Cooling
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 12
From: Fort Myers FL
Cruise-In X Veteran
Cooling
My car is running around 230 lately. The coolant is good and only 2 years old along with the radiator and all new hoses. Any mods or ideas to get this car temp down. I am thinking about a 160 t-stat but don't know what is involved in installing it. Thanks
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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I assume we are talking about your 93. Under what conditions does it run 230? If it's sitting in traffic it is not that unusual. The fan is programmed to come on at 226. If you're running 230 out on the open road that is too hot. A thermostat only determines the temperature at which the thermostat opens. The car will then find the temp it wants to run at based on the rest of the system. A 160 thermostat will work to an extent but only if it's coupled with a reprogram of the fan to turn it on at a lower temp.
Last edited by capevettes; Oct 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 12
From: Fort Myers FL
Cruise-In X Veteran
I assume we are talking about your 93. Under what conditions does it run 230? If it's sitting in traffic it is not that unusual. The fan is programmed to come on at 226. If you're running 230 out on the open road that is too hot. A thermostat only determines the temperature at which the thermostat opens. The car will then find the temp it wants to run at based on the rest of the system. A 160 thermostat will work to an extent but only if it's coupled with a reprogram of the fan to turn it on at a lower temp.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Yuba City CA
I am about to send off my computer to be re-programmed to turn the fans on at 160. I live in an area that gets very hot and do not like seeing 215 to 230 degrees while stuck in our towns traffic light gauntlet with ticket cameras. I will change the thermostat as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Sounds like your t-stat may be getting ready to retire.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
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From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
You can have your Prom reburned to have your cooling fans come on sooner. A lot of speed chips are out there are already on the market but one of the best features is most have that programmed already for you and you might pick up a slight HP gain in the process of chasing down your cooling issue
You could also remove your stock fans and install the larger SPAL fans which add about 500-650 more CFM movement with larger fans
A 160 degree thermostat really wont solve your problem. But I have to say running around town at 230 is acceptable especially in summertime with the AC running. Just a final thought. GC
Last edited by Goldcylon; Oct 7, 2008 at 02:40 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
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From: Pine Colorado
My 94 runs about 230 in traffic on hot days. I thought about installing a 160 thermostat, but since Corvette designed the engine to run at high temps, I decided to see if turning on the AC would lower the temps (both fans come on when AC is on) and it did. I really didn't want to mess with the computer settings, so I installed a manual switch on the two fans and can activate it when the temp gets above 210. The fans bring the temp down in city traffic to 195. Got the switch from MAMW. I run highway speeds at 195 degrees. BTW, is the temp reading from your analog gauge or your digital reading on the DIC? The analog gauge is not linear, so the best bet is to read the temp digitally. This way you can see the temp falling as the fans kick in. Also note, that when you turn the iginition off, and then restart if the engine has not had enough time to cool off by itself, the engine temp might be high until the car is moving and the fans come on.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
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From: Pine Colorado
Not sure if your AC being off affects the fans because you didn't say what the problem was with the AC, bad switches, bad compressor, etc. Have you tried turning on the AC switch and checking to see if fans work? If not, then you should ground the fans and they will come on unless they are malfunctioning. Might be one reason you are having a cooling problem as the fans do not come on.