I have a '94 and those are the same temps I come up with. Everyone I have talked to tells me that is normal. So no problem...drive on!
1994 LT1 running hot
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Winnipeg Manitoba
1994 LT1 running hot
I have just bought a 1994 6 speed with an LT1.
I drove it 300 miles home at about 80 mph. The temperature ran a touch above normal both on the mechanical and digital read out. About 193 to 195.
When I was driving in city traffic the temeperature began to climb and ran at about 200.
However when I turned off the air, the temperature really climbed and ran constantly in the 205 to 210 range and as high as 224. Never did get into the shaded area on the guage however.
I have had the system flushed and new coolant installed. It is still running hot whenever the air is off.
Any ideas?
What is the normal operating temperature for these engines?
I drove it 300 miles home at about 80 mph. The temperature ran a touch above normal both on the mechanical and digital read out. About 193 to 195.
When I was driving in city traffic the temeperature began to climb and ran at about 200.
However when I turned off the air, the temperature really climbed and ran constantly in the 205 to 210 range and as high as 224. Never did get into the shaded area on the guage however.
I have had the system flushed and new coolant installed. It is still running hot whenever the air is off.
Any ideas?
What is the normal operating temperature for these engines?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Louisiana
Your operating range is normal for a 94. I wouldn't be concerned until it gets close to 240*. When the A/C is on both fans will run and when the A/C is off, the main fan will cut on at about 227* and the secondary will cut on at about 235*.
Last edited by RRT vette; Jul 13, 2006 at 10:10 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: MA
Sounds about normal for these cars. My LT4 in traffic when stock was running ~230-240 in stop and go traffic on hot days.
The cooling fan comes on full when the AC is on!
But if you don't turn the AC on and your in traffic the fan motor runs in a low speed at (I think) ~210-220 then High speed (both fans engage) at 230-240.
So your probably normal.
One thing to check is debris in front of the radiator that is blocking airflow!
The cooling fan comes on full when the AC is on!
But if you don't turn the AC on and your in traffic the fan motor runs in a low speed at (I think) ~210-220 then High speed (both fans engage) at 230-240.
So your probably normal.
One thing to check is debris in front of the radiator that is blocking airflow!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Orlando FL
Only primary fan will run when A/C is turned on on a 94. Secondary will turn on 235 - 239.
If no A/C is turned on, the primary fan will come on at 224 and will bring it down to about 215 if it can. Other wise in that heat range only the primary fan will run till it gets to 239 where the second fan will come on. The fans only run at one speed when on.
In traffic it will keep climing with the A/C off till it gets to 224, very normal. Temps sound normal for summer time and will probably run a little cooler in the winter.
If no A/C is turned on, the primary fan will come on at 224 and will bring it down to about 215 if it can. Other wise in that heat range only the primary fan will run till it gets to 239 where the second fan will come on. The fans only run at one speed when on.
In traffic it will keep climing with the A/C off till it gets to 224, very normal. Temps sound normal for summer time and will probably run a little cooler in the winter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Encino CA
Originally Posted by lilspit1
I have just bought a 1994 6 speed with an LT1.
When I was driving in city traffic the temeperature began to climb and ran at about 200.
However when I turned off the air, the temperature really climbed and ran constantly in the 205 to 210 range and as high as 224. Never did get into the shaded area on the guage however.
When I was driving in city traffic the temeperature began to climb and ran at about 200.
However when I turned off the air, the temperature really climbed and ran constantly in the 205 to 210 range and as high as 224. Never did get into the shaded area on the guage however.
That's interesting since my 95 automatic (with a 160-degree stat and fans programmed to turn on earlier) usually runs 180-190 without the air on and immediately climbs to 200-215 with the air on. Once the temps are up they will not drop signficantly until I turn the ac OFF.
Doug
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Perfectly normal. LT1s are designed to run hot for emissions purposes. I freaked the first time I saw my temps creep up there until I read the owner's manual.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Burleson Texas
i see it everyday in the summer like that. still sends me into panic mode. i like the look of a cooler engine on the gauge. im a navy engineman, i didnt even see temps that high on diesels that were running in the gulf temps (110 amb air temp, 98 sea water temp) the max they got was 200, and thats a 16cyl (645 cu.in. per cyl)engine. not to mention using fuel too...140 gallons per min, per engine(we have 4).
all in all yup your good. dont freak out
all in all yup your good. dont freak out
Safety Car
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From: VA
The thing I always wonder, as we revisit this question several times a month, is - what kind of other cars do you guys drive that run so much cooler?
