osweld - how did you get oldbuick'* thermostat?

opps, loged on in my room mates name.. We share barracks and he got to on this site because I own a Pontiac, I set up my own name too , I am oldbuick, I own the Pontiac, hes got some rice burner and a Ford p/u. Im kind of new to the web posyting, sory for the problem.

Interesting story. My 00 SSEi set a code when I had the 180 thermostat with 2 1/8 inch holes drilled into it, but only when the temperatures were in the 30s or below. I have since switched to a 180 with only 1 1/16th hole without an issue. It warms up as quickly as it did with the 195, and I have not had a problem with late TC lock up due to too low of termperature.

My friend'* 00 SSEi - same thing.

this is the FIRST claim i have read in all my travels in the 3800 world that the 180* on ITS OWN and functioning properly set a check engine light.

well not sure what to tell ya but i didn't have it drilled out either. the tech said MOST parts stores will not even stock the lower stats. Who knows maybe its just me and Archon that have ever had problems. i do know it runs great now...

most stores dont stock them not because they are bad, but because they dont sell like teh 195s do... and Aerchon had problems with a DRILLED stat in cold weather, which is totally unrelated

Well, chalk it up for a first then, Toasty, because I got the code:
DTC P0128 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature

I'm sure that it was caused by the larger holes in the thermostat, which did not allow the engine to reach the required temperature within the required time. Perhaps you missed the part about the 2 1/8" holes?

x3

Yes, that'* why I'm an advocate of removing the EGR stovepipe completely. Mine runs so much cooler now without the EGR.......oh but I forgot in theory it is supposed to reduce combustion temps. by raising the inlet temp to 250 F.

what did you do with the egr pipe? This didnt throw a code ? I cant believe that using a 180 instead of a 195 would make that big a diff anyway. I mean its only 15 degs diff. I was under the assumpton it was done just to lower the stovepipe tmp which it really doesn't do anyway according to the temps he shot on mine.Is it supposed to help with the LIM gaskets ? I thought the dexcool was the biggest problem with the lower gaskets.

It was simple to bypass. Simply disconnect the pipe from the rear exhaust manifold and block off the manifold with a plate. Then add a small filter to the open pipe so the EGR is only pumping in fresh cool air. That worked for me for a couple of years.

Now I have the PCM code removed so I now have the entire EGR system removed.

(one of the tricks that keeps me ahead of the pack in the competition even though Bill will never admit it )

That 15 F is a big difference. I have run all my cars for the last 30 years with 160 F stats.
Everything lasts longer....hoses, oil, gaskets, ...
It'* just enough to allow the use of one size smaller SC pulley. That'* good for 10 hp.
By itself, it does not improve performance but it raises the potential for making more power.

The old rule holds. 1% more hp for every 10 F drop in air temp.