Got the truck back from the body shop

TJay74 · July 13, 2013

Got all of the hail dents pulled out from the last storm, then had the mirror caps repainted. Shop went ahead and touched up all of the rocks chips professionally then buffed the entire truck out for me.

I had a new windshield put in couple of weeks ago well. Now to put the 160° thermostat in the truck and the oil catch can and it will be done for now until we decide if we are going to order a 2015 GMC Sierra All Terrain.

Must say, this is the best the truck has looked since I bought it, black is a freaking nightmare to keep up, especially when the previous owner never took care of it.

DaveH71 · July 13, 2013

Should skip that thermostat. Installing a cooler thermostat does nothing. You want the engine to get to optimal temperature so it runs as efficiently as possible.

MikeNH · July 13, 2013

Dave is right. Blackbear made a post on this, you're wasting time and money using one. Also, there was one guy here who had all sorts of weird codes set by running a cooler t-stat.

Wires · July 13, 2013

I had a 160 in my '00, and it ran worse than the OEM 195 one. My guess is the PCM is still running in choke mode with it. Only had it in for a couple of weeks, and went back to stock.

You lose a lot of MPG with it as well.

160 gives the most HP from an engine, 210 gives the best MPG. They usually settle on 190 as a nice compromise. Keep in mind you don't know what the PCM does under the hood, and GM could just trap the perpetually low temperature as an issue.

Heck, the newer ones will toss codes if you cut off that thermostat lockout on the block heater cord. If it detects the engine block is hotter than the outside temp at startup, you get a code (unless it's below the normal cutoff on the cord).

TJay74 · July 14, 2013

Guys I am pretty knowledgeable on the 160° stats, been doing them for years. I have never seen any calculated fuel mileage losses at all running one and have ran them in my last 7 LSx vehicles. My 2008 Vette has one and has since right after I bought it from the original owner. Still gets 28-30mpg on the highway and 18-22 in the city.

I wont see any codes either, the code that causes issues is the P0128 thermostat code, reason is the ECM has to see 167° with in 3 key cycles otherwise it will trip the code and turn off the gauges. I already went in and turned that code off, it's only function is to report a stuck open thermostat.

It gets stupid hot here where I live, AC tends to run not as cool on 100°+ days. With the stat I also modified the fan tables so the truck will run a bit cooler, instead of the 210° the factory stat commands I will see around 180° during the heat of the summer.

Ordered the Xtang Revolution bed cover, should have it on in the coming week or so.

Badass69 · July 14, 2013

Factory thermostat is 186 degrees to those thinking it is 195. 160 in a hot climate will run just fine and probabky be more in the 170/180 degree range most times anyhow depending on the fan settings.

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Gurrzt · July 15, 2013

Should skip that thermostat. Installing a cooler thermostat does nothing. You want the engine to get to optimal temperature so it runs as efficiently as possible.

I respectfully disagree, I replaced the stock thermo in Sara (2001 Z28) from the 210F (vehicle would run a constant 220F+) to a 180F Morad Fail Safe thermo (with housing). I had the fan speeds reset (on/off) to a lower temperature through a dyno tune ( with other adjustments), and my vehicle runs 20 degrees-30 degrees cooler than stock.

I am using a digital "Cyburdine" gauge, with the 1/8 NPT sensor installed on the rear passenger side head.

Dave is right. Blackbear made a post on this, you're wasting time and money using one. Also, there was one guy here who had all sorts of weird codes set by running a cooler t-stat.

The only part of your statement I am in agreement with is that "a 160F thermostat is too cold for the vehicle, the ECM will always read the engine as being below operating temperature.

The only time I have read that a 160F thermostat is advantages is on supercharged engines.

JMHO

TJay74 · July 15, 2013

Well good ness is the stat works, bad news is GM has programmed the dash water temp gauge to only show 210° no matter what the actual coolant temps are. Thought they quit doing that mac on the LS1 F-bodies.

Gurrzt · July 15, 2013

Thought they quit doing that mac on the LS1 F-bodies.

I am sorry, I do not know what you are trying to say.

Chris · July 16, 2013

Well my dash temp gauge shows other temps. It showed 260 on Friday and moves as water temps warm up

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Badass69 · July 16, 2013

Yeah even the gmt800s like mine have it just as a glorified idiot light. If you get really hot it will go up and really cool it drops. But even a 15 degree swing shows no change on the gauge. Makes it sorta useless.

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TJay74 · July 16, 2013

Yeah on my 2001 it showed correctly, but on this truck it only shows movement as it warms up then once it hits 210° it stays there. I have checked it with HPT and I am showing 180° at the ECM.