I have a 160* thermostat that I planned on putting in the G8. But, now I am reading that you need to reprogram the fans in the car as well. I read this on some corvette forums so I am not sure if it still applies and there seemed to be some uncertainty to it as well. People were arguing back and forth as to whether it should even be changed.

I believe you can do this with the DashHawk but I haven't a clue as to what they should be set to.

Does anyone have some answers on the fan settings and if the DashHawk can set these for me?

Thanks in advance for the help.

A) 160* for a stock to bolt-on engine isn't necessary. 180* at the minimum. You don't need a 160 until you run higher compression from heads/cam, built motor, blower, nitrous, etc, where you need better control over combustion chamber temps.

B) Yes, to gain OPTIMUM performance from your 160* stat, you need to adjust both low speed and high speed fan on/off temps. Determination of "on" temps vary greatly and mods listed in point A above should be considered.

HOWEVER, in my heads/cammed motors, I have my low speed fan come on at 185* and my high speed at 195*.

If you do a lot of highway driving where the car doesn't sit and idle (allowing it to get "hot"), none of this is necessary as the airflow through the car will keep the thing cool. But if you're in a more urban, stop and go setup, you'll need to re-program your fans.

I don't know how to do it with the DasHawk (if you even can). Mine have always been done through HPtuners/LS1edit.

A) 160* for a stock to bolt-on engine isn't necessary. 180* at the minimum. You don't need a 160 until you run higher compression from heads/cam, built motor, blower, nitrous, etc, where you need better control over combustion chamber temps.

B) Yes, to gain OPTIMUM performance from your 160* stat, you need to adjust both low speed and high speed fan on/off temps. Determination of "on" temps vary greatly and mods listed in point A above should be considered.

HOWEVER, in my heads/cammed motors, I have my low speed fan come on at 185* and my high speed at 195*.

If you do a lot of highway driving where the car doesn't sit and idle (allowing it to get "hot"), none of this is necessary as the airflow through the car will keep the thing cool. But if you're in a more urban, stop and go setup, you'll need to re-program your fans.

I don't know how to do it with the DasHawk (if you even can). Mine have always been done through HPtuners/LS1edit.

So having a tune, exhaust and CAI this really isn't necessary? We do mostly in town driving.

Can it hurt anything from doing it anyways? I'll have to check the DashHawk. I remember when going through it you can go to the GM section and it has fan settings in there.

So having a tune, exhaust and CAI this really isn't necessary? We do mostly in town driving.

Can it hurt anything from doing it anyways? I'll have to check the DashHawk. I remember when going through it you can go to the GM section and it has fan settings in there.

I recommend modding anything and everything. I'm the guy who bought a brand new LS1 powered Camaro, pulled it around back into my bay in Service and pulled the motor out to be built. :D

I recommend a tune. The OEM tune is flaky and conservative to "protect" things. It is not at it's optimum.

I recommend doing a CAI, as well as un-corking the exhaust. An engine is nothing more than a fancy air pump that you add fuel and spark to the mix on and voila... So anything you do to un-cork it only helps it's power making ability and efficiency.

HOWEVER, the mods you're chosing to do AREN'T creating an overly large amount of extra heat from consumption of that air/fuel mixture being packed hard, tighter into the combustion chamber.

Therefore adding a 160* t-stat will actually have the car run too cool, therefore reducing it's efficiency and can actually hurt you in terms of power. Optimum performance for most vehicles is keeping the temps of the coolant at about 183* - 187*.

If you're running around with yout ECT at 173*, your engine isn't getting hot enough to consume unburned hydrocarbons, which can hurt both fuel economy and emissions, and obviously isn't going to make as much power. In some cases, if running too cool, can put the PCM of your car into a "safety" mode retarding engine spark and fuel curves which also can hurt power (obviously).

So unless you're increasing the engine temps (which would be the result of higher compression from heads/cam, built motors, forced induction, nitrous), you don't need to run soo cool.

I recommend modding anything and everything. I'm the guy who bought a brand new LS1 powered Camaro, pulled it around back into my bay in Service and pulled the motor out to be built. :D

I recommend a tune. The OEM tune is flaky and conservative to "protect" things. It is not at it's optimum.

I recommend doing a CAI, as well as un-corking the exhaust. An engine is nothing more than a fancy air pump that you add fuel and spark to the mix on and voila... So anything you do to un-cork it only helps it's power making ability and efficiency.

HOWEVER, the mods you're chosing to do AREN'T creating an overly large amount of extra heat from consumption of that air/fuel mixture being packed hard, tighter into the combustion chamber.

Therefore adding a 160* t-stat will actually have the car run too cool, therefore reducing it's efficiency and can actually hurt you in terms of power. Optimum performance for most vehicles is keeping the temps of the coolant at about 183* - 187*.

If you're running around with yout ECT at 173*, your engine isn't getting hot enough to consume unburned hydrocarbons, which can hurt both fuel economy and emissions, and obviously isn't going to make as much power. In some cases, if running too cool, can put the PCM of your car into a "safety" mode retarding engine spark and fuel curves which also can hurt power (obviously).

