quote:Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
I am not arguing, I am interpreting what he said differently. My interpretation is that in a Pantera, a 160 thermostat is the equivelent of a 182 in another car.
The thermostat flows no more coolant but becasuse the coolant needs to travel further to the radiator it needs a head start to get there to keep the coolant at 182. Particularly under summer desert conditions.
I'm in southern NY. A high percentage of my Pantera driving eliminates cold temperature driving.
With a stock '73 water coolant system and a 160 thermostat, guess what? The car runs right around 185. Amazing?
Maybe it's my polished stainless cooling pipes?
Or my corrected Wieand pump?
Under these conditions, I probably don't need a 16 psi system but I still haven't convinced myself why it's a bad idea.
My best answer to myself is if it isn't broken don't fix it and leave well enough alone.
My engine would run at 160 degrees at highway speeds if I installed a 160 degree thermostat. That is in southern Arizona where it can get a little hot, but can also be cold depending on the time of year. Have you checked the calibration of your gauge? Do you know that the temperature that you are reading is what it says? If you are happy with a 160 degree thermostat, then that is good. I wouldn't run one in anything that I own because of the engine wear that it causes, but that is just my opinon. If you want to raise the system pressure to 18 or 20 pounds, then just do it. It will raise the boiling point or boiling over point.