engine temp
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
engine temp
ok i am probably 
but everytime i drive my car to work, and traffic backs up a bit my engine temp slowly goes up. well i quit driving it to work.
However over the weekend i went through the drive through fast food place. While i was in line my temp when up and up and up, and at 230 I turned the car off, untill the line moved and it was time for me to move forward.
At what temp should i turn off my 1984 vette?
the fan does turn on and its fine for stop lights etc, but if i idle for more then a few minutes, the temp starts climbing. Soon as it hits 225, i start freaking.
I would like to know what temps most of you run at while in thick traffic, fast food lines, etc.
but everytime i drive my car to work, and traffic backs up a bit my engine temp slowly goes up. well i quit driving it to work. However over the weekend i went through the drive through fast food place. While i was in line my temp when up and up and up, and at 230 I turned the car off, untill the line moved and it was time for me to move forward.
At what temp should i turn off my 1984 vette?
the fan does turn on and its fine for stop lights etc, but if i idle for more then a few minutes, the temp starts climbing. Soon as it hits 225, i start freaking.
I would like to know what temps most of you run at while in thick traffic, fast food lines, etc.
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
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My '95 LT1 sees 230 in traffic, nothing to worry about. The LT1 is designed to ryn hot. I don't get worried until it gets near 250(which it hasn't). My oil temps have been as high as 260, but normally 200-220.
Coolant temps are normally 190-200 on the highway and 210-230 in traffic.
Coolant temps are normally 190-200 on the highway and 210-230 in traffic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
First you need to check for debris between the radiator and the condensor-you might be surprised what you'll find, these things are Hoover vacumns. Second, your temps are about right-I didn't like mine climbing that high in stop and go-so I installed a lower temp switch-on 200-off 185 with a 180 thermostat. Now I'm happy. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 772
Likes: 6
From: Huntsville AL
That tends to be ok by most people but I like it cooler. 250 I would worry.
I installed a 180 degree thermostat and did a complete flush of the system and cleaned between the condesor and radiator. Before I was seeing 200 to 205 on the highway and 220 when stopped.
Now it sets at 180 +/- 5 degrees no matter what. Oil is now at 195 or so.
I like that a lot better myself
I installed a 180 degree thermostat and did a complete flush of the system and cleaned between the condesor and radiator. Before I was seeing 200 to 205 on the highway and 220 when stopped.
Now it sets at 180 +/- 5 degrees no matter what. Oil is now at 195 or so.
I like that a lot better myself
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 336
Likes: 3
From: State of Confusion
I've got a '90 and it was the same for me. The primary cooling fan won't kick on until the engine reaches 226 and would get wicked hot in traffic. They are designed to run hot as the others have already said above. I installed a JET products 200-185 range temp switch and 180 t-stat, problem solved.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati Oh
stock, my 84 didn't kick the fans on until 225* F, and it would bounce to 235 or so on a sunny day before slowly coming back down (50/50 mix antifreeze). That was with the digital guage and OEM sensor as well I believe.
Sure 220 is ideal, but a little warmer won't matter much esp. with iron heads. lol.
But yeah, clean out the space between and in front of the radiator (requires taking off the top part of the shroud) and you can also adjust your antifreeze/water mixture to more like 40/60 or more (more water = cooler) depending on your climate. Also, add in a bottle of water-wetter from the autoparts stores, that stuff really does work.
Sure 220 is ideal, but a little warmer won't matter much esp. with iron heads. lol.
But yeah, clean out the space between and in front of the radiator (requires taking off the top part of the shroud) and you can also adjust your antifreeze/water mixture to more like 40/60 or more (more water = cooler) depending on your climate. Also, add in a bottle of water-wetter from the autoparts stores, that stuff really does work.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
My 1996 runs 190 at speed and between 197-201 in traffic. In real bad traffic it goes up to 205. I change water/dex-cool once a year and vacuum between the radiator and the A/C every other month.