Radiator time
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Miami Florida
Radiator time
Time to replace radiator on LT4. I'm in the south east and temps are usually in the 90s during the summer. I drive the car just for cruising no track duty and not a DD. Will a dual core aluminum radiator really make a notable cooling difference? I can afford a higher price aluminum radiator but would only do so if it really made a difference. Thought anyone?
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Time to replace radiator on LT4. I'm in the south east and temps are usually in the 90s during the summer. I drive the car just for cruising no track duty and not a DD. Will a dual core aluminum radiator really make a notable cooling difference? I can afford a higher price aluminum radiator but would only do so if it really made a difference. Thought anyone?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,147
Likes: 452
From: Port St. Lucie West Florida
You may want to change your fan setting and put in a 160 stat if outdoor temps are that hot. I put in a Dewitt's and love it but my system is stock so maybe a couple degrees cooler not much. When I move to Florida I may reset the fan on and off times and change to a 160 stat coupled with a Dewitt's it should run a lot cooler
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 178
Likes: 3
From: Pensacola FL
Have you had any engine related failures due to the stock radiator size?
Why re-engineer the stock cooling system.
The LT engines are designed to run HOT. The cooling fans come on at 228°. If the engineers at GM wanted the car to run 180°, they would of programmed the fan to come on at a lower temp, had a lower temp t-stat and a bigger radiator.
Stock, leave it alone. If you add a bigger radiator, keep the factory recommended T-stat and fan temps.
Higher temps keep condensation out of the oil and make the engine efficient as designed.
Old school guys like a cool running small block and consider anything over 180 hot. Its a hard habit to change for us old school Guys. Leave it alone and let it run as designed.
Why re-engineer the stock cooling system.
The LT engines are designed to run HOT. The cooling fans come on at 228°. If the engineers at GM wanted the car to run 180°, they would of programmed the fan to come on at a lower temp, had a lower temp t-stat and a bigger radiator.
Stock, leave it alone. If you add a bigger radiator, keep the factory recommended T-stat and fan temps.
Higher temps keep condensation out of the oil and make the engine efficient as designed.
Old school guys like a cool running small block and consider anything over 180 hot. Its a hard habit to change for us old school Guys. Leave it alone and let it run as designed.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 413
Likes: 2
From: Carencro LA
Have you had any engine related failures due to the stock radiator size?
Why re-engineer the stock cooling system.
The LT engines are designed to run HOT. The cooling fans come on at 228°. If the engineers at GM wanted the car to run 180°, they would of programmed the fan to come on at a lower temp, had a lower temp t-stat and a bigger radiator.
Stock, leave it alone. If you add a bigger radiator, keep the factory recommended T-stat and fan temps.
Higher temps keep condensation out of the oil and make the engine efficient as designed.
Old school guys like a cool running small block and consider anything over 180 hot. Its a hard habit to change for us old school Guys. Leave it alone and let it run as designed.
Why re-engineer the stock cooling system.
The LT engines are designed to run HOT. The cooling fans come on at 228°. If the engineers at GM wanted the car to run 180°, they would of programmed the fan to come on at a lower temp, had a lower temp t-stat and a bigger radiator.
Stock, leave it alone. If you add a bigger radiator, keep the factory recommended T-stat and fan temps.
Higher temps keep condensation out of the oil and make the engine efficient as designed.
Old school guys like a cool running small block and consider anything over 180 hot. Its a hard habit to change for us old school Guys. Leave it alone and let it run as designed.
They ran the engine hot for emission reasons, not for the life of the engine.
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