T-Stat Design

[DHMag]

while i understand the mechanics of the thermostat used in the SHO engine, i have to ask: is it necessary ? id like to run a lower temp t-stat but can not find any with the same bypass valve and 52mm diameter. i have, however, found them without the bypass valve.

what is your input ?

TIA

 

[Off Road SHO]

Dale,

Just drill a few 3/16" inch holes in the top part of of the t-stat, where the jiggle valves are. It helps regulate the ups and downs of the thermostat's cycling. They use the 190 and 195 themostats to keep the core temp up to help with emissions so unless you have a problem with emissions, I say drill it.

I run my fans all the time and let the thermostat do the regulating with a little help from the holes. I personally like to see about 160 to 175 degrees. Can't remember offhand when the PCM considers the engine to be warm enough to shut off enrichen mode, but I think it's 130 degrees.

Tom

 

[DHMag]

Tom, im refering to the secondary valve on the back of the thermostat. it blocks off the tube coming from the waterpump (through the intake valley). without that valve, would the engine run any cooler ?

 

[Shoaz]

Dale,

I've been using a Stant 52mm, 192F without the bypass valve, here in Arizona and on track days that are sometimes 105F ambient. I've not yet had a cooling problem, but it might be better or more efficient with the bypass valve. It's been long enough since I had a Ford T-stat in there I don't know what the difference would be expected to be, but I don't seem to be having any trouble without the bypass valve (runs to find wood on which to knock)...

 

[DHMag]

Eric, im running a 180 right now with the bypass valve on it. though we live in similar climates, i still prefer the engine to run about 15 degrees cooler. right now, it varies between 190 and 200. i just switched to a 2 row radiator and the temp only dropped a few degrees. next step is either a lower temp t-stat or a colder spark plug.

btw, do you know the temp at which the PCM switches loops ? Toms guess of 130 sounds right, but i thought i had seen somewhere that it was 160.

 

[Ishodu]

Once your beyond the opening temp of the thermostat its not going to make your run any cooler. Its just going to take longer to get to that temp. Unless you can cool the engine to the point where your operating temp is lower than the t-stat. Then your min run temp will be lower. If your running 190-200 now you will be after a t-stat swap too.

 

[DHMag]

hmm, thats not my experience with t-stats. if thats the case, why are diff temperature t-stats available for one engine ? Chevy 350, you can run a 160, 170, 180, 192, or 195. Taurus SHO, only "correct" options are 180 and 192.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

The answer was already posted by Tom.

They use the 190 and 195 themostats to keep the core temp up to help with emissions so unless you have a problem with emissions

The t-stat only regulates minimum running temps.

If you want to keep the temps LOWER than the t-stat regulated minimum, you not only need a lower temp t-stat, but a way to KEEP it that low.

I like my temps to stay low as well, right at 190-195. I simply run the climate control on defrost all the time to keep the fans running as much as possible.

Try a search on the forum, I remember a thread started my Mikey from Midwest SHO about a cooling fan mod. Maybe it is what you are looking for.

 

[SHOtimer]

Try a search on the forum, I remember a thread started my Mikey from Midwest SHO about a cooling fan mod. Maybe it is what you are looking for.

He was running without a T-stat and changed the wired the fans to a manual switch on the dash.

Doug

 

[DHMag]

ive run without a t-stat and the temp would even out at 170. under load, temp would raise to 200. if i let it idle with the cooling fan on, it would settle back at 170.

i do run my a/c on all the time, even though my a/c does not operate.

thanks for everyones input.