Same cylinder head temps after 170 thermostat install???

[dev1360]

Is there an actual benefit to having a significantly lower CHT?

I come from the LS world where low temp thermostats are popular, but actually hinder power.

I asked my tuner for my Vette (DSteck) about it and he had done a lot of testing with them on his own car and lost as much as 20whp with the lower temp thermostats. The stock 195* thermostat consistently made the most power.

On one hand I understand where a lower CHT would allow for more timing. On the other hand, a warmer CHT allows for more complete combustion with the warmer cylinder.

Obviously, coyote=/=LS, but I'd just like to see an identifiable gain (in anything, not necessarily power), instead of following broscience dogma.

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[Higgs Boson]

Is there an actual benefit to having a significantly lower CHT?

I come from the LS world where low temp thermostats are popular, but actually hinder power.

I asked my tuner for my Vette (DSteck) about it and he had done a lot of testing with them on his own car and lost as much as 20whp with the lower temp thermostats. The stock 195* thermostat consistently made the most power.

On one hand I understand where a lower CHT would allow for more timing. On the other hand, a warmer CHT allows for more complete combustion with the warmer cylinder.

Obviously, coyote=/=LS, but I'd just like to see an identifiable gain (in anything, not necessarily power), instead of following broscience dogma.

I am also from the GM side and have respect for Steck, however, I would like to see the test criteria, testing, variables, results, etc. On a dyno when temps are controlled, especially if done in the winter with an open hood, etc where it's not the rating of the stat that matters but the temps under the closed hood on the street that matter, I don't think realistic conditions are reproducible.

My tests have all been with race cars on the drag strip and as long as the oil is up to temp, the colder the ECT the faster the car goes and with that said, Mustangs running around on the street are not seeing extremes anywhere near that, the stock stat has most of us up in the 210-220 range and that was in October (for me)....come July/August in Texas and I'm not looking forward to finding out how hot these cars run.

Now that DSteck has moved to Austin, I suspect he will enjoy a thermostat just to keep the temps in check, much less "too low."

 

[dev1360]

I understand. I can't comment on his testing variables.

I'm not against a lower temp thermostat at all, I guess I just like being an educated consumer.

When I wondered about them on my LS3 C6 I asked Steck and he told me his results. Given his education and experience, I didn't question them lol.

My PP car runs between 195-210 CHT so far from November to March. Temps ranging from negative to about 80*

What benefits are you seeing from the lower temps, Higgs?

 

[Higgs Boson]

I understand. I can't comment on his testing variables.

I'm not against a lower temp thermostat at all, I guess I just like being an educated consumer.

When I wondered about them on my LS3 C6 I asked Steck and he told me his results. Given his education and experience, I didn't question them lol.

My PP car runs between 195-210 CHT so far from November to March. Temps ranging from negative to about 80*

What benefits are you seeing from the lower temps, Higgs?

living "up north" you will probably notice less benefit over the course of 12 months but the biggest benefit is the ecm pulling less (or no) spark timing due to high coolant temps.

it's march and its already been over 90 here a few times, I am not looking forward to this summer....IAT's are regularly over 100 now!

 

[dev1360]

What temp does the car ECM start pulling timing?

 

[Evolvd]

I just swapped to the Reische 170 on Tuesday. I went from 205-215 to 185-195 with the highest I've seen in stop-n-go traffic at 198. It definitely made a difference from stock. As far as performance difference, who knows?

 

[Higgs Boson]

What temp does the car ECM start pulling timing?

200

 

[Sasuketr]

Stock pp with stock thermostat here, while driving the cht's don't go above 200 maybe once in a while but i also added Royal Purple Ice and this stuff did lower the temps couple of degrees. I am also considering upgrading to 170 degree thermostat in the near future. For those of you wondering if the higher cht temps make a difference. My answer is yes absolutely. According to my dyno after the cht temps dropped my car went from 383 to 395 whp, iat temps were the same.

 

[908ssp]

My 2015 dropped 10 degrees with the thermostat swap.

My gray car had an electronic thermostat and electric pump and I could adjust the water temperature. The Fluidyne radiator had no trouble keeping the car at lower than 170 degrees even with the SCer driving normally. I did have a fully vented hood which allows more air flow that is vital too. My fans almost never came on.

 

[Sasuketr]

200

I don't think its that low. If i remember right cht at 220 and iat at 150 degrees. 200 is way too low.

 

[beefcake]

I made the switch from the 160 - 170....would do again

thats what he has

 

[Higgs Boson]

I don't think its that low. If i remember right cht at 220 and iat at 150 degrees. 200 is way too low.

200. if you are a visual learner I can post pics.

 

[Sasuketr]

200. if you are a visual learner I can post pics.

Thats crazy then. With the stock thermostat you will be hitting that number most of the time. 170 degree Reische seems to be a must.

 

[Higgs Boson]

Thats crazy then. With the stock thermostat you will be hitting that number most of the time. 170 degree Reische seems to be a must.

correct. keep in mind, it's just a modifier, so it pulls 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 degrees depending on a load/rpm multiplier as well so it's not like you're losing 10 degrees or something. but a couple degrees can definitely have an effect.

 

[ero 5.0]

SO I had my buddy who knows what hes doing bleed the line to make sure there were no bubbles. Still the exact same CHT as before the swap. 200-210 on normal driving on a 70 degree day. Oh well, not sure what to do next. I guess just be content with the OEM temps?

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