How Hot?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 63
From: new ulm mn
How Hot?
Okay, Lt-1 gurus, how hot can the water temp be and for how long can you run at that temp before problems. Was on a trip this week end and car was running about 220 all week end with short blips up to 245 in towns. Just curious.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Doubt you hurt it, but there is a problem. You are running about 20* warm in both cases. Main fans on at 228 and aux on at 236, never should have gone to 245* unless something is wrong. Cleaning out the radiator is normally a good starting point, as well as 'burping' the coolant, and checking fan operation.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
230 range sitting in stop and go traffic is pretty normal. The cooling fans don't come on until 228 (unless you have a/c on). But if it's not cooling down into the 195 - 199 range while driving at highway speeds, then you could have a build-up of crud in front of radiator.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
They're both right; you should be running on the road at 90+ degrees Fahr., anywhere from 192-199. Stop and go, sitting in traffic, 225 is ok, upt to high 230s and then the fans both kick on. At high outside temp and with a/c on fan kicks on immediately, lowering temps in around town, 90+ degrees outside.
Time to do some checking on the engine area. Remember, too: it's not a regular thermostat for Chevys. Do a visual of the fluid overflow (white plastic) tank and how the fluid looks in it (nice, clear green) and see if what's between rad and condensor. Tell us what you find!
Time to do some checking on the engine area. Remember, too: it's not a regular thermostat for Chevys. Do a visual of the fluid overflow (white plastic) tank and how the fluid looks in it (nice, clear green) and see if what's between rad and condensor. Tell us what you find!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 63
From: new ulm mn
Thanks for the info. Checked the coolant level and fan operation. Checked between the radiator and condenser and there was nothing there. Washed between both coils and coils as best I could with the hotel garden hose still ran hot, perhaps 10 degrees cooler. But here's the kicker. On the final leg home with outside temps at 98+, the car started running at 192-198 sometimes even as low as 190. Could it be the t'stat?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,159
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by loflite
On the final leg home with outside temps at 98+, the car started running at 192-198 sometimes even as low as 190. Could it be the t'stat?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Sounds a bit warm. The first thing I would do is change the oil and replace with some Mobil 1 5W30 and a new filter (for starters). Next I would find out what caused the increased heat--T-stat, burping system, flush needed, clean out the space between the radiator & a/c etc.
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