HOOBS

What is the average temp for the cooling system? On an average hot 80 to 85 f day it runs at 200 to 201 f....Is that considered normal? And does anyone know what that hot water control valve is really for on the inlet side to the heater core? Mine blew apart the other day so I am curious why it would have done that? tia. 96 coupe lt-1

USAsOnlyWay

That should be fine.

mikeb

Mine started to leak 4 years ago, so I took it off and replaced the steel hose assembly with new rubber hoses (mines an '85,I don't drive in the winter anyway, so who needs a heater?)

jhammons01

Mine runs between 190 and 215 (Freeway/Stop light)

Jet-Jock

Pretty much normal but you may have some clogging of the fins of the radiator and condensor. Those units could be cleaned to improve the efficiency.

Just replaced my radiator with a new OEM. I run 196-198 and sometimes a little lower. If I sit at a light for about 4-5 mins at mid 90's outside I'll see 200-201. Prior to that with a clogged up 13 year old radiator, and all other parts were new, I was running 220-230+. The fins get caked with mud and crud and the efficiency is majorly reduced. You need good flow through the condensor and the radiator otherwise your going to see some slightly higher temps.

starky

1989 200---- 210

tonymax2

Don't know why it would have "blown apart" without examining it but the only reason I ever heard for the heater water walve was to keep excess heat out of the cab and that would also lessen the load on the AC.

KnightmareVette

Holy Crap! I thought at 220-230 I was running normal! Well, looks like there's a radiator cleaning in one of my future weekends! Aw hell.....

dbaker

My 85 (after warmup) cools down to 183-186 on the hwy at 65 mph.At a 2 min stop light,it will shoot to 205,but cools down fairly quickly once I get moving.The water wetter stuff seems to help about 2-3 deg.

I clean my rad fins with engine cleaner about once a month and rinse out both sides when it gets a weekly bath.

\db2
Carolina

mikeb

That's pretty decent.
I have a 185 degree t-stat in my '85 and new fan switch sensor in the plenum, and on a sunny 75 degree day, it'll run 205 + on the highway. Gets up to 230 in stop and go traffic, but will drop down to 209 once the fan kicks in.

OrthoAggie

'96 LT1, with A/C on (fans on) 190-210 depending on state of motion.

jhammons01

So if mine is creeping up to 220 I need to pay it some attention?

Demonic85

My '85 stays around 180-190 while moving such as on the highway, but in city traffic it gets up to around 220-230. I got worried and took the shroud off yesterday to make sure it wasnt blocked by debris, but there was nothing in there. The coolant is fairly new, so i'm sure thats not it. It continues to climb and never seems to stabilize if I sit there long enough.

Jet-Jock

Yes but did you examine in-between the fins to ensure they are clean? You would practically have to lift it out to do this. Just getting the loose garabage out is not what I'm referring to.

Right now I'm running about 196-198 at summer temps in FL, if I sit at a light or creep in traffic it just doesn't go over 201. The moment I get any movement it drops right back down to the 190 range.

I should have gotten a close up shot of the fins on the old one but the garbage men already took it. It would be easier to demonstrate how bad they cake up over the years.