engine temperature
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 44
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engine temperature
Is it common for corvette engines to run hot? I have just replaced water pump and thermostat and have been keeping an eye on temp gauge and noticed that needle is leaning to high end especially when car is not moving. (1996 41,000 miles)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
How high? 240, 260?
Did you bleed the system?
Did you bleed the system?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Did you use an LT1 stat?
Are you looking at the analog gage or the digital readout?
Are you running your A/C and what is the outside ambient temperature at the time of the temperature reading
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
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From: Puyallup Washington
Corvette C4s are designed to run at around 200F or more. The first fan is programmed to come on at about 229 F. Use your analog guage as an indicator only. The digital guage is much more accurate. Generally a C4 will run about 200 F when moving. When stopped in traffic the temp will increase to 229 F when the first fan comes on and cools it down some.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Corvette C4s are designed to run at around 200F or more. The first fan is programmed to come on at about 229 F. Use your analog guage as an indicator only. The digital guage is much more accurate. Generally a C4 will run about 200 F when moving. When stopped in traffic the temp will increase to 229 F when the first fan comes on and cools it down some.
But,On the 96 the fan configeration is slightly different using 3 relays. Both fans come on at same time in low speed mode with A/C or at 229*. And at high speed at 239*.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If youre only watching the needle yes it will almost be pegged when those fans are about to come on. Never understood where GM thought that was bright.
Can only imagine the line of LTx cars brand new lining up days after they were bought claiming they were overheating. Love to hear the service guys explain that one away. "Maaam its normal really"
Can only imagine the line of LTx cars brand new lining up days after they were bought claiming they were overheating. Love to hear the service guys explain that one away. "Maaam its normal really"
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,830
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From: Granada Hills CA
Thank god for the star wars dash! Watching a red needle ride closer and closer to the peg would be way more stressful than watching the cooly lit digits flash higher by 1 degree every 2 seconds towards meltdown!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Supreme Soviet Peace-Loving Pipple's Kollektive of Seattle Wa
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,027
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From: Woodland CA
The problem really is the analog gage - its not linear so its hard to really determine the temperature. When the analog needle says 185 (major marker), the digital says 170 on my 96. Why GM decided to install such a cheap analog gage that is not linear is beyond me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,310
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From: KB7TIF Ville NV
Put in a 165 stat and have your pcm programmed to have the fans come on earlier, had mine come on at 190 and off at 185..
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Granada Hills CA
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 616
Likes: 1
From: Cocoa Beach FL
GRRRRRRR 1995 LT1 cooling issues!!!!!!!
Put in a 160 stat and my digital gauge always says 142 my analog gauge says at idle 185 + or- some but as soon as you drive it it goes up to 260 but it isnt puking anything out and it runs fine and it goes up and down it is driving me nuts i have bled the system 3 times drained and refilled it. It is driving me crazy I am afraid to run acrossed town to pick my dog up at the vet!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 681
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From: Morris County, NJ
you still have air in the system if it is acting like that
Next time you drain and refill try parking on an incline so the nose is up--it lessens the amount of air stuck in the steam pipe or heater core----you are running it on 90 degrees heater to circulate through the heater core aren't you?
Next time you drain and refill try parking on an incline so the nose is up--it lessens the amount of air stuck in the steam pipe or heater core----you are running it on 90 degrees heater to circulate through the heater core aren't you?
..WW
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 374
Likes: 4
From: Nevada Missouri
I just got through pulling the radiator in my 86 because of over heating. I could not believe the trash between the radiator and the condenser. I used a high pressure hose on the radiator and condenser. You would not believe the dirt and junk that came out. After re-install and coolant it runs a lot cooler. I had been told its a good idea the do this every couple of years depending how much you drive.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 995
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From: Naples Campania
Anyways, I never liked that digital gauge. One of the projects on the list is to replace the gauge cluster with one from VetteAid. Yes, these cars run hot and they run hot very quickly. It's a pain to change the oil because by the time I get to the hobby shop, it's up there in temp.