What's normal water temp?
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From: St Augustine FL
What's normal water temp?
Hello everyone,
I have a 94 and the water temperature always hovers between 210 and 220 degrees. The guage indicates normal operating temp is 185. The radiator has been flushed and there is no debris on the radiator. Is it normal for the car to run that hot?
I have a 94 and the water temperature always hovers between 210 and 220 degrees. The guage indicates normal operating temp is 185. The radiator has been flushed and there is no debris on the radiator. Is it normal for the car to run that hot?
Elite Torch Red Member
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Re: What's normal water temp? (Darnett)
The analog gauge is not lenear, keep that in mind. Normal temp is about 190-195,even 200 on the highway and anywhere from 210-230 sitting in traffic. If you turn the A/C on it should stay in the 210 range.
The analog gauge should be on the third mark for normal.
On the analog gauge, the first mark is 100, the second 185,the third 210, the 4th 235 and the 5th 260.
The analog gauge should be on the third mark for normal.
On the analog gauge, the first mark is 100, the second 185,the third 210, the 4th 235 and the 5th 260.
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From: St Augustine FL
Re: What's normal water temp? (Mr Mojo)
Thanks, I didn't know that. The second line at 185 is thicker that the others so I thought that meant where it should be operating. Thanks again
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: What's normal water temp? (Darnett)
Hmm, I'm not outside(obviously) but you are right the second mark is 185, but my manual shows oil temp to be 215 at the second mark which would be normal and the coolant is the third mark at 210.
Ok in the middle of this post I decided to go outside and take some pics. Very interesting find.
My '95 shows the actual number for the temp and my '93 just has the marks, and both the third marks are the thicker ones.
Here they are:
The '95
The '93
Ok in the middle of this post I decided to go outside and take some pics. Very interesting find.
My '95 shows the actual number for the temp and my '93 just has the marks, and both the third marks are the thicker ones.
Here they are:
The '95
The '93
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: What's normal water temp? (patgizz)
Hey pat 
BTW, teh normal temp is still around 200 even though the mark shows 185.
BTW, teh normal temp is still around 200 even though the mark shows 185.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Houston TX
Re: What's normal water temp? (Mr Mojo)
The analog gauge is not lenear, keep that in mind. Normal temp is about 190-195,even 200 on the highway and anywhere from 210-230 sitting in traffic. If you turn the A/C on it should stay in the 210 range.
with these numbers. My 95 runs in these normal ranges.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,496
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From: alaska
Re: What's normal water temp? (Mr Mojo)
The '95
The '93
[/QUOTE]interesting,they totaly relabeled the gage on the 95.probly so the needle wasnt so close to 260 all the time.
i see you still have the static label on the 93 dash.mines still there too,but its all the way to the bottom (about an inch lower than yours)
i run about 194 on the highway and 203 at 10 mph bumpy roads.210 stopped in traffic is most ive seen.
someone said once that theres seperate sensor locations between the digi and analog temp gauges,so the temps could vary slightly due to sensor location if thats the case.(i rarely look at the analog side).
when mine hit 210(i think), im pretty sure it switched itself from mpg to temp automatically.when i saw that happen i was releived to know that it would do that if a problem arose.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Owasso OK
Re: What's normal water temp? (Darnett)
my '92 runs at about 178-185 on the highway and depending on the outside temp, it will run anywhere from 190-220 at traffic lights....never seen it go higher than 220 degrees
Instructor
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From: Phoenix AZ
Re: What's normal water temp? (Darnett)
Howdy - the FNG here - When I first took ownership, I was a bit disturbed by the operating temps, as mine was running 207-210 at cruise and in traffic I saw it once go to and past 225, but at 230 it stayed there a second or two then dropped immediatly down to 217, (guessing the fans kicked on) and then was able to get moving and it continued to drop to the 207 +/-. I'm used to seeing my vehicles stay under 200 - then I start to keep an eye on things. But from what I've heard around 210 is "normal?"...but I'm in Phoenix. Personally I'd like to see mine run cooler, like around 180, but everything seems to point out that the computer is going to control the temp, regarldles of the thermostat - that true?
I have a new radiator, hoses, etc...
Anyway, for what it's worth - I'm still on pinns and needles, though the car seems to be doing fine - I've heard the "panic mode" is at 235º.
I have a new radiator, hoses, etc...
Anyway, for what it's worth - I'm still on pinns and needles, though the car seems to be doing fine - I've heard the "panic mode" is at 235º.
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From: St Augustine FL
Re: What's normal water temp? (Mr Mojo)
Thanks, I think you're right about why that changed the guage. After reading all this responses I feel my car's temp is normal. I'm just not used to temps that high. Thanks again
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From: St Augustine FL
Re: What's normal water temp? (Darnett)
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I have peace of mind now but like one of you said, once the guage reaches 220* you get a little nervous. You find yourself constantly monitoring the temp. In most all the other cars I've owned just had idiot lights.
Burning Brakes
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From: Portsmouth Va
Re: What's normal water temp? (Darnett)
hey Darnett , good question my 94 runs from 200 to 225. first time I saw this in warm/hot weather here i freaked (my vehecles in the past run 180-195). talked a friend who has owned a couple of vettes and he told me that was normal, i feel better about it but don"t have that warm fuzzy feeling yet. Still leary when temp goes to 220 or higher.
Pro
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From: Santee Ca
Re: What's normal water temp? (MDD LT1)
My '85 runs around 165-178 usually. It has gotten higher up to around 230 in stop and go traffic. I thought my gauge or sender might be screwed but my infrared thermometer tells me it is pretty darn accurate. I live in Sunny San Diego and it hasn't gotten very warm here yet so I don't know what will happen then. With all the mods on my IROC I can't get the damm thing to run under 220.
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Re: What's normal water temp? (F22Trainer)
There's lots of tricks to running cooler - increase the size of your radiator, 160 degree thermostat, manual fan switches, reprogrammed prom (chip), drill a hole in the thermostat, cleaning the debris from between the two readiators, drive the car in the winter in Alaska.... this list goes on and on, but for those who don't already know.... yes vettes run hot!