So unless you're increasing the engine temps (which would be the result of higher compression from heads/cam, built motors, forced induction, nitrous), you don't need to run soo cool.

Good stuff. Thanks for the info.

So I guess this thread will turn into the "where do I get cams and which ones are the best?" thread. :biggrin2:

LOL I have the most jacked up logic ever. I have a thermostat that I have no reason to use so now I must buy mods in order to justify the purchase of the thermostat. :)

Good stuff. Thanks for the info.

So I guess this thread will turn into the "where do I get cams and which ones are the best?" thread. :biggrin2:

LOL I have the most jacked up logic ever. I have a thermostat that I have no reason to use so now I must buy mods in order to justify the purchase of the thermostat. :)

I'm failing to see the problem in your logic there. :D

I think I had stuff ordered for the engine builder before I had signed the final papers on the car. :D

I'm failing to see the problem in your logic there. :D

I think I had stuff ordered for the engine builder before I had signed the final papers on the car. :D

LOL

Glad someone sees it my way.

So any suggestions on cams? Or where I should start my seach?

LOL

Glad someone sees it my way.

So any suggestions on cams? Or where I should start my seach?

magnacharger....:driving:

magnacharger....:driving:

I think that's a little out of my price range. LOL

But, I am dead serious about cams. Where would I need to go to find that information? Or if anyone knows who makes the best ones that would be great too. :)

It's only money.....

I installed a 160 deg. thermostat in my 03' Denali XL, which has a similar 6.0 engine. Definitely dropped the temp gauge reading on the highway. In town it sets at around the 175-180 in "Summer" conditions. In town it would read 200+ before. Don't know what it does + or - for gas mileage, but I get up to 16 on the Hwy at 80mph, and have been getting a combined of 14.1 mpg on 87 in all driving over the last 20,000 mi - on vehicles computer. Also has full dual flowmaster system and a K @ N CAI, but no other mods. Remember, this has full time all-wheel drive. (Never passed a gas station it didn't like)

Also have 160 deg thermostat for G8. May install it after trying out everything to see the difference. Not going to drag the car anyway.... Just want it to run sweet.....

RRM

Dodson - my son told me that someone has changed cams on a prototype a few months ago, and gotten serious HP. Unfortunately, believe the stock ECM would tattle on you. He could probably tell you more. If you want, let me know and I'll give you his e-mail address.
He also lurks on LS 2 GTO.

RRM

It's my understanding that the cam in this car is extremely mild and has some special accommodations for the AFM/DOD. If you swap cams, you probably kill the DOD. Then again, swapping cams isn't exactly an entry level mod, so you probably don't care about DOD at that point anyhow, so it probably doesn't matter.

Let me know if you do the swap. I'm very curious to see what kind of power it unleashes.

Therefore adding a 160* t-stat will actually have the car run too cool, therefore reducing it's efficiency and can actually hurt you in terms of power. Optimum performance for most vehicles is keeping the temps of the coolant at about 183* - 187*.

If you're running around with yout ECT at 173*, your engine isn't getting hot enough to consume unburned hydrocarbons, which can hurt both fuel economy and emissions, and obviously isn't going to make as much power. In some cases, if running too cool, can put the PCM of your car into a "safety" mode retarding engine spark and fuel curves which also can hurt power (obviously).


:iagree:

Unless you've modified internals, DON'T install a 160. It's the biggest waist of $20bux that will HURT YOU IN YOUR WALLET BIG TIME! My '94 Caprice Lt1 had PCM Tune, CAI and 2 1/2 Exhaust. I had the PCM tuned for a 160* tstat and I averaged about 12mpg when I was averaging 18mpg....

These newer car's are designed to run "hotter", and going from 200 to 160 will REALLY hurt you in the long run. Take the t-stat and receipt and go get your money back.

My G8 has been running temps of 197 to 199 degrees. I haven't heard the fans on but once, and I was sitting still after a hard run.

I am just going to say to do the 160 t-stat when you get it tuned or if you get a mail order tune , whatever you do , it will help for performance , it shouldn't change the gas mileage (didn't in mine) . Your G8 will run much more efficient for perfomance with this , I have tested it . As far as cams go , from what I am seeing , the G8 does have a baby cam in it and you can expect a lot of power from a cam swap , but I am thinking you will have to disable DOD which will change your gas mileage . I just talked to another well known shop about this today that is doing a cam swap in a G8 and using one of our induction systems , we were trying to guess what DOD would sound like with a cam that already gives the engine some shake , now turn that shake into a V4 and I am thinking it will shake a lot more (might have trouble even idling with DOD enabled ?) . I would do a cam in my G8 right now , but just think it is not a good idea with stock exhaust manifolds .

:iagree:

Unless you've modified internals, DON'T install a 160. It's the biggest waist of $20bux that will HURT YOU IN YOUR WALLET BIG TIME! My '94 Caprice Lt1 had PCM Tune, CAI and 2 1/2 Exhaust. I had the PCM tuned for a 160* tstat and I averaged about 12mpg when I was averaging 18mpg....

