160 or 180 Thermostat?

[rebelstang01]

I have 01 GT w/ just bolt ons and live in SE Missouri. Which thermostat should I purchase to keep my car running a little cooler?

 

[Back2Mustangs]

From my experience my cars ran better with only a 180. the 160 stat is a little too much. I also had the high-speed fan wired to a manual switch to keep it running non-stop, even after the car was turned off...It will run really cold, but I think you can get it too cool to the point that it acutally hinders performance and doesn't let the motor operate at the right temps.

Go with the 180. And if you're still not satisfied go with an aftermarket 3/4 core alum. radiator.

 

[spikeGT_99]

definitely 180, the 160 is too cold, it will stay wide open all the time and cause the coolant to run through the system so fast that it will not have time to cool off in the radiator before its pumped out, having the opposite of the desired effect

 

[punkgt]

Definitely want the 180. You only want to cool the block to a point. overcooling will wear out your rings a lot faster too. (Block contraction + high rpms=unseated rings). You might be better off just changing your fan temps (with a chip).

 

[FallenPhoenix]

my car seems to run very well the cooler it is. we let it cool down between dyno runs (it sat about 1.5hrs) and picked up nearly 15hp over running it straight off the street.

 

[01TrueBlueCobra]

Just wondering where I can buy a 180 degree thermostat for my 01 Cobra. I thought you could only change operating temperture with a programmer

 

[mcmmotorsports]

Stant P/N 13398
Available from Advance Auto Parts for only $5.68 + tax.

Tell them it is for a 1996 T-Bird with a 4.6

 

[98laseredgt]

will that work for a 98 gt? i have been wanting to get a cooler thermostat just dont know where to get one.

 

[WHITE0146]

will a cooler thermastat cause the SES light to come on??

 

[raykrv6a]

NAPA carries 180 degree stats.

 

[Defleshed]

though I dont think it makes much of a difference, i'd go with 180. 160 is far too low.

 

[cobras4every2k]

I'm running a SVT Lightning 180 thermostat. $8.45 from my local dealership. Quick easy mod, didn't come with a new gasket, had to purchase from autozone for less than $2.

 

[WHITE0146]

anybody know about the SES light

 

[stangman]

anybody know about the SES light

no it will not trip the ses.

but be careful tightening the housing back down, they are easy to crack & as i'm finding out right now, somewhat hard to find

 

[FallenPhoenix]

Late model mustangs you'll have to change the fan turn on temp or it's really not doing much.

 

[mcmmotorsports]

Late model mustangs you'll have to change the fan turn on temp or it's really not doing much.

Hmmm.....just changed mine today to a 180 and my fan doesn't stay on as much as it did before. When I first put my Predator tune in, the fan stayed on constantly.
At least now it shuts off from time to time