hot
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
my 95 runs a little hot right now - usually between 205 and 215 - never under 200. Have yet to see it get over 218 or so.... (this is in 90-95 degree Florida climate). However there was an old thread on this and most Florida guys seemed to be running closer to the 190-195 range. - Perhaps your radiator could have junk in it (leaves etc.) - this would take up a lot of cooling space in some cases and may benefit from some cleaning...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Your really not out of range with those temps. Couldn't tell where you live---try to complete info in your public info area like where you live and what you drive.
If you want to drop the temps, check between the area between the radiator and the condensor A/C. Change your hoses if they havn't been changed in a couple years. Do a complete coolant flush and replace with 50/50 mixture of distilled and Dexcool.
Its a messy job but will keep your temp down. It works for me.
If you want to drop the temps, check between the area between the radiator and the condensor A/C. Change your hoses if they havn't been changed in a couple years. Do a complete coolant flush and replace with 50/50 mixture of distilled and Dexcool.
Its a messy job but will keep your temp down. It works for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 4
From: Milan
Originally Posted by elefkow
Your really not out of range with those temps. Couldn't tell where you live---try to complete info in your public info area like where you live and what you drive.
If you want to drop the temps, check between the area between the radiator and the condensor A/C. undefined Change your hoses if they havn't been changed in a couple years. Do a complete coolant flush and replace with 50/50 mixture of distilled and Dexcool.
Its a messy job but will keep your temp down. It works for me.
If you want to drop the temps, check between the area between the radiator and the condensor A/C. undefined Change your hoses if they havn't been changed in a couple years. Do a complete coolant flush and replace with 50/50 mixture of distilled and Dexcool.
Its a messy job but will keep your temp down. It works for me.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
You might want to put a cooler thermostat in it seeing how its a LT1. The reverse flow LT1's seem to really enjoy being at arou 177-180* which requires a 160 thermostat.
You would also need a fan switch or a prom to tell the fans to come on sooner.
You would also need a fan switch or a prom to tell the fans to come on sooner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,471
Likes: 2
From: 1993 Quasar Blue 'vert Scottsdale AZ
Your temps are fine. A 160* t-stat won't make you run any cooler, it will just take a few more minutes to reach the same temps you're running now. A new chip to turn the fans on earlier (or a manual switch) will help you to run a little cooler.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by Alvin
You might want to put a cooler thermostat in it seeing how its a LT1. The reverse flow LT1's seem to really enjoy being at arou 177-180* which requires a 160 thermostat.
You would also need a fan switch or a prom to tell the fans to come on sooner.
You would also need a fan switch or a prom to tell the fans to come on sooner.
A cooler thermostat, alone, won't change the operating temperature. It will only prolong the unhealthy warm up time.
Cooler fan on temps, alone, WILL lower the operating temps. The stock thermostat in the LT engines is a 180°. If the rest of the cooling system is up to it, a 160° stat is NOT required to run close to 180°, which is too cool anyways.
calvette 11,
Your operating temps are not out of line. Your radiator should be kept clean, both inside and out. As suggested, remove the upper radiator shroud and clear the area between the radiator and the condenser. If it hasn't been done in the last two years, thoroughly flush the cooling system and change the coolant. Properly maintained, your cooling system IS adequate.
RACE ON!!!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Madison WI
I was running about the same temps as you before I cleaned my radiator. I also put in a bottle of water wetter from Autozone, it was only $8. If you are always in a warm climate and it doesn't get that cold you can run 70%water 30% coolant along with the water wetter or equivalant, and it will make your temps drop faster while you are driving after a long idle at a light. I race my car and could tell the difference after doing the above changes, my car runs at 195 on the highway and even in town with temps above 200 it cools down much faster.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
BASSAKWARDS!
A cooler thermostat, alone, won't change the operating temperature. It will only prolong the unhealthy warm up time.
Cooler fan on temps, alone, WILL lower the operating temps. The stock thermostat in the LT engines is a 180°. If the rest of the cooling system is up to it, a 160° stat is NOT required to run close to 180°, which is too cool anyways.
calvette 11,
Your operating temps are not out of line. Your radiator should be kept clean, both inside and out. As suggested, remove the upper radiator shroud and clear the area between the radiator and the condenser. If it hasn't been done in the last two years, thoroughly flush the cooling system and change the coolant. Properly maintained, your cooling system IS adequate.
RACE ON!!!
A cooler thermostat, alone, won't change the operating temperature. It will only prolong the unhealthy warm up time.
Cooler fan on temps, alone, WILL lower the operating temps. The stock thermostat in the LT engines is a 180°. If the rest of the cooling system is up to it, a 160° stat is NOT required to run close to 180°, which is too cool anyways.
calvette 11,
Your operating temps are not out of line. Your radiator should be kept clean, both inside and out. As suggested, remove the upper radiator shroud and clear the area between the radiator and the condenser. If it hasn't been done in the last two years, thoroughly flush the cooling system and change the coolant. Properly maintained, your cooling system IS adequate.
RACE ON!!!
I tell you what, I want you to send me a datalog of a LT1 that runs 180 with a 180 thermostat. Or a LT1 with a 160 stat staying at 160 I tell you you won't be able to.. Put a 160 in a LT1 and run it on the freeway, run both fans at full speed, run it in 40 degree weather, etc.. the coldest it will run is MAYBE 175
I said in my post that you will also need the fans on with either a prom or a switch. Did you not read my whole post before calling me assbackwards?
the rating on the thermostat is the temperature which the thermostat starts to get going. Operating temp is usually 10 degrees (if not more) than thermostat temp...
The guy also has a LT1 which is much much different than your traditional SBC. They LOVE to be cool.
Fans control RADIATOR TEMP
Thermostat controls ENGINE TEMP
Last edited by Alvin; Jul 27, 2005 at 01:26 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by Alvin
I said in my post that you will also need the fans on with either a prom or a switch. Did you not read my whole post before calling me assbackwards?
I said "BASSAKWARDS!", because I feel you got the cart before the horse. Since the stat, alone, won't lower the operating temperature in warm or hot weather, and lower fan on temps will. In short, the stat change, only, does nothing but harm. Fans only can keep the car running cooler. Earlier on fans won't prolong the warm up period, as a cooler stat will.
Originally Posted by Alvin
Fans control RADIATOR TEMP
Thermostat controls ENGINE TEMP
Thermostat controls ENGINE TEMP
RACE ON!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,471
Likes: 2
From: 1993 Quasar Blue 'vert Scottsdale AZ
LT1's don't like to run THAT cool. Gas mileage will suffer and good luck passing emissions. Next week, my 160* t-stat is going in the garbage and my fans will be programed to turn on at a higher temp. (of course, to be fair, I do have a big Ron Davis radiator).