Every car I've owned that was built in the last 25 years (let's see, I think 9 besides the vette) had similar operating temps to the LT1.
My working theory is that most cars don't even have numbers on the temp guages, so people just don't have a clue about what normal operating temp is. Then they get in a car that gives them numbers, and they freak out.
Yes, and no. The A/C does turn on both fans, but #2 is set to come on at a higher pressure.
I don't know anything about A/C pressure, so I don't know how long it would take for the A/C to build enough pressure to turn on Fan #2.
Every car I've owned that was built in the last 25 years (let's see, I think 9 besides the vette) had similar operating temps to the LT1.
My working theory is that most cars don't even have numbers on the temp guages, so people just don't have a clue about what normal operating temp is. Then they get in a car that gives them numbers, and they freak out.
Originally Posted by pcolt94
Only primary fan will run when A/C is turned on on a 94. Secondary will turn on 235 - 239.
I don't know anything about A/C pressure, so I don't know how long it would take for the A/C to build enough pressure to turn on Fan #2.
Safety Car
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From: Southwest Kansas
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Well, for the record your 94 sounds much like mine. I for the record the first time I got into stop and go traffic and it ran up to 230, I freaked out. But as everyone here has said, that's normal.
Now for answering Vis's question, Every other vehicle I own (03 Bonneville SSEi, 99 Silverado 5.3, 97 S10 4.3) run consistant temps, all three run about 200* and doesn't seem to matter what air temp is or whether or not I'm at speed or stop and go traffic, they just don't vary at all. Now those temps are much warmer than what we used to think was good/normal, but as I understand they do this to help with the emissions. I assume that's what you were asking.
Now for answering Vis's question, Every other vehicle I own (03 Bonneville SSEi, 99 Silverado 5.3, 97 S10 4.3) run consistant temps, all three run about 200* and doesn't seem to matter what air temp is or whether or not I'm at speed or stop and go traffic, they just don't vary at all. Now those temps are much warmer than what we used to think was good/normal, but as I understand they do this to help with the emissions. I assume that's what you were asking.
Drifting
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From: middle TN
Analog temp gauges in most cars is a joke. You can't tell the exact temp because they don't have true increments, only a range that's normal or not normal. Remember, most humans know only where the gas hole is. That's all.
Drifting
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From: middle TN
Originally Posted by lilspit1
I have just bought a 1994 6 speed with an LT1.
Safety Car
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Originally Posted by Scooter 94
Analog temp gauges in most cars is a joke. You can't tell the exact temp because they don't have true increments, only a range that's normal or not normal. Remember, most humans know only where the gas hole is. That's all.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Encino CA
Originally Posted by Vis Croceus
The thing I always wonder, as we revisit this question several times a month, is - what kind of other cars do you guys drive that run so much cooler?
At normal temps here in SoCal, the Vette generally stays at about 180-185 but will climb immediately if I am stopped in traffic for any amount of time. The second I turn on the air temp will climb to 195 to 200. The highest it went was the other day when it was 100+ outside and I had the ac on and was stopped at a light and the digital read 215. With the ac on the temp never drops below about 195 so I am confounded by those who posted that the temps drop after turning on the ac.
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Burning Brakes
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When I first got my 95 it ran 220-230. After a coolant flush and 160 T-stat it ran 190-200 (and still does). This is in Florida with the AC on. But it always runs cooler with the AC off.
Safety Car
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From: VA
We seem to have changed from "runs too hot" to "temp moves around too much."
The reason that the temp gauge doesn't move around in many modern cars is that the guages are so highly damped that all they indicate is "cold" "OK" and "thar she blows!"
Why? Because the dealers got tired of dealing with idiots who thought their cars were overheating in traffic because they saw the gauge go up.
As somebody noted above, most American drivers only know where to put the gas in, if that much.
The reason that the temp gauge doesn't move around in many modern cars is that the guages are so highly damped that all they indicate is "cold" "OK" and "thar she blows!"
Why? Because the dealers got tired of dealing with idiots who thought their cars were overheating in traffic because they saw the gauge go up.
As somebody noted above, most American drivers only know where to put the gas in, if that much.