Thermostat?

[VR4ownzU]

Does anyone sell an upgraded thermostat for a 98 GT? Is it even worth it for normal daily driving car? Who sells the best one? I take it dealer coolant is the best way to go when refilling? If not...what is?

thanks guys.
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Nick

[Huffer]

I wouldn't bother - the stock thermostat is pretty good.

When you replace coolant, you can use Peak 50/50 global, just add the Subaru Coolant Conditioner. You live in Medina, so you should be able to get a LERSOC.com discount from Cascade or Ellacott Shaker dealerships.

[VR4ownzU]

My buddy works at Ganley Subaru but dicks around with getting me stuff. I've been waiting 3 weeks on touch up paint, windown control trim, fender well guards. etc. etc....grrr.

[VR4ownzU]

I guess more importantly...where locally can I get all those fluids changed properly minus the dealer overcharging?

[Huffer]

Umm, your home garage? Fluid changes are easy to do - pick up a Haynes manual, $16 and well worth it. Or check out scoobymods.com

Put it this way - if you took the car in for a timing belt change, they usually suggest doing the coolant change, oil pump, water pump, thermostat and front crank seal.

Mainly because they usually remove the radiator and all the other stuff to get at it.

[Huffer]

My buddy works at Ganley Subaru but dicks around with getting me stuff. I've been waiting 3 weeks on touch up paint, windown control trim, fender well guards. etc. etc....grrr.

stuff him then. Go somewhere else where you can count on being treated right.

If you are up for a drive, visit Mel Kistner @ Halpert Subaru in Painesville.

[VR4ownzU]

I know to get to mentor without traffic its an hour away. Not really worth it to go to painesville! shoot...the guy had the headgaskets changed...I wonder if they did the radiator flush and new thermostat.

[Wiscon_Mark]

most likely yes.

[blackgtbeauty]

i used to see a Crucial brand thermostat around, but not for a while, i think all it did was open earlier (cooler temp.) than a stock one, which doesn't make that much of a difference i suppose.

[Svenerachi]

if the engine is running at a cooler temperature, isn't it creating more power? thats the whole idea behind getting an upgraded thermostat isn't it?

that and the wonderfull ability of it to stay open in case of an overheating problem(head gasket problem) to prevent the engine from doing so much damage being so hot?

so what, if any performance gains could be expected from something like this, or would any gains only be realized on a highly modified engine?

[Wiscon_Mark]

No, not really. Subaru designed the engine to run at ~180*F (at least I believe that's the number) so why would you go cooler? I don't see any scientific reason pointing to it being better. I mean, if the engine is designed to work better at a certain temp, and it doesn't run well when it's "cold" then why would you lower the temp? Then the oil doesn't flow as well, etc.

[Svenerachi]

i actually e-mailed them at Crucial Racing, they say that its more for turbo aplications, that under high-stress racing the stock thermostat opens at 180 and attempts to keep the coolant at a constant temperature. under normal loads the stock thermostat performs admirably, but under extreme racing loads the engine is producing more heat and if the thermostat is allowed to open earlier, the cooling system doesn't have to work as hard to keep the coolant within optimal range to continue to produce power.

they're using the logic that its easier to keep it within optimal ranges if it is able to start working earlier, thus keeping the temperatures within optimal range for longer periods of time.