From: Monzabudd_REMOVE_180715_THIS_@yahoo.com
This is taken from car craft august 1992
pg.81...
Q. Cars today have 194*F thermostats, claiming
that the higher temperatures provide more horsepower
and economy. However, some magazine articles claim
that you could get more horsepower by installing a
180*F thermostat. Which thermostat is best for max
power in a late model TPI350 engine?
A. "Life
is a trade-off. Up to a point,a hotter cylinder wall
reduces piston and ring friction. Hotter oil is
thinner,resulting in less drag on reciprocating parts. Oil Must
also get up to a reasonable temperature to boil the
moisture out and lubricate the engine properly.
Assuming there is no detonation,a hotter combustion
chamber makes more power. However,hot internal
temperatures inevitably raise the engine compartments overall
heat level-and warmer air is less dense,reducing
ultimate power potential.
Getting down to
specifics, the oil temperature ideally should run between
220*F and 250*F. Never let the oil temperature get
under 180*F or over 270*F assuming that the oil temp.
remains within these parameters,coolant temp. for best
power is around 180*F.Run the thermostat needed to keep
the coolant temp. within this range.
If the oil
temp becomes a problem, add an engine oil cooler.
These days ,factory thermostats are chosen on the basis
of best fuel economy and emission,not best power.
Late model GM cars we've tested invariably have there
best e.t.s on the 1st run,before the engineheats
up.This points to a need of a 160*F or 180*F thermostat
on these cars.
Thats what car craft has
said.
[This is message #29716 by user Monzabudd on Yahoo! Club GM HBODY: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/gmhbody ]