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Old Aug 2, 2011 | 06:56 AM
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Hello I am having a problem with My '88 vette. It is running hot 225 to 240 degrees during the day but at night it runs at 190 to 205 degrees. Turn on ac add 12 degrees. I have installed a new thermostat, water pump, fan motor, belt and radiator after the radiator went out on me! It still runs hot during the day in stop and go traffic. Now it has been humid for the past few days so I am thinking that this is "normal" but at the same time it just does not seem right. Oil temp is 225. Dont think that I have a cracked head gasket: car runs fine and idles well it just runs hot. Any ideas?
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Old Aug 2, 2011 | 08:04 AM
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First, welcome to Corvette Forum. You will have a ball here.

Second, learn to use the search function. You will find this dead horse flogged more times than you can believe.

Third, these things were made to run hot. Your temps are well within specs.
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Old Aug 2, 2011 | 08:23 AM
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Thats normal running for a stock system.
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Old Aug 2, 2011 | 04:26 PM
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Your engine coolant temperature gage might be out of calibration. Oil temperaturen seems normal.
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Old Aug 3, 2011 | 12:57 PM
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If it still has the stock Radiator I would look into getting a new one from a well know supplier. Rads will build up deposits over the year and slowly clog up.

But as everyone else said these engine normally run around 190-210.

On hot days maybe 220, but it should cool down, Try turning the heater on (fan on High) when it’s hot. If it cools down even a little then you should look at getting a new and bigger Rad.

Jerryd@meziere.com
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Old Aug 3, 2011 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
Thats normal running for a stock system.
If mine ever got above 230 I would have a heart attack, 240 is actually an acceptable temp for the car to run?
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Old Aug 4, 2011 | 11:28 AM
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Normal? Nothing about these cars is consistent... I have an 84'.... prior to replacing the radiator, I averaged 190-195* during mild weather and on the highway. Sitting in traffic, with the air on, I would occationally see 227* (outside temps 90+*) I installed a new aftermarket 3 core aluminum and my temps dropped about 15* during the afternoon heat, in traffic. Yesterday, we had temp of 98* & 118* heat index, I saw 218* in traffic.... most C4 owners on here are prefectly content with 230-240 on a hot day, in traffic. I, on the other hand, wasn't and took action to fix it. Heat is a killer of engines, the cooler you keep it, the better and more efficinet it'll run.
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Old Aug 4, 2011 | 11:35 AM
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I had the same problem on my 86. What I did was install toggle switch to the fans and when the temp starts to climb up, say 200 I just turn on the fans. I bought the switch at Ecklers for around $15 This sure solved my heating problems.
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