Low Temp Thermostat

[Steve Tinker]

Listening to the experts, removing the engine mount first makes the water pump installation much easier. Thr thermostat installation is very easy as a stand alone item.
I think you have to delve a little deeper than just looking at lowering coolant temperatures during (normal) driving...
The oil temperatures in the M96 engine very quickly follow, and then exceed, the coolant temperatures, and having oil temps well above 100 deg C (220 F) in my book does no good for engine longevity. I realise that driving in heavy traffic won't make the slightest difference whether or not you have a low temp T'stat, but if I can keep my oil within a reasonable temperature zone its got to be a plus...
As for the cost from LN Eng. or Flat 6, the T'stat already comes mounted in a new housing so you don't have to get the special tool to remove the original T'stat and then refit the new one into the old housing.

[san rensho]

Steve-how much lower is the temp with the LN thermostat?

[jmatta]

The low temp t-stat will allow the coolant to run 20-25 degrees cooler than the stock part, which lowers oil temps...a good thing in my book. The stock unit doesn't begin to open until the coolant temps reach around 186 degrees and is fully open at around 210, where the low temp opens at 160 and is fully open at 185. I've had mine for two summers now and the car runs much cooler.

http://www.lnengineering.com/lowtemperaturethermostat.html

[miclebarbossa]

it may cause more problems than it cures if you have a late model vehicle. Before emission controls and computerised engine controls came.









London escorts

[insite]

i have the low temp thermostat. LN does sell just the insert; it's $100. the car runs a little cooler with it in place, but the main thing i notice is that the temp is stable. it used to fluctuate a lot over about a 20deg range while i drove. now, the thermostat is fully open at operating temp, so everything seems a bit more steady.

i know this does virtually nothing once we're into the higher temp range, but it DOES get the coolant fully circulating a lot sooner, which makes for a more even temp across the engine mass. apparently hot spots can be an issue with these motors.

[sasha055]

How's the waterpump affected by low temp thermostat?
Won't make water pump run faster/harder? Will it contribute to shorter waterpump life?

Sasha

[insite]

Originally Posted by sasha055

How's the waterpump affected by low temp thermostat?
Won't make water pump run faster/harder? Will it contribute to shorter waterpump life?

if anything, i would think it would INCREASE water pump life. the pump is always spinning no matter what, but if the OEM thermostat is partially closed under normal driving conditions, the pump is working harder (higher local pressure) trying to push fluid through a smaller hole.

the pump won't run faster since its speed is proportional to the crankshsaft speed.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by miclebarbossa

it may cause more problems than it cures if you have a late model vehicle. Before emission controls and computerised engine controls came.
London escorts

Also not correct. We have more customers running the 160 degree stat than I care to count, every one has to pass state mandated inspection testing, some even get subjected to "sniffer" probes (local requirement). After multiple inspection cycles, none have failed. Part of the reason is the DME mapping in the M96/97 is more than capable of adjusting for this change.

[Topless]

I just had the WP, 160 T-stat, motor mount, pulleys, and belt replaced. Eyeball indications are that the car runs a bit cooler around town and during a DE track day. I don't see a down side to this.

[ekam]

So if the low temp thermostat works so well why won't Porsche put it in all their cars?