454 temp?
 

reading another thread had me thinking about the temp on my 454. Mine all warmed up stays at 190* even sitting in traffic. When it hits 195* my fans come on and bring it down to 185* is that a safe temp to be at? why do guys go down to 160* thermostats? Wouldn't the warmer temps help the motor with gas burn a little better? I know my fans don't turn on in my ls1 until it reaches 215 degree (from the factory) and off at 190 but that because its all alum right?

Sahun, 195-185 are not really wrong.
Above that, take care...
And thermostats are not about de maximum temperature, but about the minimum temperature in really cold days.

I run a 160 stat with two 1/8th holes in it.
My fans are controled by a temp sender that turns em on at 190
and off at 170.
my t stat is always open once it warms up.
That way only my fans and fan switch control the temp.
hope that helps....atb..mick.

so then i am good to go then :)

My 454 is happy at 190 and hugs that number even in 60 degree weather. And imm running a huge truck fan with a shroud and a large 16" electric pusher fan on a alu 4 core radiator.

Fat fingered from the phone- Corey

ok perfect. mine is a 3 core alum and i have 2 10 inch fans keeping her cool

190 is good. Newer cars run higher temps for emissions reasons, not because they're aluminum. The thermostat should set the operating temp not just the minimum temp. These cars didn't come with electric fans and temp sensors controlling when they came on and turned off. It was the thermostats job to control the temp. If not then the temp would continue to rise as the outside temps rose. If everything works correctly, the cooling system is up to the task, then the engine temp should always be what the thermostat temp is.

Mine hits 180 and stays there, doesn't matter what the outside temp is, doesn't matter how I beat on it. No electric fans going on off. The thermostat is controlling the temp.

So what is actually the optimun opperating temp ? Reason that I am asking is cause mine has seen to be running about 170, even in lower temps outside ?

Is running at a lower temp bad for the motor ?

I personally like to run in the 180-190 range as running to cool is not the best for these motors from what I have been told by my neighbor who is a powertrain engineer at GM for the last 30 years.

I run at 180 on mine.