160 Thermostat?

AssKickinHD · November 27, 2002

I have the Hypertech III programer for my 6.0. I have yet to change my thermo down to a 160 one. My local speed-freak shop tells me I should and it will not cause any problemsis telling me no friggin way, bad idea ! Anybody else made this change? Not real sure which way to go!

Also, when I run premium fuel I still get a little bit of pinging unles I run a bottle or two of octane boost, will the 160 thermo fix that?

JimWilson · November 27, 2002

I've seen more then one post in the past that said running a 160 causes some performance issues. I guess the engine is not warm enough to run properly at that temperature.

CMNTMXR81 · November 27, 2002

This is an age old disagreement (moreso than an argument anyway). Running the engine cooler allows more aggressive fuel and timing curves that programmers like the HPPIII allows for. Running the engine hotter, (I.E. the coolant that flows through the heads hotter) equals hotter heads which can lead to pre/post detonation in the combustion chamber which is the ping you hear. Running it cooler essentially controls the potential for pre/post detonation better in order to run those more aggressive curves.

As to the oil not getting hot enough, that's hoohaa. Unless you live in a northern area where it's gets below 32 and colderor drive extremely short distances, I wouldn't worry about it much. The oil gets plenty hot regardless of whether it runs at 210 degrees or 160 degrees to burn off any impurities if run long enough and hard enough. You could also always split the difference and get a 180 degree thermostat too.

Heck I run a 160 degree thermostat in the Z and it still runs an average of 183 degrees on a 90 degree day.

TheScaryGuy · November 27, 2002

Unless you live in a northern area where it's gets below 32 and colderor drive extremely short distances, I wouldn't worry about it much.

It takes roughly 10 minutes with an engine fully warmed up to burn up all the water out of your oil in really cold states like mine. (MI) Thats the only really dangerous impurity in bitter a$s cold weather.

Shotgun · November 27, 2002

If you are using a hypertech power programmer III,yes use the 160 as recommended and don't forget to run high octane fuel,I do,,no problems at all.Period.No pings or pre detonation are anything else.Even if you live on the north pole your engine will still run @ 160 min.Haven't You guys noticed that you have more power in the morning when leaving the house before the engine heats up? I would not run a 160 without the power tuning though........Gun

Roofer · November 27, 2002

I had a Hypertech and a 160 T-stat on my '00 Z71 5.3. It ran about 180-190 in the summer and 160 in the winter. I don't think it would hurt any, but I don't think it gains much. The Hypertech has the option for a reason.