I just installed an SLP 160* stat on my truck and was wondering what temp I sould set my electric fans to come at? I was thinking about 180*! The needle on the temp gauge is about three marks lower than with the stock 195* stat., it's a touch past the thick middle mark on the gauge with out a temp indicator. On a side note! I don't think the 160* mark on the temp gauge is right. On my 95 truck, the lower mark was 100*, this truck it's 160*. When I start my truck, the needle starts to move only after about 30 seconds or so, I don't really think the coolant temp is 160* already. I also ran a 160* stat in my 95 truck and the needle is in the same spot on this truck as it was in the 95 truck. I still think the lower mark is closer to 100* not 160*, but I could be wrong.
Jim

 

I'd go 180-190* for the fan turn on.

Is your truck faster from this lower thermostat? Also, think you MPGs will be effected?

 

My fans come on at 180 degrees in traffic with AC on my temps never run over 195 degrees.

 

I set the fans to come on at about 175-180*, I'll play with it some if they come on to much. Can I tell if the trucks faster, only the track or my 0-60 will show that although the SOTP meter says yes. Driving home in the rain from work tonight, it got a littel slippery a few times. I would take off from a light with very little gas to keep from spinning the tires, when I started to give it more gas when I thought it was safe to do so, the tires broke loose and kept spining when the trans shifted into second. So just from that, I think the engines making more power. I almost lost it going around one corner, turned right on a green going about 15-20 mph, the trans was in 2nd gear, I stepped on the gas lightly and the tires broke loose the the tail started to swing. I caught it alright though, but had to give it less gas from that point. Driving in the rain is going to be more fun the quicker I get my truck.
Jim

 

No, you are correct Y2K Silverado. The lower mark on the temp. gauge should be 100* This is what AutoTap reads it to be at when the needle is in that position. My friend's 2002 S-10 is labeled with that bottom line as 100* I wonder why GM decided to make it 160* on ours b/c it is off big time. On that note, the fuel gauge also sucks! It is not calibrated well at all. It takes a while to go from full to half-full, but no time at all to go from the half-full position to empty. Who knows...?

 

Glad that 160* works well now. If/when you do some 0-60 runs, post them up as I am intrigued.