Running cooler temp - any issues?

[K5_Fla]

I live in Florida. I like to run my truck ( K5 with carb 350) with a 160 T stat. Truck runs great, no issues. I know these trucks were set to run 190-210?? Any issues long term running a little my temp lower?

It seems with a 190 stat installed the truck will creep up to 210+ on a hot day. With the 160… I run around 160-175 according to the factory gauge.

 

[Fordum]

Usually not a good idea even down here. You might lose some gas mileage, and there is a possibility for sludge buildup if the engine does not get hot enough to boil out the condensation.

 

[4xcrazy]

I always ran a 180 in a carb'd motor,

195 in computer controlled, although in this cooler climate i'm in, and with a max cooling capable setup, i'm thinkin of trying a 205 stat.

 

[Jessie James]

A 160 tstat will often burn more gas because the engine never warms up. Most engines achieve best efficiency at 180+ degrees. So basically you are robbing yourself of power and performance to not use the proper setup.

Remember, engineers have spent millions of dollars and countless hours building an engine to have the best performance. If you got better performance with a 160 degree thermostat, I bet it would be in there to begin with.

 

[ccarley]

I agree with everyone replying.

What I feel is best is to run the stock temp t'stat, and work on the rest of the cooling system from there. For example, I now run a severe duty fan clutch, which works great when it's hot out, and spins pretty freely when it's cool (you can hear it, and feel the difference in power). Next I'd say bigger radiator or aluminum, possibly a different high volume water pump perhaps? Also, I'm not sure if they have them (I haven't looked yet), but on my old Wagoneer we used a high-flow t'stat as well. It was a 195 degree t'stat, but worked way better than a standard parts store t'stat. It opened slowly to the correct temp, instead of waiting to warm up, and opening all of a sudden.

Good luck!
Clay

 

[ccarley]

Found the high-flow t'stat!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BRA-330-195/Application/?query=Make|CHEVROLET|Engine+Size|5.7L/350

I'll be ordering one soon myself.

Clay

 

[4xcrazy]

Found the high-flow t'stat!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BRA-330-195/Application/?query=Make%7cCHEVROLET%7cEngine+Size%7c5.7L%2f350

I'll be ordering one soon myself.

Clay

i ran one for awhile, no difference in heating/cooling performance. it's all in the radiator and fan setup that counts.

to give you an idea, as i have mentioned in other threads, i have my truck setup for heavy duty cooling, for when i lived in Phoenix, now that i'm in Indiana, it's too cold, the truck won't heat up normally. It has a 4 core radiator, aluminum center section, a heavy duty fan clutch, and the 195 t-stat. It takes FOREVER to get up to the t-stat, then when it does, it drops dramatically, over cooling. I have so far installed a vinyl cover over the complete grille area to prevent driving force wind, and just now installed a piece of cardboard in front of the actual radiator surface covering about 1/3 of the radiator, and just took it for a drive. It does get alittle warmer, but still when that t-stat open, it drops to about the 175-180 mark. Just something i think i'm going to have to get used to with the wide swing of the temps.

but my point is, big radiator, hard pulling fan, it'll stay cool

 

[diesel4me]

All GM engines have come factory equipped with 195 degree T-stats since 1968....they started using them when they first began installing emission related stuff like PVC valves and smog pumps,exhaust manifold hot air stoves for the carb intake,etc--when they introduced the "CCS" (controlled combustion system) in 1968,they started using a 195 T-stat..

In newer vehicles with computers,if the water temp does not get high enough,the computer will be sluggish or may not even go into the "full loop" mode ,and performance and mileage will suffer,oil can sludge up and a myriad of other woes can arist from a too cold running engine,like carbon deposits building up...some engines now come with a 205 degree T-stat..I've always ran 195 T-stats even in my plow trucks that are prone to overheating with the fan clutch "unlocked",and haven't had any issues..and much better HEAT in winter!...water & antifreeze wont boil under 16 lbs of pressure till it hits 258 degrees,so I wouldn't worry any about seeing your temp gauge hit 210,I've had many V8's that ran a bit over 220 degrees and never boiled over or had any cooling system issues..to a degree,the hotter the engine runs,the more efficient it becomes..