Overheating?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,833
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From: Orange County California
Overheating?
Last week on Monday, it was a frikkin hot day in So. Cal. I was driving around in bad traffic with my AC on full and noticed my car starting to overheat. So I turned off the AC and went to my next appointment and thought it would cool down enough after I was done. It was still running hot as my appointment was not that long and it was still blazing outside. All said and done, my overflow was filling up and since I was still pretty busy I didnt give it as much rest as I should have. Since then, Ive been very conscious about the water temperature. Where should it be running? Mines running around 200-220 area. Is that where it should be?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Overheating? (McShagger)
Thats normal operating temps.
Once it gets to about 240-250, shut it down, AL heads dont like overheating.
If you want to bring it down, you can try a 160 thermostat, and a reprogram to bring the fans on sooner.
But you should also be sure to clean off the front of your radiator, it gets clogged up easy.
Once it gets to about 240-250, shut it down, AL heads dont like overheating.
If you want to bring it down, you can try a 160 thermostat, and a reprogram to bring the fans on sooner.
But you should also be sure to clean off the front of your radiator, it gets clogged up easy.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,145
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Overheating? (vader86)
BTW, the 92 would need a new chip and the 96 would need a Hypertech PP to make the fans come on sooner
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Orange County California
Re: Overheating? (vader86)
Once it gets to about 240-250, shut it down, AL heads dont like overheating.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,548
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member, Inland Empire Chapter
Re: Overheating? (McShagger)
I work in San Bernardino and live in Riverside so yeah, I go thru the same thing as you. 220-230 is common on hot days especially when youre stuck on the 10 or the 91 at rush hour. It stresses me out so much i turn the air off no matter how hot it is outside when Im stuck in stop and go freeway traffic. :blueangel:
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 584
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From: Baldwinsville NY
Re: Overheating? (rainsux89)
My 84 runs around 200-212 when it is hot out now that I have a brand new radiator. I was getting to 220-250 with the old radiator and then had a couple of times when it hit 275-280!!! and I was fortunate enough to be getting on the highway at the time after city driving and got it down to 220 or so. My original radiator was clogged when my mechanic took it out. He checked the radiator when it was hot and the bottom half of the radiator was dead cold...a sure sign of sediment clogging. For $160 I got a new radiator and can drive without one eye on the temp gauge now!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,555
Likes: 9
From: Indiana
Re: Overheating? (McShagger)
Those coolant temps sound ok. Check around the front of your radiator. These puppies like to hoover up debris (leaves, cigarette packages, etc) from the road and block part of the radiator .. especially up at the top where it's hard to reach. :)
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
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From: Muskogee OK
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Overheating?
My 84 runs @ 196-199 on the highways, and 200-225 in the city. Not sure what El Paso temps are like compared to yours. Drove 4200 miles this month around the us, checked the front of the radiator every time I got fuel for all the debris I drove through on the roads. Never found anything though. But then again during the summer I run 20-80 coolant. No/little need for anti freeze here in the summer.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 369
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From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: Overheating? (McShagger)
Another thing to remember is the air conditioning turns on the radiator fan, turning off the air also turns off the fan until the temp gets to about 220 where it automatically turns on.
So leaving the air on will theoretically keep the temp lower longer (according to the owners manual).
So leaving the air on will theoretically keep the temp lower longer (according to the owners manual).
:yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,381
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From: Pineville, Louisiana
Re: Overheating? (R94 LT 1)
Keep the A/C on when it running hot because with the A/C on the primary fan will stay on, if not it will let the temp get to 227 before it cuts the fan on.
PS: I found a plastic Wal-Mart bag up in my air intake area to the radiator this weekend. The intake for the radiator acts like a vaccum cleaner on the front of these monsters so you have to keep the area clean.
[Modified by CowboyNVette, 12:29 AM 10/3/2002]
PS: I found a plastic Wal-Mart bag up in my air intake area to the radiator this weekend. The intake for the radiator acts like a vaccum cleaner on the front of these monsters so you have to keep the area clean.
[Modified by CowboyNVette, 12:29 AM 10/3/2002]
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Las Animas Ca. USA
Re: Overheating? (flannel_man)
Little need for anti-freeze?
