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

Operating tempatures ?

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Old May 16, 2007 | 08:39 AM
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Default Operating tempatures ?

"94 LT1, 121K miles. What should the operating tempature be? I just bought the car and I noticed yesterday, sitting at a traffic light that the temp got north of 220 degreees. It settled back to 200 while driving. I've noted comments in this forum in the past about C 4's running hot. Is there a recomended fix? A colder thermostat?
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Old May 16, 2007 | 08:45 AM
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Your operating temps sound normal for your car. The fan is programmed to come on at 226. The 160 thermo will only dictate the temperature at which the thermostat opens. Only a re-program of the computer to get the fan to turn on at a lower temp will keep the temps lower.
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Old May 16, 2007 | 09:03 AM
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You are fine. If it gets above 250* coolant temp. start to worry. Fill out your profile when you get a chance.
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Old May 16, 2007 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by BADDUCK
You are fine. If it gets above 250* coolant temp. start to worry. Fill out your profile when you get a chance.
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Old May 16, 2007 | 12:25 PM
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Default it could not hurt to check the area around the nose for debree..

it could not hurt to check the area around the nose for debree..bags,bugs..be pro active not reactive...
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Old May 16, 2007 | 03:13 PM
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As others have noted, what you're seeing is normal. But, you can change it if you like.

I have the fan-on/off settings on my '94 programmed as follows:

Primary: 190/180
Secondary: 195/185

I also installed a 160*F thermostat, but only so that I could set the fan-on/off temps as above, without having the fans run all the time.

The car runs much cooler now, and I'm far more relaxed about it this way. I'll soon be doing this mod on the LT4 coupe I recently acquired.

Be well,

SJW
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Old May 17, 2007 | 07:30 AM
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Default operating tempatures

How do you re- set the fan on / off settings?
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Old May 17, 2007 | 08:19 AM
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Reprogram the ECM or have it done.
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Old May 17, 2007 | 12:34 PM
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Default operating tempatures

I'm not trying to be a smart ***. How do you re-program the ECM?
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Old May 17, 2007 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by steve mulherin
I'm not trying to be a smart ***. How do you re-program the ECM?
Beginning with model year 1994, it's done via the diagnostic port, using a computer, special cable, and suitable software. You can either buy/build the cable, and get the software, and do it yourself, or pay somebody who has the necessary equipment and knowledge to do it for you.

Previous to '94, the concept was the same, but the pre-'94 ECMs didn't use flash memory. They instead used EPROMs. On those, you load a revised program into an EPROM, and swap this new EPROM for the existing one (or remove, erase, and re-load the existing EPROM with the revised program, then re-install it in the ECM).

Be well,

SJW
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Old May 17, 2007 | 04:29 PM
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Default Follow-up question...

Pulled into the gas station, went to check the oil while the tank was filling (first time I've checked the oil while out driving... haven't had the Vette very long...). Burned my fingers to a frazzle on the dipstick handle... is that normal too?

Edit: all gauges showed normal operating temps...

Last edited by fuzzydawg; May 17, 2007 at 04:49 PM.
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Old May 17, 2007 | 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by BADDUCK
You are fine. If it gets above 250* coolant temp. start to worry. Fill out your profile when you get a chance.

I dont agree with this. If it gets to 240 id be worried. At 243 mine shuts down the ac. I agree that 220 to 230 or so can be normal, but 250 is too high.
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