Help! Running Hot
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville TN
Help! Running Hot
I recently purchase a C4 and the running temp is pretty hot. On a long drive I noticed the temp reach 248 Deg. so I pulled off the road to cool the engine and then took it home. The fan seems to hardly ever turn on. There is a new fan sensor switch in the console, still in it's box so this could possibly be a hint from the seller. Any suggestions for where I should start checking. All comments will be appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: Help! Running Hot (GemVETTE)
There is a new fan sensor switch in the console
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Re: Help! Running Hot (GemVETTE)
Don't know how long you've owned your vette but if everything is factory they are designed to run hotter than a normal 350. But maybe not 240, but mostly around 225 - 235 but had some mechanics say 240 is normal but too hot for me! Maybe replaced your thermostat to a 200 deg one. Check radiator for stoppage, also maybe water pump or if the fan is not on that much that is probably your problem! Mine stays on from 200 deg. My fan went out one time and the shaft was worn and it only worked part of the time! New fan cost me around 35-40 dollars if I remember. Would start there, its easy to switch out and not that expensive! :auto:
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Hill Country TX
Re: Help! Running Hot (GemVETTE)
Hello Gemvette:
I too gave the temp read out a second look the first time I had my car out an about in south Texas heat sitting in traffic on a beautiful July day. Nothing scares me more than an over heating car.
Talked to a buddy about it and after we put in a different thermostat that kicks the fan on at 180 degrees, flushed the radiator and adding a bottle of water wetter everything is wonderful now. My car now runs no hotter than 180 degrees even with the a/c on sitting in traffic on a hot day.
Water wetter is wonderful stuff and you can pick it up for less than $10.00 per bottle just dump the entire bottle in the system and you will be fine.
Question ? is your air dam still there under the front end ? It is a black plastic thing that forces air up to the radiator to cool it off while you are moving. It is a big help to also cool off the engine.
Good luck lowering the temp. Summer is coming and you will want to drive the car more and more without any problems.
That is my 2 cents worth.
I too gave the temp read out a second look the first time I had my car out an about in south Texas heat sitting in traffic on a beautiful July day. Nothing scares me more than an over heating car.
Talked to a buddy about it and after we put in a different thermostat that kicks the fan on at 180 degrees, flushed the radiator and adding a bottle of water wetter everything is wonderful now. My car now runs no hotter than 180 degrees even with the a/c on sitting in traffic on a hot day.
Water wetter is wonderful stuff and you can pick it up for less than $10.00 per bottle just dump the entire bottle in the system and you will be fine.
Question ? is your air dam still there under the front end ? It is a black plastic thing that forces air up to the radiator to cool it off while you are moving. It is a big help to also cool off the engine.
Good luck lowering the temp. Summer is coming and you will want to drive the car more and more without any problems.
That is my 2 cents worth.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: ojai ca
Re: Help! Running Hot (GemVETTE)
In my 89 the fan kicks on at 229. In LA traffic on a real hot day its gone to 230 but never higher, on the road it runs at 198 to 202 .
Running hot scares me also. Get it checked out today ! Ya don't want to lose an engine or warp a head cause of heat ! Good luck ! :seeya
Running hot scares me also. Get it checked out today ! Ya don't want to lose an engine or warp a head cause of heat ! Good luck ! :seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Help! Running Hot (ojaijim)
In my 89 the fan kicks on at 229. In LA traffic on a real hot day its gone to 230 but never higher, on the road it runs at 198 to 202 .
Running hot scares me also. Get it checked out today ! Ya don't want to lose an engine or warp a head cause of heat ! Good luck ! :seeya
Running hot scares me also. Get it checked out today ! Ya don't want to lose an engine or warp a head cause of heat ! Good luck ! :seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Re: Help! Running Hot (GemVETTE)
I gotta tell ya electric fans suck. Mustangs have belt driven fans and they never run hot. My 93 LT-1 had the the thremo cool chip and a 160 thermo.
In Vegas in 105 degree heat in a traffic accident 2 hour crawl by the temps hit
210. Usually cruz temp are 180.
The 1st thing ya havta do with any Corvette is to correct the factory cooling set up. In short it sucks.
Corvette Central sells a manual fan switch. Thats the way to go.
Traffic jam, fan on. Cruz fan off. Fan on, fan off.
In Vegas in 105 degree heat in a traffic accident 2 hour crawl by the temps hit
210. Usually cruz temp are 180.
The 1st thing ya havta do with any Corvette is to correct the factory cooling set up. In short it sucks.
Corvette Central sells a manual fan switch. Thats the way to go.
Traffic jam, fan on. Cruz fan off. Fan on, fan off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: Help! Running Hot (redwing76)
I gotta tell ya electric fans suck...Corvette Central sells a manual fan switch. Thats the way to go.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 3
From: Bel Air Md
Re: Help! Running Hot (shakedown067)
My 88 runs around 195 F on the road. One thing you may check is between the radiator and a/c condenser. You have to remove the cover over the radiator. You may find all kinds of junk stuck to the radiator. You can't see this unless the cover is removed. Plastic bags are a good bet, they go over the top of the condenser and stick to the radiator. Look at the front of the condenser and then look at the top. You'll see and opening wher all kinds of sh** can enter the radiator. The cover only has a few 10mm bolts. At idle, the fan should come on between 225 and 230 F. Running, it does not use the fan. It could also be the thermostat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Re: Help! Running Hot (shakedown067)
Less strain on the engine and water pump? Running hot isn't a strain on the engine??????????????????????
Belt driven fans always work. Electric fans need a thermo controled fan switch, with fuses, wiring, relays, etc. Theres more room for failure with a electric fan setup.
Lets complicate the shizt out of the cooling system and call that progress.
I don't like electric fans for the simple reason that the cars over heat because of a fan switch failure. You don't find that out till its too late.
Lets hope your truck isn't a 3/4 ton or better and you never pull a load with it.
If you do the electric fan will trash your truck. The factory tested your truck to the tenth degree with a belt driven fan in severe heat and didn't see fit to out fit it with a electric fan. But you did?
Belt driven fans always work. Electric fans need a thermo controled fan switch, with fuses, wiring, relays, etc. Theres more room for failure with a electric fan setup.
Lets complicate the shizt out of the cooling system and call that progress.
I don't like electric fans for the simple reason that the cars over heat because of a fan switch failure. You don't find that out till its too late.
Lets hope your truck isn't a 3/4 ton or better and you never pull a load with it.
If you do the electric fan will trash your truck. The factory tested your truck to the tenth degree with a belt driven fan in severe heat and didn't see fit to out fit it with a electric fan. But you did?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: Help! Running Hot (redwing76)
Theres more room for failure with a electric fan setup....The factory tested your truck to the tenth degree with a belt driven fan in severe heat and didn't see fit to out fit it with a electric fan. But you did?
I went from this:
http://www.thetachi4life.com/MiscPix/enginesig.jpg
To this
http://www.thetachi4life.com/MiscPix/engine3.jpg