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So the way I see things, to get the best use of the thermostat you need to alter the fan settings as well. However assuming some movement, I can't possibly see how the 160 is in any way a waste.
I agree 100%
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So long as the rate of heat transfer from the coolant/radiator to the air, is HIGHER than the rate of transfer from the motor to the coolant, then the coolant temps will drop with a new thermostat.
True indeed
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Kinda curios as to why the rate of coolant cooling is even considered. The thermostat will cycle just as the fans do, and will keep the temps regulated to an overall lower temp. The amount of heat transfered has little to nothing to do with it the way I see things. The overall idea is to control the level of heat in the motor.
Here is where you err, Grasshopper. The heat into the system is everything. The t-stat does not cycle as you think. Once it is full open it has no effect on cooling (other than it is a flow restriction). Its function is to limit the minimum coolant temp, not the max. Once you are past full open (assuming you are applying high Hp) now you are at the mercy of the efficiency of the radiator, ambient air temp, vehicle speed, and mass flow rate of the coolant (or engine speed). When you are not adding much heat to the engine (such as highway driving) then your coolant temp will run at the t-stat setting (assuming a clean radiator). Remember Qin = km(Ti-To). (Ti-To) is basically fixed by the t-stat temp and ambient air temp. The only way to vary the heat is to alter the mass flow rate of the coolant (remember heat is a function of the fluid, mass of the fluid, and temperature). Once Qin is greater than that which the radiator can exchange (the equilibrium temp between the t-stat, radiator, and heat in) the temp. will begin to rise assuming constant coolant and air mass flow rates and ambient air temp.
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