Oh yea AutoZone now carries the 160 and 180 stat now for around $30 with housing. its a duralast but works the same and is cheaper than a power stat.

 

When your block is cooler, it will wick away head from the cylinders faster and hence mpg loss.

 

With my supercharger I have a 160* thermostat which makes the engine run at about 175*-180*. I have heard that when the PCM is not tuned for the lower temperature, the engine may run too rich thinking it's still in warm-up enrichment mode giving good throttle response but less milage.

 

GM has designed these motors to run at ~195º for a reason......within reason engines function better the warmer they are (this is a proven scientific fact!!), The ONLY reason there ever was to go to a lower temp thermostat was when cast-iron heads were popular, cast-iron is a heat-sink and warms up VERY fast, to cool the chambers enough to prevent detonation on hi-po motors 160º thermostats became popular...now that aluminum is used almost exclusively for cylinder heads the 160º thermostat has become a pointless modification.....

 

For NA.

 

I guess thats why my big iron 8100 likes the 160* then.

 

Pointless mod? I would like to see these "Sientific Facts".

 

I'm happy with my 160* stat, but my PCM has been tuned accordingly. Great heat in the winter (actually comes up faster since the stat opens sooner allowing flow sooner), and my trans temps have decreased also. Efans are set to 180* on, 173* off.

 

me too i found over on the tech that these engs perform better in the 170* range as far as mileage i would say tune it correctly and it should be ok i dunno i'll let you know.

 

went with 160 thats