We see it all the time as the Gods of "hot engines are fine" mindset where they believe because GM has to do things a certain way for smog and to maintain high CAT temps that by magic heat does not kill or reduce performance.

Those who drive a Corvette for what it was designed for know when racing what heat does and it is just not added friction.

As you reduce heat simply with using a bit colder Tstat and proper tuning when fan(s) are on has all the positives of reducing not just the water temps but also the oil and intake air.

As a small example taking a 2007 Z06 and replacing stock Tstat with a 180 degree and correct tuning of fan control we see

fuel trims are not as lean,
water temp at idle staying at 180 deg which shows those claiming C6s cannot run cooler then 192 degrees do not have the hands on experience and as you see the intake air temp is lower.

There is many reasons to not want long term the engine and everything in engine bay to live in 220-240 plus degrees

Could you please give us your definition for a 180F thermostat?
Is it the temperature stamped on the wax motor or is it the lowest possible temperature the thermostat will allow?

What I noticed (in my 98 LS1) is that the engine will be about 10F over the stamped temperature.

Stefano

Yes all Tstats rate as when it is fully open rather then about 10 deg less when it just begins to open.