I am curious if it is worth getting a colder thermostat than the OEM. I know cooler engines run better and more efficient but no one has brought this to a post yet...what do you think? 160 degrees or 180?

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All a 160 degree thermostat does is sense what temp the coolant is at and than turns the fan on 20 degrees earlier than a 180 degree. It doesn't mean the car is gonna run 20 degrees cooler; a thermostat does not completely control engine temp.

If I'm wrong, someone correct me..

Clint

 

I'm aware of the function of the thermostat. I was curious if anyone has noticed any drop in the temp. gauge. I know a cooler thermostat is needed when you run a upgraded/perfomance ECU.

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The thermostat does not control the fan. It is purely a mechanical device that opens when the temperature of the fluid reaches the set temperature of the thermostat ie 180. It then allows the fluid to flow through it to be cooled by the radiator. The fans are controlled by the temp sensor which turn them on when a higher temp is reached, not exactly sure because my fsm is in the car but somewhere between 190-220.
So a 160 or 170 thermostat would allow the car to run cooler provided you weren't pushing the car hard enough that the radiator wouldn't keep it down to thermostat temperature. Theoretically for racing it would keep it down at least for the launch which could be beneficial. I have been thinking about doing this but there is some controversy about the benefits, if the engine is designed to be at 180 then 160 could make it slower, there are a lot of variables. I think I will start with a 170.

 

I would not do that, since the cooling system in your car is calibrated to keep the temperature at an optimal level. Engines run a bit hotter now than back in the day, to promote more efficient combustion for fuel economy and emissions.

 

I have heard that the low temp thermostat is really not a good idea, b/c you may have mechanically changed your cooling setup, but your electronic setup stays the same. The ECU still thinks the car's normal running temp is 180, so the ECU will work to compensate for the different setup, like keep the car running rich or something. End result, your car doesn't run as good.


Running synthetic motor oils and using Red Line's water wetter will make your Maxima run cooler, and the ECU will love it, too

DW

 

This is like a lot of other stuff, unless you try it you don't know. There is lots of hearsay. I have found that trying to make my car faster is a trial and error story. But if you haven't tried it and proven one way or the other you really don't know what it will do. I have done many things that I heard people say won't work, or it will break etc etc. If I had listened I wouldn't be running the times I am.
Bottom line is you won't hurt anything going to a lower temp thermostat, it may burn more gas, have less or more performance but you won't break anything, give it a go before I do.

 

I will definitely try this and post the performance output. Thanks for the suggestions and help and I look forward to hearing more in the near future.

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