Thermostat - std vs LN Eng - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

clickman · 07-09-2011, 08:55 AM

I just changed out some parts on the car, and thought I'd share a pic of the visual difference between the thermostat that came with the car vs the LN Eng low temp that I replaced it with.

See attached pic.

Interesting that the new LN unit required a push to get it on past the spring.

Jager · 07-09-2011, 10:58 AM

Great photo... Thanks. This is something I have not done yet, I will add it to the list.

jmatta · 07-10-2011, 05:35 AM

Your engine will be happy once you've made the change

Dale_K · 07-10-2011, 10:05 AM

Do you see the car running cooler in the hot weather with the new stat? I've been trying to think through how the new stat combines with the stock fan temp settings. Seems like it would be cooler in steady speed driving but make no difference in traffic but I'd like to hear from somebody who's actually done it.

JFP in PA · 07-10-2011, 11:42 AM

We have quite a few in service, they all seem to behave the same way. The car runs at a lower steady state coolant temp, but when stuck in traffic, the fans kick in just as they normally would, but when back moving again, the car returns to the lower steady state temp.

A couple of observations to prevent confusion: The dash gauge does read slightly lower, but you need to remember that these dash gauges are both woefully inaccurate and non linear; so you cannot put a lot of faith in them at the best of times. But with the LN stat installed, they do display a lower steady state temp. Secondly, the so-called "A/C hack" to get the dash controls for the air conditioning to display coolant temps is not accurate. I have never seen one that displayed the same values as a PIWIS, Durametric system, or even a lowly OBD II scanner. Differences of 20 degrees or more are not uncommon, so I would not trust the A/C display value at all.

clickman · 07-10-2011, 04:24 PM

According to the (questionable) gauge, it does run slightly cooler.

Jager · 07-10-2011, 05:48 PM

A couple questions for the group... Does WaterWetter really work? Is it safe to add to Porsche coolant?

Jake Raby · 07-10-2011, 05:56 PM

I use these units in every engine that we update or create from scratch, it's not even an option...

When teting this for LN several years ago the differences were huge when using REAL data acquisition with stand alone analog sensors.

Idaho Red Rocket 3 · 07-10-2011, 08:55 PM

How do you change the fans turn on/off temps to a lower temp ?

shlim8 · 07-11-2011, 03:08 AM

Yes, I would concur with JFP in PA, the only other thing I would add is that with the a/c on, the water temp stays in the low state longer, even in a traffic jam.... esp now that both my fans work.

Definitely a recommended mod. But it doesn't increase the ultimate cooling capacity (as espected). Just keeps the engine running cooler longer.

JFP in PA · 07-11-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jager

A couple questions for the group... Does WaterWetter really work? Is it safe to add to Porsche coolant?

These additives are totally unnecessary.

JFP in PA · 07-11-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

How do you change the fans turn on/off temps to a lower temp ?

The fans are controlled by the DME, changing the on/off temps would require reprogramming the unit.

insite · 07-11-2011, 09:55 AM

we discussed this a bit on another post, but something that strikes me as weird / dangerous about this motor's design is that the thermostat is on the INTAKE side of the engine.

this means that when it opens, cool water from the radiators will flow past & it will start to close again. this is contrary to ALMSOST every other motor i've seen. so, our 190deg thermostat is actually trying to maintain the cool radiator water at 190, NOT the hot side. this strikes me as a) pretty hot and b) pretty dangerous.

that having been said, this realization has made me a firm believer that the low temp thermo is the correct way to go.

Overdrive · 07-11-2011, 09:56 AM

This is a modification I definitely want to do in conjunction with the 3rd radiator modification. I'm all for colling this car down, it amazes and concerns me at times just how hot this thing can get. I almost want to leave a big fan blowing over it when I park it at home.

insite · 07-11-2011, 10:01 AM

when you do the 3rd radiator, let me know. i figured out how to increase the back-spacing & shoe-horn the 996 turbo duct behind it.

Overdrive · 07-11-2011, 10:07 AM

I will definitely do that, insite. You're saying you're able to get that duct to fit behind an OEM S bumper? Does it require any modding of the opening on the bumper?

Sry for the minor thread hijack, feel free to PM me instead if you want, insite.

Jager · 07-11-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

These additives are totally unnecessary.

Thanks... That's in-line with what I thought. Companies put a lot of money and research into their products (coolant, oils) and they should be pretty darn good. Most additives are just sales gimmicks.

insite · 07-12-2011, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overdrive

I will definitely do that, insite. You're saying you're able to get that duct to fit behind an OEM S bumper? Does it require any modding of the opening on the bumper?

it will fit behind the S bumper w/ no issues. it's designed to vent out the bottom. you may need to cut holes in your bumper under the car to vent the air. mine has the GT3 nose, so the vents were there already.