My car runs at 160 in winter while driving 55 but on idle it will over heat if i dont flip the fan on. during summer it will overheat either way if i dont turn the fan on. im not too sure if i even have a thermostat. any ideas?

 

sounds like you dont have a thermostat at all i would go buy a stock replacement from the parts store and stick it in there and see if that helps at all

 

Any car will overheat while they sit still if the fan is off. Air flow through the radiator is needed to remove the heat from the coolant that is generated by the combustion taking place in the cylinders.

 

yea i thought so, basically the only way to find out is to check the thermo eh

 

Is the O.E. radiator fan shroud still mounted on the radiator?

An engine needs a thermostat to operate properly, so check that.

 

Really shouldn't go any cooler than a 180 t-stat if you get one.

 

He speaks the truth... no colder than 180*

A cold engine wears quicker than one in a "normal" heat range.

 

also at 190 stat the ecm retards timing 2 degrees as read in the map tables for spark advance vs temp, where as a 180 stat pulls no timing in the map tables at said temp