Bad Thermostat or What?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, Texas USA
Bad Thermostat or What?
I recently installed a new waterpump in my '95 Vette. Now when I start the car the analog guage, which is connected to the sensor on the cylinder heads runs much higher than the digital guage, which is connected to the waterpump. Both upper and lower radiator hoses are warm to the touch with the engine running. Is my thermostat stuck or is there another problem? If my thermostat is stuck is there an on vehicle test I can preform to verify this?
:confused:
:confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 177
From: Houston, Texas FEAR THE BONES
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Re: Bad Thermostat or What? (ce_me_vette)
Did you properly transfer the coolant sensotr from the old water pump to the new one? Maybe this sensor is bad. Also, which of the 2 temp readings is normal?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Bad Thermostat or What? (ce_me_vette)
The cylinder head coolant receives a large amount of heat from the engine. The waterpump receives coolant from the radiator which has had heat removed from the coolant. It should be expected that coolant heated from the head be at a higher temperature than coolant coming out of the radiator which has been cooled by the air passing through the radiator. What you are observing is quite normal.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, Texas USA
Re: Bad Thermostat or What? (jfb)
If its normal why haven't I ever seen this in almost seven years and 128,000 miles of driving this car. The analog temp gauge and the digital temp gauge have always been in synch. Neither guage normally gets up to 260 degress after running the engine for five to ten minutes. Right now this is what the anlaog guage is doing. I'm sorry jfb I'm not buying normal. However, I will check that the cooling system is fully bled.
[Modified by ce_me_vette, 1:18 PM 8/28/2001]
[Modified by ce_me_vette, 1:18 PM 8/28/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Bad Thermostat or What? (ce_me_vette)
For seven years you had an out of calibration temperature sender. Now you have properly operating sensors and they show different temperatures which is what you should expect. The cylinder head is much hotter than coolant coming out of the bottom of the radiator. The radiators job is to get rid of heat which lowers the temperature of the coolant passing through it. You say there is a big difference in temperature, how many degrees difference is there?
What do other 95 owners observe?
What you shouldn't have bought is the same temperature readings for 7 years.
What do other 95 owners observe?
What you shouldn't have bought is the same temperature readings for 7 years.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
Re: Bad Thermostat or What? (jfb)
I'm going to have to disagree on this one..............what your experiencing is NOT normal..............burp the system, you may have some residual air pockets trapped inside...........What is the variance between the two gauges?
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, Texas USA
Re: Bad Thermostat or What? (89 Bob L)
Your exactly right yesterday I had the system completely bled. The good news is that the car is no longer overheating. The bad news is that I found out I need new head gaskets.
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