Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP in PA
Dropping the coolant temps from their normal 205-210F levels to around 175F with a 160F stat significantly reduces the inherent hot spots in these engine's that typically lead to problems like cylinder head cracking.
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Absolutely NOT true. The hot spots in cly's that causes failure modes has been found to have many causes, one major one being debris in coolant channels or poor casting issues. It has not been caused by someone using an OEM factory spec thermostat. If this were true EVERYONE with a factory OEM part would be sitting parked now including my high mileage STOCK 1999.
The temperature levels that your engine thermostat opens up at are designed this way for specific reasons due matching the features of the car/engine such as if you have three rad's or are using a Tip or PDK etc. The engines all have a temperature specification that the coolant has to be at (within a + or -) and this relates to emissions and other engine related reasons.
The 'belief' that lowering the coolant temperatures is *always* better is urban myth and 1980's thinking when talking about a well maintained engine with modern ECM's control units. Over cooling an engine (out of Porsche spec's) is a sure fire way to set off a CEL or damage the engine in the long term. There are good reasons for factory operating specifications for normal use vehicles.