsewhere....
