Thermostat

[MP81]

I'm pretty sure mine's sticking.

Car has been running at around 220* now, never used to go past whatever the first mark is on the temp gauge. Thanks to these new temps, I'm getting shit mileage.

What temperature 'stat should I go with? I do have a Hypertech chip, if that makes any difference, and my fan is set to run whenever the ignition is on.

[badinfluence]

What is stock for your vehicle?

I usually put 1 option lower (ie 3.8 V6 stock 195*, then 180* and 160* were offered so i chose 180)

it keeps the car cooler but not as much as the 160 would

there like $4 at napa...

[SoulTerror]

Get a 180*, I heard the 160* aren't very friendly with our 305's.

[WMCCjames]

FYI...at 220 degrees your car will get just about the best gas milage it can...you might have another issue.

Having your fan on when-ever the ignition is not the way to fly......you would be better of having a manual fan in that case. Take advantage of the benefits of an electric fan and use it the way it was designed and enjoy longer life and better economy.

BTW...TPI car's seem to like a 195 T-stat with the eprom programed according.

[MP81]

Well, anyone know what the Hypertech PROM wants?

And also, what's the best way to remove the 'stat?

Oh, and James, maybe you're on to something.

Like, ever since I noticed this increase in temperature (the day I got back from Atlanta was when I first noticed), the car makes a different noise. Like, it used to make a loud ticking noise, which I've been told is the fuel-pressure regulator (not bad, just a common noise it makes) - now, it doesn't make that noise. It'll make this "fffff" type noise when I accelerate, but then If I stay on the gas long enough, it'll go away.

I don't like the sound, what the hell is it.

Nonetheless, I think I'll go pick up a 180* Stant thermostat here today, after work.

[Naterman35]

Don't use the 160.. its horrible. use the 180

[MP81]

Just picked up a Stant 180*

[tenpin842]

not sure what the hype is with a 160!

I have a 160 in my 305 TPI, runs just fine.
I also have 1 fan turning on when I start the car.
My car runs nice and cool. I never really gets to 180 anymore just riding around town.
Even when I ran it down the track last year...I could have hot lapped it all day long.

But my cars been tuned on the dyno also.

[MP81]

Yeah, naturally, I put the air dam on, and it's running under that quarter mark.

I think I'll still go ahead and put the stat in, because it probably needs to be changed - I mean, it cost me like a whole $7 total with gasket.

[MP81]

Well, considering I might pull the air dam off because of this constant scraping on my damn driveway (I probably have to, otherwise it'll break!)

Looking at it with all the stuff still attached to the motor (air inlet hose, MAF, etc), the bolt on the housing, closest to the center of the motor looks like a ***** to get off/on. Is this true, or will removing everything in front of the throttle body make it easier?

[WMCCjames]

Take the TB off to change the thermostat...takes all of 15 minutes. Do not take off your air dam under any circumstances unless you want your car to always run hot. These cars are bottom feeders and absolutely require the use of a airdam to run at proper temps.

[MP81]

...car never ran hot last summer without it.

[WMCCjames]

...car never ran hot last summer without it.

that's cause you have your damn fan on all the time

Picture getting any clearer yet?

[MP81]

No. What would make it clearer?

The fan still is on all the time...

[kammi10]

the only reason your car ran cooler last year was cuz your fan runs all the time when it shouldn't. with the air damn now it with run super cool since it is getting much more air