This is an "Is this normal?" question from a Vette noob. I've noticed that my engine temp needle basically stays in the center unless I'm idlling. If I idle for a while (over 10 minutes), it creeps very close to 260 (I would guess it's registering about 250 Degrees). Once I pull away and drive for about 5 minutes, the needle falls back down to normal.

This normal? Or is there something I need to look at?


[Modified by ChandlerL, 11:56 AM 5/14/2003]

 

You should look at this. Your 91 still has the L98 engine like my 86, I believe. The car should run between 193-200 degrees. The engine does have a tendency to run hot, but my red light comes on at 250 or 260, I forget which. You don't want to be there. How many miles do you have on your car? It might be time for a radiator cleaning. The radiator is very compact for a v-8 and has the tendency to get clogged very easily with road trash. If so, it can't operate properly. There is a tech tip on how to remove and clean it. You should read the tech tip. It will take you a few hours on a saturday to clean the rad. Some easier things to check are your thermostat and cooling fans. Sounds like the thermostat is ok since you only notice the problem when sitting still, meaning the problem happens when insufficient air is flowing over the radiator. Your fan should come on when the temp hits 225 and should be efficient enough to bring it back down to 200. If it isn't, check to make sure the fan comes on (you should be able to feel it if in the car). Lift the hood and look/listen if you can't. There is a second fan, but I'm not sure when that one comes on. You can also switch on the AC. Seems counterintuitive, but the cooling fan switches on automatically when you run the AC. I'm betting your radiator is clogged. While you are in there, replace the coolant mix, unless you've done it recently.

 

:lurk:

time for some of us to follow and learn...........

 

Gotcha. Great info. When I bring it in on June 6th, I'll have them look into the temp issues using your template.

 

I have a '91 and had similar type cooling issues, so here's what I did. The first step should be to look for debris in front of the radiator. I didn't have this problem, but it is very common on our cars. I then installed a 160 degree thermostat. Finally I installed a low-temp fan switch which kicks the fans on at 200 degrees as opposed to the factory 228. With these modifications my car never even sees halfway on the gauge unless I'm sitting traffic and even then it does not go past halfway. I know its hard to tell with our crappy coolant gauge, but I believe mine normally runs now at about 185 or so. Hope this helps. :cheers:

 

I have a 91 and my guage is exactly the same. It's normal and nothing worth worrying about or spending money on. You should notice you can hear the fan kick in when it looks real close to the 260 zone. You are guessing its at 250 then but it isnt the guages are not linear. In reality mine looks like its at 250 and it is really at 228 and the fan kicks in and everything is fine. You can make your fan kick in by turning the A/c if you are concerned. My enging has just shy of 100,000 miles on it and it is fine and has always been like this. I dont even pay attention to it anymore. You shouldnt either, its a normal operating condition.

 

Thanks for the great responses. This is some forum, and I'm glad to now be a part of it.

btw, Robertpel9, that picture of your Corvette is spectacular. The white looks almost irridescent with all those specular highlights. Chrome rims help take it over the edge.

 

Hope this helps https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=193&TopicID=2

16 will give you temp.

 

:cheers: thanks, thats one of the best compliment si ever got. Usually people don't like white. I think Arctic White is one of the nicest colors on a C4 if it is kept clean. Keeping it clen is not treat though. Thanks again, made my day :D

 

This is the first time I've seen this. So if I'm reading this correctly I can go through this procedure and select code 16 and my coolant temp will then be displayed? If this works I'll be a happy camper :cool:

 

Yes... and you can do it on the fly :D you will have to covert from Celsius to Fahrenheit

 

I just tried it and it worked perfectly. Thanks for the great tip :thumbs:

Now off to brush up up on my celsius conversions :jester

 

no problems getting an accurate readout on my DIGITAL display :jester

 

Show-off :p:

 

Thats what I did!