right temps for my 95 LT1?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
right temps for my 95 LT1?
I know I saw a past thread where everyone listed their temps, but they were mostly in the 190-195 range it seemed. My 95 LT1 usually runs 210-215 or so while cruising at about 1800 RPM in 88-95degree FL weather. Of course any acceleration brings that temperature up... I have yet to take it on the highway... My question is...with those temps around town... will I be safe to drive on the highway...and how close to that 260 cap is safe? - the GT4 would have blown antifreeze everywhere at 210 - these things run so damn hot and I know little about them or any modern/FI cars. Also - are there some things I can try to bring my temps down? - Or perhaps my injectors may be a little dirty causing it to run a little lean (I don't speak Chevy - so I wouldn't know by listening). I'm going to replace the plugs - so that may tell me.. Thanks for any help.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Here's some temps I got from a previous post....
Left work today and took the Vette (96 LT1) on a road trip west of Las Vegas out near Death Valley. The AC was cold and the Vette handled great. Passed quite a few cars climbing through the mountain passes. Outside temps got as high as 129 degrees. Here's some temps I saw on the digital display with the AC on (Totally stock cooling system):
1. Inside cockpit temp before I started 151 degrees (Digital thermometer on the seat.)
2. Highway engine temp 70 to 80 MPH 205 - 215 degrees
3. Highway oil temp 70 to 80 MPH 220 - 235 degrees (Mobil 1)
4. Highway trans temp 70 to 80 MPH 220 - 225 degrees
5. Town (Slow traffic) engine temp in traffic 210 to 230 degrees
6. Town (Slow traffic) oil temp 225 - 239 degrees
7. Town (Slow traffic) trans temp 220 - 230 degrees
Left work today and took the Vette (96 LT1) on a road trip west of Las Vegas out near Death Valley. The AC was cold and the Vette handled great. Passed quite a few cars climbing through the mountain passes. Outside temps got as high as 129 degrees. Here's some temps I saw on the digital display with the AC on (Totally stock cooling system):
1. Inside cockpit temp before I started 151 degrees (Digital thermometer on the seat.)
2. Highway engine temp 70 to 80 MPH 205 - 215 degrees
3. Highway oil temp 70 to 80 MPH 220 - 235 degrees (Mobil 1)
4. Highway trans temp 70 to 80 MPH 220 - 225 degrees
5. Town (Slow traffic) engine temp in traffic 210 to 230 degrees
6. Town (Slow traffic) oil temp 225 - 239 degrees
7. Town (Slow traffic) trans temp 220 - 230 degrees
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by 4REGT4
I know I saw a past thread where everyone listed their temps, but they were mostly in the 190-195 range it seemed. My 95 LT1 usually runs 210-215 or so while cruising at about 1800 RPM in 88-95degree FL weather.
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Although some claim to have tricks to inspect that area, I think it can only be done effectively, by removing the rad upper shroud. Especially for the first time, not knowing exactly what you're looking at.
Also, I forgot to mention, if it has been a while, a good radiator flush and refill can help a lot, too.
RACE ON!!!
Also, I forgot to mention, if it has been a while, a good radiator flush and refill can help a lot, too.
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
I just bought the car a month ago and haven't gotten a chance to drive it too much... went on vacation and now just moved... I will be bringing it here next week and flushing the coolant doing oil/filter just in case the previous owner/dealer did a cheapo job or none at all.... As I look over this forum I'm seeing several general maintenance ideas that I will have to check up on. Hopefully the previous owners haven't been too lazy, but it drives real good so there shouldn't be too many blaring issues....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 0
I'm glad I flushed my radiator,changed coolant to about 70/30 distilled water,a bottle of water wetter,and a 160thermostat.My hoses and other parts thank me,in this 95-100 FL heat.car runs 175-185 on the highway,depending on speed
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park NY
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by 4REGT4
I know I saw a past thread where everyone listed their temps, but they were mostly in the 190-195 range it seemed. My 95 LT1 usually runs 210-215 or so while cruising at about 1800 RPM in 88-95degree FL weather. Of course any acceleration brings that temperature up... I have yet to take it on the highway... My question is...with those temps around town... will I be safe to drive on the highway...and how close to that 260 cap is safe? - the GT4 would have blown antifreeze everywhere at 210 - these things run so damn hot and I know little about them or any modern/FI cars. Also - are there some things I can try to bring my temps down? - Or perhaps my injectors may be a little dirty causing it to run a little lean (I don't speak Chevy - so I wouldn't know by listening). I'm going to replace the plugs - so that may tell me.. Thanks for any help.
My 95 runs the following on highway:
90 deg ambient
OD
AC off
70 mph- 197 deg coolant
60 mph- 201 deg coolant
50 mph- 201 deg coolant
Around town, stop and go, it will easily vary higher depending upon speed, temp etc. 210-215 is not bad. Take it on the highway and see what it does.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
Mine is always glued to 190-192* while moving. Doesn't matter what speed (within reason) or if AC is on or off. Oil temp runs between 200 and 210 and does go up slightly the faster I go.
Now the average temperature around here is only in the 70s, but even on the odd day we get in the high 80s the car still runs the same temperature.
My car is a 6-speed. Automatics might run a little hotter since the transmission needs to be cooled as well.
Now the average temperature around here is only in the 70s, but even on the odd day we get in the high 80s the car still runs the same temperature.
My car is a 6-speed. Automatics might run a little hotter since the transmission needs to be cooled as well.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
Well - after flushing the coolant and installing a cooler thermostat - The car is now running 194-200 on the highway and around town - will get close to 205 at a light... even that is cooler than my previous running temperature... these and my original numbers are all with the AC on (It is Florida...)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Now all you have to do is to reinstall the stock thermostat, and you'll be all set. As you know the stock stat was 180°. All of your reported temps are a minimum of 14° higher than that. Therefore it is easy to see that the cooler stat did nothing to make your car run cooler. It only made it take longer to warm up. If you think about how a stat works and what it does, you can see that all it controls is the minimum operating temp. It cannot affect the maximum operating temp. Once the stat is open, it's finished, done. It can do no more. Congrats on getting the cooling system maintenance done.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
