overheating motor issues
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Rockford Michigan
overheating motor issues
If a small block with aluminum heads overheats, at what temptature do you have to start worrying about motor issues and what is the first thing you should check?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Things to check that are standard on any car:
** Thermostat is in, not upside down, and correct
** Radiator not plugged
** Coolant not rusty
** Fan Clutch/Elect Fan operation
** Verify correctness of Temp Gauge
C3 Corvette-Specific things to check:
** Seals around the radiator
** The (Almost impossible) lower radiator hose condition
** Pusher/Helper fan front of radiator (Late C3) with AC
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Also check for air in the system. With car COLD, remove radiator cap/fill cap and start the car. Let car reach normal operating temp with cap still OFF. Once thermostat opens (check upper hose for temperature increase indicating that stat is open) allow any trapped air to bleed off, then add coolant if level goes down (if required) and put cap back on.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
One sometimes overlooked issue (that I have come across TWICE now in owning only 2 Corvettes) is the front spoiler. On all C3s, the front spoiler is a "functional" spoiler. In other words, your car needs it to cool properly. If you are missing it, the first thing I would do is re-install it.
