96 LT4 engine temp questions
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
96 LT4 engine temp questions
Ive had this car about 4 months now, at first it overheated- dealer replaced the radiator and cap which worked for a month until the heads blew- had a complete head job done- runs well but when im idling the temp goes as high as 211- 215- when Im driving it sits at 205 all day long,is this normal for these cars- fans are working, has good anti freeze and level good- I did try and squeeze the top radiator hose to see if I could feel a surge back to check the water pump but couldnt really tell a difference- I also smell anti freeze at times and noticed my heat really doesnt work ( any connection to temp) any ideas? Thank you.
Last edited by kevinpepsimech; Jan 5, 2015 at 11:36 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 925
Likes: 6
From: East Wenatchee Washington
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,281
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
If you are seeing 205* as a steady temp while cruising, you are in GOOD SHAPE & OK.
My LT4 stays between 200* & 209* on a Texas summer day ride on the interstate. If your fans pop on around 227* they are working OK too. When I first got my car I thought the engine temps were too high too, but I learned that the LT engines were designed to run hotter. I also learned that when stuck in slow moving traffic when the temps start to rise, turn on the A/C. It turns on both fans and the engine cools right down.
Just try not to idle in traffic for an hour with the A/C on High like I did once, because at Idle the alternator can't keep up with the battery drain for that long. I was watching my temp gauge and not my voltage and it dropped to about 10v before I noticed and sped up my idle speed. Didn't hurt anything but you could have cooked a steak on that alternator..it got HOT!
My LT4 stays between 200* & 209* on a Texas summer day ride on the interstate. If your fans pop on around 227* they are working OK too. When I first got my car I thought the engine temps were too high too, but I learned that the LT engines were designed to run hotter. I also learned that when stuck in slow moving traffic when the temps start to rise, turn on the A/C. It turns on both fans and the engine cools right down. Just try not to idle in traffic for an hour with the A/C on High like I did once, because at Idle the alternator can't keep up with the battery drain for that long. I was watching my temp gauge and not my voltage and it dropped to about 10v before I noticed and sped up my idle speed. Didn't hurt anything but you could have cooked a steak on that alternator..it got HOT!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 182
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Do some searching around here, and you'll find enough posts on this subject to keep you busy for days.
If you have the proper coolant mix and pressure cap, your coolant won't "Boil" until over 260°F
Your cooling fans will run at a slower speed when they first come on, and then move to a higher speed as the temps reaches approx. 228°F (based on the reading from the digital gauge).
While sitting in stop and go traffic: 217°F - 235°F
Moving at any speed over approx. 40 mph: 190°F - 200°
Here are a few to get you started:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lant-temp.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-too-hot.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ioning-on.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ating-but.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-heating.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-too-high.html
If you have the proper coolant mix and pressure cap, your coolant won't "Boil" until over 260°F
Your cooling fans will run at a slower speed when they first come on, and then move to a higher speed as the temps reaches approx. 228°F (based on the reading from the digital gauge).
While sitting in stop and go traffic: 217°F - 235°F
Moving at any speed over approx. 40 mph: 190°F - 200°
Here are a few to get you started:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lant-temp.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-too-hot.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ioning-on.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ating-but.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-heating.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-too-high.html
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: Vacaville Ca
I bought a 96' that supposedly needed a head gasket. Turned out that it was the spline drive coming out of the front cover and the coupling. It was stripped out so it was barely turning the pump, making it overheat. I went with the Meizeire pump option.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
Just try not to idle in traffic for an hour with the A/C on High like I did once, because at Idle the alternator can't keep up with the battery drain for that long. I was watching my temp gauge and not my voltage and it dropped to about 10v before I noticed and sped up my idle speed. Didn't hurt anything but you could have cooked a steak on that alternator..it got HOT!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Do some searching around here, and you'll find enough posts on this subject to keep you busy for days.
If you have the proper coolant mix and pressure cap, your coolant won't "Boil" until over 260°F
Your cooling fans will run at a slower speed when they first come on, and then move to a higher speed as the temps reaches approx. 228°F (based on the reading from the digital gauge).
While sitting in stop and go traffic: 217°F - 235°F
Moving at any speed over approx. 40 mph: 190°F - 200°
Here are a few to get you started:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lant-temp.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-too-hot.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ioning-on.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ating-but.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-heating.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-too-high.html
If you have the proper coolant mix and pressure cap, your coolant won't "Boil" until over 260°F
Your cooling fans will run at a slower speed when they first come on, and then move to a higher speed as the temps reaches approx. 228°F (based on the reading from the digital gauge).
While sitting in stop and go traffic: 217°F - 235°F
Moving at any speed over approx. 40 mph: 190°F - 200°
Here are a few to get you started:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lant-temp.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-too-hot.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ioning-on.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ating-but.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-heating.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-too-high.html
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