On 7/1/21 11:56 pm, Pedro Valdez wrote:
> I spotted a listing on eBay what claimed:
> Available for all new style LS series engine that have a separate thermostat and water neck. These thermostats are available in 160, 180 and 195°F temperatures to suit any application. Mr. Gasket's 2005 Pontiac GTO test car gained 5 hp with the 180° unit.
>
> Surely if you were testing maximum power on a dyno, the engine would warm up beyond the standard 195 degrees. How can it make a difference?
> More likely the extra HP came from somebody turning off the aircon.
>
The lower temperature thermostat would run the engine cooler by 15
degrees and that would increase intake air *density* resulting in more
power. For a performance application, the 160 thermostat might even gain
a little more power - for the same reason. Note too, running the engine
cooler means you have more leeway in the risk of auto-ignition of the
end gas meaning less risk of detonation. You can get away with either
more spark advance and a higher compression ratio.



--

Xeno


Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)