You need at least a 50/50 mix in any weather. Its not for cooling, water has a higher boiling point than anti-freeze. Its to prevent rust. Rust will shorten the life of the radiator, thermostat, water pump, freeze plugs etc.
You don't have to remove the radiator to clean it. A air hose will blow all the junk out of radiator.
A clean radiator will drop temps 20%.
My cars averages 174 degrees on the hiway and 204 degress in stop and go.
The car can idle for hours in 110 degree heat and never get over 210 degress.
If your radiator is over 15 years old its time to replace it.
You need at least a 50/50 mix in any weather. Its not for cooling, water has a higher boiling point than anti-freeze. Its to prevent rust. Rust will shorten the life of the radiator, thermostat, water pump, freeze plugs etc.
You don't have to remove the radiator to clean it. A air hose will blow all the junk out of radiator.
A clean radiator will drop temps 20%.
My cars averages 174 degrees on the hiway and 204 degress in stop and go.
The car can idle for hours in 110 degree heat and never get over 210 degress.
If your radiator is over 15 years old its time to replace it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Orange County California
Re: Overheating? (DarkHalo)
It stresses me out so much i turn the air off no matter how hot it is outside when Im stuck in stop and go freeway traffic. :blueangel:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,615
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From: New Lenox IL
Re: Overheating? (CowboyNVette)
Keep the A/C on when it running hot because with the A/C on the primary fan will stay on, if not it will let the temp get to 227 before it cuts the fan on.
PS: I found a plastic Wal-Mart bag up in my air intake area to the radiator this weekend. The intake for the radiator acts like a vaccum cleaner on the front of these monsters so you have to keep the area clean.
[Modified by CowboyNVette, 12:29 AM 10/3/2002]
PS: I found a plastic Wal-Mart bag up in my air intake area to the radiator this weekend. The intake for the radiator acts like a vaccum cleaner on the front of these monsters so you have to keep the area clean.
[Modified by CowboyNVette, 12:29 AM 10/3/2002]
On the highway (no matter what temp its at) I run around 176. I run about 170-200 in the city. I don't get to 200-220 unless I'm just sitting for minutes on end on a hot day or just sitting very close behind someone (sucking up their hot exhaust). If I ever get over 220, I got a problem and I just fix it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Jupiter Florida
Re: Overheating? (vader86)
Once it gets to about 240-250, shut it down, AL heads dont like overheating.
Safety Car
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From: New Lenox IL
Re: Overheating? (rocketfinger)
Once it gets to about 240-250, shut it down, AL heads dont like overheating.
So true about the heads, but under no circumstances would I shut it down at those temperatures. Afterboil sends the temp through the roof. I'd get on the highway in clean air and get some of it through the radiator, run the heater full blast if necessary, and get the temp within reason before shutting it down.
So true about the heads, but under no circumstances would I shut it down at those temperatures. Afterboil sends the temp through the roof. I'd get on the highway in clean air and get some of it through the radiator, run the heater full blast if necessary, and get the temp within reason before shutting it down.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,011
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From: Jupiter Florida
Re: Overheating? (Lord Odin)
I think you'd wanna run the AC instead of the heat. The system on these cars engages the 2nd fan when the AC is turned on rather than the heat, unlike older cars.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 402
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From: Falls Church Virginia
Re: Overheating? (rocketfinger)
I'm so confused :( I just turn the car off and hope for the best :yesnod: so far so good. GM built these cars to run temperatures like this obviously. Why worry if the car is well maintained? :chevy My temps. on my 1994 run way high, then suddenly they drop back to 188 or abouts. Radiator is clean and I have the stock thermostat :chevy Now about that 1994 temp gauge, it sucks :boxing you really cant tell what temp. your at between 185 and the red zone?
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From: I live in my own little world
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Re: Overheating? (C4ForGeeGee)
...Now about that 1994 temp gauge, it sucks :boxing you really cant tell what temp. your at between 185 and the red zone?
DON'T it though!! THAT's why when i see it much above the 185 mark...i'll flip on the digital gauge and monitor THAT.