Thinking of adding a Reische Performance 170* thermostat.

My question is, is it worth it? What are the benefits over the stock unit? I've read where it heats up the engine quicker. I've never changed out a thermostat so I'm a noob when it comes to this topic. Also, will it affect my gauges at all?

Personal experience is appreciated.

Thanks

 

I fail to understand why would you want to. All thermostats work pretty much the same, I don't see how a "performance" one would give you any advantage, other than helping your disposable income reach zero faster then the next guy. I don't know everything so school me on this one please.

 

The thermostat opens at 170* instead of 190*, giving you max flow earlier, cooling down your operating tempurature a bit.
Most people with supercharger getting a lower thermostat to help keep the engine cool.

Thermostats work the same, but the range at which they work can be changed.

 

I know the stock thermostat on the 2011+ GT's is a 180* unit so there's not much difference between the stock unit and the one I'm looking to upgrade to. However, I'm planning on running nitrous so I think it makes sense. Also, I'm installing the Boss 302S radiator so why not do it all at the same time.

 

I misunderstood. I thought someone was out there selling thermostats and calling them performance. With the nitrous if it needs to be cooler, then it needs to be cooler. I'd wait and get a dyno tune after the nitrous is installed. If the tuner thinks it needs to be cooler then so be it. After all you will spend more time running NA than with nitro.

 

This would point to a cooling system that is being taxed by the increased output of the engine. Opening the thermostat earlier just delays the time that it takes to saturate the cooling system at which point the earlier opening thermostat does no good.

Anyways;

In a naturally aspirated engine, the idea behind opening the lower temp 'stat is to keep the engine running cooler and by dint of doing so keep the incoming air cooler and denser.

What really needs to be weighed is the effect on engine longevity. Running cooler temps might indeed increase the density of the air but also might adversely effect the wear surfaces and oil life (the two things that pop into my mind). Once the engine is up to proper tempurature virtually no wear occurs to the moving parts of the engine. Running the engine at a less than optimal tempurature can increase this wear.

It used to be that people would tout the advantages of a 160 degree 'stat but it seems with more sophisticated engine management systems and the problems associated with a 160 degree 'stat (fouled plugs - wear issues, et al), the cooler thermostat crowd has stepped up to a 170 degree thermostat to try an aviod the mechanical problems and protective measures designed into the strategy used by the computer for a cold running engine.