These newer car's are designed to run "hotter", and going from 200 to 160 will REALLY hurt you in the long run. Take the t-stat and receipt and go get your money back.

That's not the right way to look at this. I need to get mods that will require me to use the thermostat. :wink2:

Keep in mind that if you change the cam in this car (since it is DOD) you will need to change lifters and such too. It will get exspensive, so start raiding the couch cushions for change! LOL Changing the cam in this car should make HUGE gains in power and not to mention, make the engine sound better. (I prefer the sound of a cam over the sound of injectors firing) So now that you have your thermostat, you have my blessing to get a cam and lifters and all of the other fun things to make the L76 run much more efficiently...just as the original GM engineers had hoped! As far as DOD going away, it will with a cam swap, however is that such a bad thing? I have watched mine via engineering mode (keep in mind I drive 40 miles one way to work...50% highway) and on the interstate it only stays 100% active if no one else is on the road (so I dont have to accelerate to pass) and if the road doesnt have a lot of hills (which one highway near me does). In other words, I cant see a huge difference with it.

I have watched mine via engineering mode (keep in mind I drive 40 miles one way to work...50% highway) and on the interstate it only stays 100% active if no one else is on the road (so I dont have to accelerate to pass) and if the road doesnt have a lot of hills (which one highway near me does). In other words, I cant see a huge difference with it.

That really goes back to were you live. In a big city with alot of stop and go, your right, you wouldn't notice it.

If someone ever comes out with a came that allows you to keep DOD I'll have a cam in my car. Till then I'm going to be happy with exhaust, CAI and possibly headers down the road. After all this is my daily driver and the whole reason I got it was for the 20+mpg hwy mileage that replaced my 15mpg(hwy) 3/4 Ton 4x4 Diesel.

It's only money.....

I installed a 160 deg. thermostat in my 03' Denali XL, which has a similar 6.0 engine. Definitely dropped the temp gauge reading on the highway. In town it sets at around the 175-180 in "Summer" conditions. In town it would read 200+ before. Don't know what it does + or - for gas mileage, but I get up to 16 on the Hwy at 80mph, and have been getting a combined of 14.1 mpg on 87 in all driving over the last 20,000 mi - on vehicles computer. Also has full dual flowmaster system and a K @ N CAI, but no other mods. Remember, this has full time all-wheel drive. (Never passed a gas station it didn't like)

Also have 160 deg thermostat for G8. May install it after trying out everything to see the difference. Not going to drag the car anyway.... Just want it to run sweet.....

RRM

Your fans though in the Denali are crank driven, so no matter what, it stays at a constant temp once up to temp.

My G8 has been running temps of 197 to 199 degrees. I haven't heard the fans on but once, and I was sitting still after a hard run.

They're set at about 220* I think.

ok so if you live in a climate that never drops below 100 during the summer and never below like 50 during the winter is it not a good idea tio install one?? I have already installed mine and it dropped the temp one qtr notch. Not sure what temp that is but it was close to half way now its one click back. Seems to be good for my climate!!????

Should I keep it in there?? Im getting the VMS tune pretty soon here and have told them to tune for it, will the be good enough??

Thanks fellas.

One can always remove 160 deg thermostat if it has negative results on mileage and/or power. Going to see what happens for a while with other mods, before I install mine. Havem't noticed my G8 fans running when I parket in the garage. Will try and pay more attention.

05' Volvo Wagon I just returned off lease was very noticeable in that the fan(s) always ran for several minutes. Of course, the 5 cyl. Volvo had a turbo, so the underhood temps were noticeably high when it was turned off.

RRM - SW FL

ok so if you live in a climate that never drops below 100 during the summer and never below like 50 during the winter is it not a good idea tio install one?? I have already installed mine and it dropped the temp one qtr notch. Not sure what temp that is but it was close to half way now its one click back. Seems to be good for my climate!!????

Should I keep it in there?? Im getting the VMS tune pretty soon here and have told them to tune for it, will the be good enough??

Thanks fellas.

You can check your actual coolant temp in engineering mode. Mine runs 92-93C, which is 197-199 degrees F.
A 160 degree thermostat should run 71C or so.

You can check your actual coolant temp in engineering mode. Mine runs 92-93C, which is 197-199 degrees F.
A 160 degree thermostat should run 71C or so.

ok cheers. I just need to know if I am benifitting from the TStat in my high temp climate or if it doesnt make a difference with these newer cars.

C

One can always remove 160 deg thermostat if it has negative results on mileage and/or power. Going to see what happens for a while with other mods, before I install mine. Havem't noticed my G8 fans running when I parket in the garage. Will try and pay more attention.

05' Volvo Wagon I just returned off lease was very noticeable in that the fan(s) always ran for several minutes. Of course, the 5 cyl. Volvo had a turbo, so the underhood temps were noticeably high when it was turned off.

RRM - SW FL

The fans on the G8 are quite noticable when they running in the garage. I was jacking around with my DashHawk (insert dirty joke here) and turned the fans on an off. They sound like a hair dryer...just like most electric fans, I guess.