C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Operating temp for an 86 c4?

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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:29 PM
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Default Operating temp for an 86 c4?

My 86 temps range anywhere from 197 normal driving up to 213 sitting at a light.. It does take a little long to settle back down to 200 range. The efan functions correctly so before I try swapping a 180 tstat in or anything else im wondering what actual factory operating temps were for these cars.

Oh and sorry for the stupid question but this is my father's car.. and my knowledge is with ford 5L and gm turbo v6 motors
Oh and the car's only modifications are walbor 255 fuel pump, higher stall torque converter, borla catback, cut lid, and upper/lower is said to be ported

Last edited by Boostedpimp; Apr 19, 2006 at 10:31 AM.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:34 PM
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as one who has overheated his 86 (search "severly overheated") i will tell you you are perfectly fine right now, the fans kick on at 225 and the red light comes on at 260 the gauge stops going up at 299, the l98 runs hot by nature

one Q is are the heads aluminum (centerbolt valve covers) or iron (perimeter bolt) cause mine are iron and went well past 300* and no problems yet although the fuel was combusting in the heads when they get that hot

but i hear the aluminum heads are more prone to warpage

Last edited by rightofway; Apr 18, 2006 at 10:39 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:45 PM
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300 degrees!! jeez, highest ive seen was 230
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:49 PM
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When i first got my vette I was so scared watching the temp rise sitting at a light. I soon learned it was normal, but its still hard for me to get used to.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Biff Buyer
300 degrees!! jeez, highest ive seen was 230
aint no lie either
the temp would rapidly climb from 220 to 299 on the interstate did it 3 times too just to get 4 miles to a decent gas station where i parked at the yamaha dealer next door overnight
turned out 2 pinholes in the hose from the waterpump to the heater and oil cooler dripped my coolant out
now i have new radiator hoses, radiator, and flow kooler high flow waterpump
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 11:07 PM
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When I first got mine the fan never turn on until 240, I've since changed all that and now turns on at 190. The car never goes over 219Even on the real hot days. I since learned that all the c4 run real high in temp
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Boostedpimp
My 86 temps range anywhere from 197 normal driving up to 213 sitting at a light.. It does take a little long to settle back down to 200 range. The efan functions correctly so before I try swapping a 180 tstat in or anything else im wondering what actual factory operating temps were for these cars.
Your temps are normal.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 10:10 AM
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 10:27 AM
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thanks guys for your help

Im used to 165-189 temps lol so when I barrowed the car and noticed 219 220 I was like wtf! then letting her cool down it only dropped to 199 - 200 I was thinking time to check the fan relay and install a 180 tstate and edelbrock alum pump lol but if it's normal i'll leave her alone.

about the question on the heads.. I'd have to guess there the crappy oval port iron heads but I don't know much about these l98 engines so here's a pic from when we first picked her up.



looking at the way the hood is sealed to the rest of the car.. I'd have to wonder what the reason was for? I mean no wonder why these cars run such high temps

Last edited by Boostedpimp; Apr 19, 2006 at 10:31 AM.
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