Drawbacks to lower thermostat?

[DJCobol]

My car has been running pretty hot lately and I've been considering going down to a 180* thermostat. One question though: Will I lose some heating ability during the winter? I'd rather have a slighty warmer car in the summer then have a freezing cold car in the winer because I cant make heat anymore.

[Gimli]

Yep, definitely, you'll lose heating in the winter. The heater takes whatever heat it needs from the engine so if the engine is cooler, so will the heater's air.

[fschambe]

BULLSH!T You won't lose heat, oh so it drops from 215* to 180*, when's the last time you took a dive into 180* water? Probably wouldn't feel much cooler than 215*... Get with the program, Gimli. BTW unless you're chippin, the fans don't turn on until like 230* anyway. This is all out of experience, the temp guage still goes a few ticks above the middle, until the fans kick in or the AC forces them on. Crusing at highway speeds keeps the temp 2 ticks under middle. Feel the hot air next time you warm up your car and make note of what it would be like 2 ticks under middle gauge. IGNORE THE IGNORANCE, THE TRUTH WILL TELL ALL.

[cavingman]

jesus christ, chill the hell out fschambe

[PACE]

from personal experience__

Actually my wife always used to compain in the winter that my car was cold and the heater air would not get any hotter than luke warm!! I like it cool, so it never really bothered me but you will DEFINITELY notice a difference when it gets cold out!!!!

Not only does it not get hot enough to warm the car, but also it takes like 3x as long to even get to a normal operating temp!!!!

However, I was also running colder plugs for the N2O but that really doesn't make a difference when it comes to block temps.

*X-Files music*
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!!!

EDIT: Plus that thing is such a pain to take out that its not even worth it unless your boosted / spraying or looking into serious performance.

[atc3434]

Running a 180 Stat in my Camaro definalty lowered my heat capablilites quite a bit. I was surprised, because I figured 180 would still be plenty warm for heat. Couldn't get much out of it though. Car stayed really cool unless you weren't moving. Problem is that the stat starts opening so much sooner than a 215 stat. So your baseline temperature can be down to like 165, as compared to 200 or so with the stock t-stat. Your results may vary, but I know for fact that you need quite a bit of temperature in the motor to make good heat. Not just a little temp, but quite a bit. This seems particularly true of GM cars, maybe a heater core design.

[pfofit]

fschambe you said. "BULLSH!T You won't lose heat, oh so it drops from 215* to 180*, when's the last time you took a dive into 180* water?"

I wont be so crude but you will lose heat.
You are ass-uming that the heater core is 100% efficient. NOT.

the 180 degree thermo regulates the coolant temperature at the thermstat housing. The engine cylinders gets a hell of a lot hotter than that and the coolant reaching the heater core is a lot cooler that 180.

The core is a heat exchanger and is directly affected by the its efficiency, size, the temperature of the collant running through it and the air running across it. If your lucky the 180 thermo might give you 140 degree air at the vents. Taking into account of the chilling effect of the whole car in contact with the outside air, the recovery rating of the core to maintain a constant temp is further reduced.

Since your body temp is 98.6, at least on my planet, then you need about 110 degrees to feel warm. If the core size was designed for warming and defrosting based on a 215 dgeree thermostat then a noticable change in output from the vents 140 -35 degrees is 105 degrees. Barely enough to keep the window clear as the outside is 0 degrees. Glass has a very low r value.

Why do you think so many people change faulty not closing thermos in the winter. Because they are freezing. Doesn't bother you in the summer.

[eren00gt]

Just because the temp of your coolant is 180 or 215 doesn't mean that is what the temp of the air coming out of the hvac system. The cold air runs over the heater core and by the time it makes its way through the ductwork and onto your frozen skin it is far less than 180 or 215 or whatever. So yes the inside air will be a little cooler with the 180 t-stat than before because it doesn't have a higher temp to start from. The air coming out of your house ducts is not as warm as it is right next to the natural gas flames is it?

[Jagey]

doesn't the 180* t-stat ruin fuel economy a bit too?

[Craig99SE2]

You've got to be kidding me!!! Perhaps if 10 degrees is SO much colder you should wear little pink mittens to keep your hannies warm when you drive!

[Craig99SE2]

Originally posted by Jagey
doesn't the 180* t-stat ruin fuel economy a bit too?

NO ... this is yet another misinformed misconception (double negative?). The O2 sensor will bring the air/fuel ratio back to stoich over 200 miles after swapping it by applying a negative fuel trim. The *ONLY* benefit of the 180 thermo is at wide open throttle when the PCM throws out the fuel trim info and goes open-loop. The cooler temp will make the fuel run slightly rich.

But for everyday driving, it does nothing for performance and/or fuel economy neither positive or negative affects.

[DJCobol]

Thats the info I was lookin for. Thanks guys.

[Jagey]

Originally posted by Craig99SE2
You've got to be kidding me!!! Perhaps if 10 degrees is SO much colder you should wear little pink mittens to keep your hannies warm when you drive!

Why would you want to sacrifice personal comfort for almost no performance gain whatsoever?

[PACE]

Originally posted by Craig99SE2
You've got to be kidding me!!! Perhaps if 10 degrees is SO much colder you should wear little pink mittens to keep your hannies warm when you drive!

I do wear little pink mittens!

[Craig99SE2]

Originally posted by Jagey
Why would you want to sacrifice personal comfort for almost no performance gain whatsoever?

Didn't your mama teach you nuthin boy? Remember what happens when you start saving pennies ... after a while, they add up! My suggestion to you is to start saving up for them mittens ...

[mfuller]

I haven't detected much difference in heater performance with my 180 thermostat. But it is a bit of a pain to change.

[kubiache]

I've got one, and my logic is this:

a) I don't drive the car in the winter, so if it makes any heater difference, I could care less.

b) I've got DHP. The fans kick on 186*. Now why would I want the fans on at 186* unless...WAIT I"VE GOT IT, they recommend (though unwritten) that you get a lower t-stat.

[Jagey]

Originally posted by Craig99SE2
Didn't your mama teach you nuthin boy? Remember what happens when you start saving pennies ... after a while, they add up! My suggestion to you is to start saving up for them mittens ...

, come on man. It gets down to minus 50 celcius with the windchill here, I need all the extra heat i can! (ps. mittens don't do very much in that temperature)

[Craig99SE2]

Originally posted by Jagey
, come on man. It gets down to minus 50 celcius with the windchill here, I need all the extra heat i can! (ps. mittens don't do very much in that temperature)

-50!!! WTF?!?!? ... One word ... MOVE!

[Jagey]

send me the money and i'll get right on it sir!