Car runs too hot!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 123
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From: Livingston Louisiana
Car runs too hot!
I do not like the temp my 1990 coupe runs. Should I just get a new lower temp thermostat? I saw that their are computer chips that can be plugged in to lower the temp your fan comes on. It claims to improve performance. Does anyone know if it is worth it or if it works/ improves performance.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Livingston Louisiana
Re: Car runs too hot! (GCadby)
I guess it has the stock thermostat in it( I have not changed it). When I am moving at a decent speed, it is not too bad, but when I get stuck in traffic or the car is just idling, the temp rises. I guess it hovers around 200(give or take a little) most of the time. It has come dangerously close to the 260 mark on a couple occasions. I have been in situations where I have to turn the heater on and/or kill the car because I was afraid it would run hot. So far it has not overheated yet, maybe I have a faulty thermostat.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
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Re: Car runs too hot! (GCadby)
Winston Cup cars run about 190 degrees (and those guys know how to make power). Last week at Talladega I heard a crew chief say if temps got to 240 he was going to bring the car in. My car has a Mr Gasket 195 degree stat (Mr Gasket stats are fully open at 195 as opposed to stock that starts opening at 195). At cruise my car stays between 185-195. In traffic even with aux fan blowing it goes up to 225, then main fan kicks in and temps drop down to about 215 then it just yo-yo's if I'm stuck in traffic. I'd look for obstructions/debris at the radiator.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: Car runs too hot! (Rick86)
clean in front of your radiator first, and if you want you can install a 160 thermo and either a fan switch or a chip to turn the fans on earlier. Anything that keeps the temperature of the engine in an optimum range helps performance and is just better for the engine. The temperature ranges you have are normal, maybe not the 260 though, just be sure that you run a synthetic oil and then you really wont have to worry about it as much.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Big D Tx
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Car runs too hot! (Rick86)
Winston Cup cars run about 190 degrees (and those guys know how to make power).
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: Car runs too hot! (GCadby)
200 moving, when I stop it wants to keep rising. At least until I get nervous and kill it.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: El Paso Texas
Re: Car runs too hot! (GCadby)
If you haven't already done so, remove the radiator and clean it. C4 Corvettes are bottom feeders, that is, they draw cooling air from below, and manage to pick up leaves, cigarette butts, grass, bugs, you name it. Sooner or later, enough accumulates, and the car starts to run warm. Cleaning mine dropped my cruising temp by about 10 degrees, and considerably shortened the time it takes for the temp to come down when the fan kicks on. Try this first before spending any $$$
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
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From: Long Island, NY
Re: Car runs too hot! (GCadby)
With the 195 deg stat and fans that come on at 230 degs, your car will run hot. They are setup this way from the factory.
It could be 10 degs outside and the stock Vette setup will still be at 200 degs at idle.
A 160 deg stat and fans programmed to come on sooner are the only way to lower temps. And yes there is a performance gain with a cooler engine. ;)
Vic
It could be 10 degs outside and the stock Vette setup will still be at 200 degs at idle.
A 160 deg stat and fans programmed to come on sooner are the only way to lower temps. And yes there is a performance gain with a cooler engine. ;)
Vic
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Re: Car runs too hot! (88L98)
Winston Cup cars run about 190 degrees (and those guys know how to make power).
you gotta keep in mind, those cars are running WOT 90% of the time, so if they had a 195 degree stat they would be running in 200+ all day. id recommend the 160 degree stat too, with a fan switch on at ~180 and off at ~170
you gotta keep in mind, those cars are running WOT 90% of the time, so if they had a 195 degree stat they would be running in 200+ all day. id recommend the 160 degree stat too, with a fan switch on at ~180 and off at ~170
