Normal Oprerating Temp?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
The rating (opening point) of a thermostat does NOT establish the operating temperature, in most cases. What it DOES establish, is MINIMUM operating temperature, after warm up. If I remember correctly, the stock fan "ON" temp is about 235* and the "OFF" is about 225*, on an '84. Any cruising at about 35 mph and above should keep the temps below 220*-225*. Idling, or in extreme stop and go traffic, you may see as high as 240* BRIEFLY after the fan comes on at ~235*. It should cool down to the ~225* fan "OFF" temp fairly quickly. There ARE steps you can take to lower these numbers. Mine has a hard time getting over 210* while sitting and idling. Carefully weigh, any and all, advice you read here on the forum. Some well meaning people just don't understand, precisely, how some things work.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
Likes: 709
From: Bergen County, NJ
My '88, stock settings are : main fan comes on at 228, auxilury fan comes on at 238.
I changed the chip and the main comes on at 212.
Normally, my oil and water temps run within 10 degrees of each other.
Anything above 240 is getting too hot.
I changed the chip and the main comes on at 212.
Normally, my oil and water temps run within 10 degrees of each other.
Anything above 240 is getting too hot.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Excellent description of the relationship of the thermostat to the operating temps of a cooling system in good condition.One of the biggest challenges in keeping C4 coolant temps at a reasonable level is keeping the area in front of the A/C condensor and the radiator free of debris. C4's are "bottom breathers" in that all of the air for cooling is taken up under the front license plate and is passed thru the condesnor and radiator. It's common to find dirt,leaves, pieces of paper, twigs, road kill, Honda's or anything on the roaad you may pass over.
You can keep the area clean by directing a stream of water from a hose from the back side of the radiator into the coils. This will help disloge any junk and will help to improve airflow. You can also use air pressure to do the same thing.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I agree with CFI-EFI
A lot of people don't understand that it is the size and efficiency of the radiator that governs operating temperature. If collant can't flow through it or air can flow by it, it's not going to operate efficiently.
The thermostat only governs at which temperatures coolant flows through the rad (open) versus when it doesn't (closed)
A lot of people don't understand that it is the size and efficiency of the radiator that governs operating temperature. If collant can't flow through it or air can flow by it, it's not going to operate efficiently.
The thermostat only governs at which temperatures coolant flows through the rad (open) versus when it doesn't (closed)
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
[QUOTE=c4cruiser It's common to find dirt,leaves, pieces of paper, twigs, road kill, Honda's or anything on the roaad you may pass over.
.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, cleaning that Civic that was stuck in there really lowered the temps....
But seriously, if your radiator has never been removed and cleaned, do so ASAP. It will take about 20 minutes to remove the radiator from the car, and another hour to clean the accumulated crap out from the front of it. You will be amazed what is in there. When I did this on my 84, the average temp went down almost 20 degrees.....that's how much crud was in there.
As a side note, on my 84 the fan comes on around 225, and off around 205. I live in a VERY hot climate, and even idling for extended periods in 110 degree ambient summer heat, it never goes over about 227.
On the highway, it runs an average of 185-195. I am using a 180 thermostat.
Unless it climbs over 235 and stays there, I wouldn't be concerned.
.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, cleaning that Civic that was stuck in there really lowered the temps....
But seriously, if your radiator has never been removed and cleaned, do so ASAP. It will take about 20 minutes to remove the radiator from the car, and another hour to clean the accumulated crap out from the front of it. You will be amazed what is in there. When I did this on my 84, the average temp went down almost 20 degrees.....that's how much crud was in there.
As a side note, on my 84 the fan comes on around 225, and off around 205. I live in a VERY hot climate, and even idling for extended periods in 110 degree ambient summer heat, it never goes over about 227.
On the highway, it runs an average of 185-195. I am using a 180 thermostat.
Unless it climbs over 235 and stays there, I wouldn't be concerned.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 1
From: Santa Maria CA
i use a mid america motorworks 200fs which comes on at 190f on the digital with a 180 themostat. keeps temps around 185 during all weather. those are good temps to keep detonation/pinging down alot!
