[hwyhogg]

Okay, don't hate on me questioning my engine builder, ( he's got a great reputation too)...He recommended a 165 thermostat. It is a 450-500 hp engine with 9.5 CR. 165 just seems so low...maybe I'm just too used to the newer engine temps being soooo much higher...any thoughts/ experiences are GREATLY appreciated...BTW, haven't fired the engine yet....
Thanks,
James

 

[CarsByCarl]

a 160 thermostat will help the engine make more power, if it stays that cool, but it won't run as well on the street. Just depends on the application. For street use, I prefer a 180 stat. For pure strip no stat with a flow restrictor is fine too.

 

[Filucky]

I seen a study years back on the engine wear compaired to the engine temp and it was amazing how much better it was for the engine at 185 compaired to 165 and it will not gain you but a few hp anyways. This just off of memory from about 7 or 8 years ago so hopefully someone else will have some "for sure" info for you.

 

[hwyhogg]

BTW, it will be a street driven vehicle...I'm even saving my pennies for A/C....

 

[blown473]

engine temps

engine wear increases at low temps. a certain amount of heat is needed (usually found to be around 180 degrees) to have the least wear especially on the cyl. walls.

 

[Outlaw5.0]

engine wear increases at low temps. a certain amount of heat is needed (usually found to be around 180 degrees) to have the least wear especially on the cyl. walls.

Not true. Many cars have come from the factory with 180 deg thermostats, 160 is just fine also, no additional wear.

 

[darrin1999]

actually most cars have 195-205 thermostats these days specifically because the higher temp reduces wear... its especially important because modern engines are designed with tight tolerances and a lot of engines dont have thick enough cylinder walls to allow for an overbore. the cutoff is about 180 for wear... any time you run an engine at a temp lower than 180 the cylinder wear increases exponentially the colder it gets.

 

[Outlaw5.0]

actually most cars have 195-205 thermostats these days specifically because the higher temp reduces wear... its especially important because modern engines are designed with tight tolerances and a lot of engines dont have thick enough cylinder walls to allow for an overbore. the cutoff is about 180 for wear... any time you run an engine at a temp lower than 180 the cylinder wear increases exponentially the colder it gets.

The 195-205 is for emissions. Hotter coolant increases knock and reduces power.