Coolant temperature
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Coolant temperature
1984 CROSSFIRE WHATS THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMP?
I am getting readings fro 215 to 220 adverage on a 90 plus day with interstate driving with or without the A/C 217 Should I be trying to decrease that by changing to a lower temp thermostat? No leaks and car seems to run fine just seems a little hot to me.
I am getting readings fro 215 to 220 adverage on a 90 plus day with interstate driving with or without the A/C 217 Should I be trying to decrease that by changing to a lower temp thermostat? No leaks and car seems to run fine just seems a little hot to me.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
1984 CROSSFIRE WHATS THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMP?
I am getting readings fro 215 to 220 adverage on a 90 plus day with interstate driving with or without the A/C 217 Should I be trying to decrease that by changing to a lower temp thermostat? No leaks and car seems to run fine just seems a little hot to me.
I am getting readings fro 215 to 220 adverage on a 90 plus day with interstate driving with or without the A/C 217 Should I be trying to decrease that by changing to a lower temp thermostat? No leaks and car seems to run fine just seems a little hot to me.
Me too
What temp thermo is in it?
Have you taken radiator housing apart and cleaned trash out?
Yhese things are vacuum cleaners, they will suck up leaves, papers, cans, one guy found a tennis ball in his
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Waco TX
I will first say that there is NO WAY you can clean the radiator without taking it out of the car.
If your temps are getting that hot even on the highway, I would check the radiator. It is true that grass, leaves, etc. will get stuck betweent he fins. You gotta use a powerwasher to get that stuff out. A regular garden hose won't get all of it. As long as shoot it right at it, even 1500psi that a typical power washer shoots out won't hurt the fins.
Also, take the radiator to a radiator shop and have them pop off one of the side tanks and run a bar through each tube. About half the tubes on my 94 were clogged in addition to the grass in the fins. I bet my radiator was running at less then 50% efficientcy.
If your temps are getting that hot even on the highway, I would check the radiator. It is true that grass, leaves, etc. will get stuck betweent he fins. You gotta use a powerwasher to get that stuff out. A regular garden hose won't get all of it. As long as shoot it right at it, even 1500psi that a typical power washer shoots out won't hurt the fins.
Also, take the radiator to a radiator shop and have them pop off one of the side tanks and run a bar through each tube. About half the tubes on my 94 were clogged in addition to the grass in the fins. I bet my radiator was running at less then 50% efficientcy.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Orland Hills ILLINOIS
I have an 84 crossfire myself. I just bought it in July. I had the same thing. I had the same temps on mine and then I cleaned out the frontside of radiator. It does suck alot of stuff in. I also drained, flushed and refilled and blew out the radiator with air, not water. I now get about 190 temp instead of 210 to 220. It does heatup if I stuck in traffic for a while but the fan kicks on at about 227 and it comes right down. On the highway now i get about 185 or so. Its alot better now.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
As others above have said, remove the radiator and clean it. It's probably full of grass and leaves.
Replacing the stock thermostat with a lower temp won't do anything for you if you don't make other changes, like cleaning the radiator. Putting a lower temp thermo in the car only means that the thermo will open up at a lower temp, it won't do anything to actually bring the temps down.
Replacing the stock thermostat with a lower temp won't do anything for you if you don't make other changes, like cleaning the radiator. Putting a lower temp thermo in the car only means that the thermo will open up at a lower temp, it won't do anything to actually bring the temps down.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Muffin "54"
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Your temps are warm, but nothing to panic over. Removing and having the radiator serviced should be a "once every 5 years" maintenance item on the C4 (AKA bottom feeder aka road vacuum). I would take your radiator out, take it to a good radiator shop, and have it flushed and pressure checked. Cost me $45 to have it done.
I had all kinds of crap stuck to the front of it, and after that was removed and it was flushed, my temps dropped 10-15 degrees across the board. My 84 now runs about 190-195 on the highway with the A/C on. I live in a very hot climate, and even in bumper to bumper traffic, it cycles between 225-210 from the fan switch. Keep your factory thermostat in it....you will gain nothing going to a 160 degree stat....it won't run that cool unless it's the dead of winter, nor do you want it to.
I had all kinds of crap stuck to the front of it, and after that was removed and it was flushed, my temps dropped 10-15 degrees across the board. My 84 now runs about 190-195 on the highway with the A/C on. I live in a very hot climate, and even in bumper to bumper traffic, it cycles between 225-210 from the fan switch. Keep your factory thermostat in it....you will gain nothing going to a 160 degree stat....it won't run that cool unless it's the dead of winter, nor do you want it to.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Shelton CT
My 84 runs about 185-190 at highway speed in 90 degree weather. 215-220 sounds hot to me for interstate driving. Even around town in hot weather I stay around 190-200 if I'm moving. Of course with heavy stop and go traffic she heats right up till the fans kick on if it's stationary.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 5
From: Williamstown, wv
Have to agree with everyone, take the radiator out and clean it GOOD, my 94 was running almost maxed and I had checked the radiator visually and saw nothing. it wasnt until I took it out and found a plastic bag stuck to it and the fins were all clogged, cleaned it good and now im running around 200 degrees
