[Steve C.]

It would be interesting to note at what temperature they actually function at.
Many related videos on the subject of testing them.


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[Joe's Garage]

Part number 45356 for 160* and 45358 for 180*.

We normally buy them ten at a time from Rockauto. With shipping, sales tax and 5% discount they are just under $4 each.

We also drill two 1/8" holes in them to bleed out any trapped air.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

It would be interesting to note at what temperature they actually function at.
Many related videos on the subject of testing them.


.

Years ago when I first did the old 455 Dan W. told me to test my thermostat in a pan on the stove with a thermometer because they can vary. I did, started opening at 160 deg like it was supposed to. Drilled a hole in it and it has been in use ever since.
Do they ever wear out ? Maybe the spring gives up over time.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

It would be interesting to note at what temperature they actually function at.
Many related videos on the subject of testing them.


.

I did that years ago with a handful of stats I was playing with.

I found more times than not, they start to just crack open about 3-4 degrees before their rated temp and they weren't fully open until about 5 degrees above their rated temp on average.

I did this because on a cool day with an accurate gauge I was wondering why the car would run 155 degrees with a 160 stat. Found out that the stat just barely cracking open was circulating enough coolant to hold the temp just below 160. As ambient temps went up (usually above 80 degrees) The engine would run 170-175 and stay there, and by then the stat is fully open. It really depended on ambient temp and how efficient the rest of the cooling system was in a particular car as to where the temp would settle in.

I further verified what I found on the stove top when testing a 170 stat on an LS engine. Using the laptop computer, I could watch and log what was happening and was almost identical to the "hot water in a pot" test.