Running Hot, Radiator Not Clogged
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
[QUOTE=Driver84;1572397292]The weather is now much cooler and the car still runs consistently and significantly hotter.
I should have mentioned before that my car is running a 160 degree thermostat and I believe his is a 174(?) unit off the top of my head.
QUOTE]
First, do both cars have t-stats designed for the LT1? It is different then a standard SBC t-stat. Personally, I have never seen them in anything except the factory 180 degree and aftermarket 160 degree versions.
Also, I know you said it is consistant, but not meaning to
but the temp. difference is the same at idle, cruise, or highway speeds? Just trying to eliminate a fan issue.
And is it possible that your friends computer has been reprogammed for the fans to come on earlier making it run cooler?
What are the tempatures you are seeing anyways?
I should have mentioned before that my car is running a 160 degree thermostat and I believe his is a 174(?) unit off the top of my head.
QUOTE]
First, do both cars have t-stats designed for the LT1? It is different then a standard SBC t-stat. Personally, I have never seen them in anything except the factory 180 degree and aftermarket 160 degree versions.
Also, I know you said it is consistant, but not meaning to
but the temp. difference is the same at idle, cruise, or highway speeds? Just trying to eliminate a fan issue. And is it possible that your friends computer has been reprogammed for the fans to come on earlier making it run cooler?
What are the tempatures you are seeing anyways?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
wanted to add this link.
http://www.lt1tips.com/hypertech-lt1-thermostat.html
If you notice the picture on the box is a standard SBC t-stat, But the actual t-stat on top of the box is a LT1 style. Its longer and has a disc on the bottom.
http://www.lt1tips.com/hypertech-lt1-thermostat.html
If you notice the picture on the box is a standard SBC t-stat, But the actual t-stat on top of the box is a LT1 style. Its longer and has a disc on the bottom.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
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From: Woodstock Georgia
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
I have been away for awhile, but now I am back...The weather is now much cooler and the car still runs consistently and significantly hotter.
I should have mentioned before that my car is running a 160 degree thermostat and I believe his is a 174(?) unit off the top of my head.
I think I will install a 160 in his to try and get a more linear comparison. I will also have a look at the cap.
As to answer a previous question: in September the Opti went out. It was a crappy aftermarket unit that had been replaced along with the water pump a year before. The pump was inspected and reinstalled along with a new Opti.
I should have mentioned before that my car is running a 160 degree thermostat and I believe his is a 174(?) unit off the top of my head.
I think I will install a 160 in his to try and get a more linear comparison. I will also have a look at the cap.
As to answer a previous question: in September the Opti went out. It was a crappy aftermarket unit that had been replaced along with the water pump a year before. The pump was inspected and reinstalled along with a new Opti.
Change out all the components if you like, but until the system is properly purged of air, the problem will not go away.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 785
Likes: 3
From: Richmond Virginia
My friend and I both have LT4's and drive both of them daily.
My car (the black one) has had the radiator out of it recently so it could be thoroughly cleaned. His car (the red one) has had the radiator replaced with a brand new OEM unit recently.
His car is running at least 20 degrees hotter than mine. The water pump is not leaking, there are no coolant puddles on the ground below the car and (as previously stated) the radiator is not clogged and is brand new.
Any thoughts / ideas on what is going on?
My car (the black one) has had the radiator out of it recently so it could be thoroughly cleaned. His car (the red one) has had the radiator replaced with a brand new OEM unit recently.
His car is running at least 20 degrees hotter than mine. The water pump is not leaking, there are no coolant puddles on the ground below the car and (as previously stated) the radiator is not clogged and is brand new.
Any thoughts / ideas on what is going on?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18,346
Likes: 1
From: D / FW
Did you examine the expansion tank where the little hose fittings go in for looseness ?
The tanks are getting old and those brass nipples are easily broke loose from the plastic.
That will keep the system from getting 15 or 16 lb's pressure.
Cooler thermostat will fool your computer and it will add or subtract fuel and air for poor mileage or performance .
The computer uses temps from intake and cooling system in it's calculations for mixture .
LT engines are designed to run hotter than normal to better burn the modern POS fuel .
The tanks are getting old and those brass nipples are easily broke loose from the plastic.
That will keep the system from getting 15 or 16 lb's pressure.
Cooler thermostat will fool your computer and it will add or subtract fuel and air for poor mileage or performance .
The computer uses temps from intake and cooling system in it's calculations for mixture .
LT engines are designed to run hotter than normal to better burn the modern POS fuel .
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Houston TX
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
A thermostat has very little effect on the final operating temperature of your engine.
It will allow it to warm up slower or faster though, based on the temperature that it opens.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 785
Likes: 3
From: Richmond Virginia
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
Can you please explain how a 160 degree thermostat will cause an engine that is overheating to operate at lower temps then?
A lower degree thermostat means that it opens at a lower temp. So if you're running in the 200's wtf is a 160 thermostat going to do if you don't make other changes?
Don't be an ***...
Last edited by Atari; Dec 15, 2009 at 03:13 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta GA
I found that flushing the radiator does not really clean out the single row stock radiator. The best way to do it is pull it, take it to a radiator shop and they will remove one of the plastic side tanks and use pipe cleaner type brushes to clean them out. They will then re-seal the side cap.
Considering NOS radiators can be had for ~100 I just replaced mine. Temperatures dropped 15-20 degree's. Fan rarely goes on now at 228 unless sitting in bad traffic for long periods of time.
On mine I also noticed that before I replaced it, even with regular vacuum cleaner debries cleaned out, when the fan would go on (228 OR turning on the AC) the temp would not actually go down...it would just steady out or go up slower. After the replacement when the fan goes on the temp actually drops.
-D
Considering NOS radiators can be had for ~100 I just replaced mine. Temperatures dropped 15-20 degree's. Fan rarely goes on now at 228 unless sitting in bad traffic for long periods of time.
On mine I also noticed that before I replaced it, even with regular vacuum cleaner debries cleaned out, when the fan would go on (228 OR turning on the AC) the temp would not actually go down...it would just steady out or go up slower. After the replacement when the fan goes on the temp actually drops.
-D
