1996 LT4 Cooling fan question
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 140
From: La Quinta CA
1996 LT4 Cooling fan question
I recently bought a 96 LT4 and am concerned about the engine temps. Just cruising around in the cool winter air I am noticing that the car is running in the upper 220's to lower 230's and that makes me think that in the 115 degree temps it going to overheat. Since I live in the Desert I try to keep my cars running as cool as possible. I realize that Chevy set the cooling fans to come on at 228 and the secondary at 237, but I would like them to come on sooner. How can I get the fans to come on sooner? do I have to send my ECM to a tuner shop? Can I acquire some software to set these parameters myself through my laptop? Do I have to buy a Hyper programmer do this and is it worth it?
Any advice is appreciated guys.
James
Any advice is appreciated guys.
James
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 140
From: La Quinta CA
Yeah, I already cleaned out the junk in front of the radiator and the few leaves that were caught up in between the condenser and radiator. the temps that I am referring to are in city driving. Idling around and going from stoplight to stoplight the temps get up to over 230 which makes me uncomfortable. I'd like to see them lower. On the freeway they stay right around 195 - 205 which is fine. I figure if I could get the fans to come on sooner, I'd be okay.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
2. Not if you're willing to DIY.
3. Yes.
4. No.
5. In the desert, I'm sure that it is.
As mentioned already, check for debris in the radiator between the condenser and the radiator. Also, check for bent fins and make sure there is no air in the system by opening the bleed screw on top of the thermostat housing on a warm, running engine until only scalding hot coolant comes out into the rag that you have there to catch it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 30
From: Friendswood TX
Mine runs way cooler than that but i have an electric water pump, 160* stat and my fans are programmed to come on cooler as well. Mine runs cooler than 185 when its cool outside but averages 185 most of the time...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
I've got a 94 LT1 auto and it runs about 200 in the summer with the A/C on. In the winter, it runs about 209 -this is the digital readout, not the analog guage.
If you want to cool things down in the winter, turn on the defroster, it makes the A/C run and the primary fan runs all the time. I don't like the temps this high, but, I've gotten used to it. I use Datamaster to see what's going on, I intend to get a different program to change the fan temps, but, haven't yet.
I don't get much stop and go traffic, if I did I'd probably get the program to change the fan temps.
bill
If you want to cool things down in the winter, turn on the defroster, it makes the A/C run and the primary fan runs all the time. I don't like the temps this high, but, I've gotten used to it. I use Datamaster to see what's going on, I intend to get a different program to change the fan temps, but, haven't yet.
I don't get much stop and go traffic, if I did I'd probably get the program to change the fan temps.
bill
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I recently bought a 96 LT4 and am concerned about the engine temps. Just cruising around in the cool winter air I am noticing that the car is running in the upper 220's to lower 230's and that makes me think that in the 115 degree temps it going to overheat. Since I live in the Desert I try to keep my cars running as cool as possible. I realize that Chevy set the cooling fans to come on at 228 and the secondary at 237, but I would like them to come on sooner. How can I get the fans to come on sooner? do I have to send my ECM to a tuner shop? Can I acquire some software to set these parameters myself through my laptop? Do I have to buy a Hyper programmer do this and is it worth it?
Any advice is appreciated guys.
James
Any advice is appreciated guys.
James
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 140
From: La Quinta CA
Anyone got a hyper programmer for sale?
James
