View Full Version : 180 - 160 Thermostat?
longhorn262
08-10-2007, 07:45 PM
i was wondering what would be best. 180 thermostat or a 160. i live in northern tx where its hot in the summer in cool in the winters with a little snow. i dont want my oil temp to drop below 225 or so. i hear that the trailblazer doesnt have a great cooling system and someone put a 160 on and said if it was around 70 degrees his water temp ran around 190 or so.
Super 88
08-10-2007, 09:15 PM
i was wondering what would be best. 180 thermostat or a 160. i live in northern tx where its hot in the summer in cool in the winters with a little snow. i dont want my oil temp to drop below 225 or so. i hear that the trailblazer doesnt have a great cooling system and someone put a 160 on and said if it was around 70 degrees his water temp ran around 190 or so.
I would say neither! Leave the stock one in there, or replace it with the same temp. if you think it needs replacing. I don't know where you heard that "the trailblazer doesnt have a great cooling system". I drive from L.A. to Yuma and/or Phoenix several times a year - including summer when it is 110+ degrees. My gauge NEVER goes up more than one line past the "210" mark.
I've towed a fully loaded UHAUL to Oregon again no cooling problems! Some people have well over 100K with all the original equipment and still going strong.
FWIW I'm not even sure a 160 is available! Have you ever seen the thermostat for this engine? I checked Rock Auto and Partsamerica.com and didn't see anything other than the 190 degree one.
http://info.rockauto.com/Stant/Detail.html?14659.jpg
longhorn262
08-10-2007, 11:00 PM
motorad makes a 160, 180 and a stock 195 for the 4.2L. And my cooling system is fine just wanted a little extra power. it sits at 210 all the time. i saw that one guy said he put a 160 in his and the cooling system could only keep it at the lowest 190. but i was hoping that the oil temp would still be around 225 while the water temp was at 190 cause i dont want water eating away at my engine because my oil temp drops below 216.
Blazernut
08-10-2007, 11:06 PM
This engine is designed to run at these temps. Any change to a lower temp will cause mileage and driveability issues and may even throw a code.
Like it was said before, these trucks can handle all kinds ot tempertures so ther is no gain from a lower temp thermostat ..... only the possibility of problems. A 160 would probably be disaterous. A 185 would probably be OK.
And the factory gauge is an estimate. It may as well be a light that says cold medium regular and hot.
:m2:
rbarrios
08-13-2007, 02:16 PM
besides costing you gas- at lower temps the computer thinks youre still warming up the engine and will change shift points on the tranny to keep it revving longer- all in order to warm up engine faster- all this for emissions purposes.
Super 88
08-13-2007, 04:47 PM
:iagree:
Good points, not to mention if you live in an area that does smog checks, it very likely would not pass with the lower temp. thermostat.
longhorn262
08-15-2007, 01:23 AM
This engine is designed to run at these temps. Any change to a lower temp will cause mileage and driveability issues and may even throw a code.
Like it was said before, these trucks can handle all kinds ot tempertures so ther is no gain from a lower temp thermostat ..... only the possibility of problems. A 160 would probably be disaterous. A 185 would probably be OK.
And the factory gauge is an estimate. It may as well be a light that says cold medium regular and hot.
:m2:
so have you actually dyno'd and proved less performance or is that just a guess because your afraid your mpg will drop a tiny bit
longhorn262
08-15-2007, 01:24 AM
and no it wont throw a code lol its been done before lol without throwing any codes.
blu ya
08-15-2007, 01:47 AM
and no it wont throw a code lol its been done before lol without throwing any codes.
You sure about that, just cause one or two individuals have done it without throwing a code does not mean it wont happen. Alot of that is dependent on how long it takes for the vehicle to warm up. I'm not saying that the pcm's on our rides do this, but my 2002 Grand Prix will throw one if it determines that the coolant has not warmed up quick enough in a preset time. This only happened in the winter. Just a thought.
blandmiller
08-15-2007, 12:32 PM
I didn't know the integral thermostat/housing on an LL8 was available in anything other than a 190? Who has changed their's out and how did they do it?
pvgoheelsunc1
08-15-2007, 12:59 PM
I changed mine. I removed alt. also go get a 15mm ratchet "wrench" from lowes or sears it will help. Access is easy then. Will need 13mm socket and extention for the stat on the side of block. I purchased stat at Auto zone pt#41392 24.99. 192 deg. Go to auto zone web and type in part number for more info.
Super 88
08-15-2007, 05:07 PM
and no it wont throw a code lol its been done before lol without throwing any codes.
Check out this post:
http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=26532&highlight=temperature
Just kind of curious, and not intending to be a smart ***you seem to already have your mind made up, so why are you asking?