avideo

I'm hoping to get some feedback on what typical operating temperatures are for Corvettes with LT-1 engines. On a trip this past weekend I monitored by cooling system temperatures on my 1995 LT-1 Coupe and saw the temperatures running between 212 and 219 degrees. As my last Corvette, a 1987 Coupe with the L-98 engine, usually ran much cooler - in the 190-212 degree range, I'm wondering if I'm running hot right now.

corvette1271

i have a 94, and after a radiator and thermostat replacement, my temps are roughly 197 - 208.

cgrundman

I have a 96 LT1 and I have a new radiator, thermostat, hoses, belt, water pump and I am running the same as you. The mechanic who works on mine is an ex service tech for GM and says that 217 - 220 is normal for our car.

luvmy92

I have a Be-Cool w/160 stat and re-programmed fans. Live in Central Florida, and mine stays at 180 degrees all day long, except on a road course where it stays right at 210 degrees for a 30 minute session.

Mike

Mr. Peabody

My 95 LT-1 Coupe runs the same temps as yours. This is normal.

raptornails

Those temps are nothing to be too alarmed about, LT1s run warmer than L98s, remove and clean your radiator, then pour a bottle of Redline Water Wetter in with fresh antifreeze, that will help keep the temps down. You could also add a switch to manually control your fans, I believe the ECM tells the fan to kick in at around 220, I'm not sure what it's set at exactly. If you see 290 or higher then it's time for concern. My '92 will warm up to 215 when idleing, but then quickly drop down under 200 when moving, even on the hottest days.

75 Red Vert

Me too, only mine is a vert.

Atok

My '95 runs at 188 - 189 while cruising, stopped with the A/C off it climbs to 210 before the fans kick on. My fans have been reprogrammed to come on at 210.

SJW

As others have responded, the ECTs you are seeing are normal for a stock LT1, however they're far too high for my liking.

At idle, or low speed, where air flow through the radiator is minimal, temps will climb until the electric cooling fan(s) kick(s) on. I'm not sure about '95s, but stock settings for a '94 LT1 are primary fan on at 228*F, secondary at either 234*F or 236*F (I can't recall which, and don't have my FSM here to look it up).

When I swapped out my Opti and water pump last year, I also installed a 160*F thermostat, and had my ECM reflashed to kick the cooling fans on at (IIRC) 190*F primary, 195*F secondary.

My car now runs much cooler under nearly all circumstances. With ambient temps in the 70*F to 80*F range, my ECT on the open road runs around 171*F to 173*F. Slightly warmer (~180*F) with the A/C on. Idling, with the A/C off, it'll get up to 190*F, or 195*F on a hot day, before the fan(s) kick(s) on and pulls it back down to the fan-off temp. Idling with the A/C on, on a very hot day, it'll sometimes touch ~220*F.

I feel a whole lot better with these underhood temps than I did with the factory settings. The soft stuff (belts, hoses, gaskets, etc) under the hood will probably last longer, and I have a lot more headroom in my cooling system before Really Bad Things begin to happen.

Note: GM does not offer a 160* 'stat for the LT1, but a well-stocked speed shop will carry one made by HyperTech. Also note that the t-stat that's used in the LT1/LT4 is unique to those engines, and is NOT interchangeable with t-stats from other Small Block Chevy engines, so make sure that any t-stat you buy for an LTx engine is made specifically for that engine.

Be well,

SJW

Rex Ruby

Same here

You guys that are higher than that check between the radiator, I bet there is debris in there causing the engine to run a little hotter. Also adding a bottle or two of water wetter helps as well

runner140*

I have a 96' and run 190 on the highway and 196-203 in traffic.

avideo

Because of your comments, I will most likely be flushing out my cooling system and replacing the upper surge tank - which I've discovered has a small hairline leak. Also adding some Redline Water Wetter - which I've used before in the past and fresh distilled water/anti-freeze mix. I had my optispark replaced in mid-summer and had a new water pump installed at the time, along with Taylor Spark Plug Wires and new spark plugs. I will also check for debris in the radiator area - though I suspect my mechanic - who is a Camaro/Corvette specialist - most likely removed anything that was in that area when he replaced the colling pump.
Hopefully, the new surge tank (which I suspect is leaking some air into the system) will help matters. Also, thanks for the information about reprogramming the engine. I will have to get a Hypertech unit over the winter to do that job - and maybe do some of the other LT-1s in my Corvette club as well. Also, maybe look into a LT-1 thermostat from Summit Racing of Jegs.