radiator question!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Ridge Ar
radiator question!
Hey I took my car on a road trip this morning to the lake, ran great!! Temps at 185-190 on the open road! Well in stop and go in town it hits 200-210 i know, i read here all the time, thats not bad! But man i guess i m old school and i hate it lol! anyway Can some one give me step by step on pulling the radiator out and cleaning it out I looked in there and can see leafs and junk and i know that could be the cause! Thanks in advance!
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 541
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From: Kalama WA
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,845
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Hey I took my car on a road trip this morning to the lake, ran great!! Temps at 185-190 on the open road! Well in stop and go in town it hits 200-210 i know, i read here all the time, thats not bad! But man i guess i m old school and i hate it lol! anyway Can some one give me step by step on pulling the radiator out and cleaning it out I looked in there and can see leafs and junk and i know that could be the cause! Thanks in advance!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
Cleaning the radiator might help bring the temps down a bit if you got a bunch of junk in there, but those temps you posted are really pretty low. In the summer (with a clean radiator) I typically run 209 to 220 all the time and can even creep up to 228 sitting in traffic. It used to bug me a bit, but not any more. I Just turn the temp gage off and think about something else. 
If your into the radiator cleaning, once you get it out you can reverse the captive retaining clips on the sides of the shroud so that the nuts are accessible from inside the air inlet area. This will make future removal easier.
If your into the radiator cleaning, once you get it out you can reverse the captive retaining clips on the sides of the shroud so that the nuts are accessible from inside the air inlet area. This will make future removal easier.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Ridge Ar
I just came back in from pulling it.There really wasnt much in there, 3 leafs and a few grass clippings! I know i m making more of it then i should but i can remember back in my drag racing days flippin out if u hit 205! So at what temp do i need to flip out! lol
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
That is when a modern cooling system will boil over. (proper antifreeze and pressure cap raises the boiling point to approx. 260 F. at sea level).
Of course, I would "flip out" a little before then though.
Really, if your cooling system is working as designed you should not see temps go over ~240 while sitting at a traffic light. Moving down the road at speed (anything over 40mph), your temps should be stay between 190-197 range. The reason they run hotter in traffic is because the electric fans are not running, until the temp gets up to approx. 228 F. Oh, you can force the fans on by turning on the A/C also. The Corvette is one car that should actually run cooler with the A/C on (assuming that the cooling and A/C systems are working properly).
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 144
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From: Watertown SD
My '85 runs "normally" at about the same temps you have; from 175-190 on the highway (200-205 if the outside temp is 90+), and about 205-210 in town. My owners manual says to shut the engine down if it hits 260.
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Brett Foote
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
No matter how new the radiator or how clean the radiator area is, if you (we) sit still long enough, the coolant temperature WILL get up to 228* before the fan(s) kicks on as designed.
After that, it's back down to 215* within a minute, and then the fan(s) kicks off and then the cycle starts over and over...
All of the above is assuming the a/c is OFF, since when it's ON the fan(s) runs constantly if you're traveling less than 35mph.
If you're stuck in traffic, it's actually better to run the a/c if you want to see that constant reading of about 210* +/- with the fan(s) running constantly.
An option for you is any of a number of aftermarket kits that allow you to either manually switch on the fan(s), or one that will turn on your fan(s) automatically at a lower than designed temperature.
After that, it's back down to 215* within a minute, and then the fan(s) kicks off and then the cycle starts over and over...
All of the above is assuming the a/c is OFF, since when it's ON the fan(s) runs constantly if you're traveling less than 35mph.
If you're stuck in traffic, it's actually better to run the a/c if you want to see that constant reading of about 210* +/- with the fan(s) running constantly.
An option for you is any of a number of aftermarket kits that allow you to either manually switch on the fan(s), or one that will turn on your fan(s) automatically at a lower than designed temperature.
