Car runs hot..?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Car runs hot..?
Is there anyone that can help me figure out why my car runs hot fast? It usually is just fine while on the highway but while im sitting at a light the temperature gauge just rises very fast. I'm thinking its a radiator problem? I would love some help to point me in the direction to look for what could be the possible reason for it to do this 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
Is there anyone that can help me figure out why my car runs hot fast? It usually is just fine while on the highway but while im sitting at a light the temperature gauge just rises very fast. I'm thinking its a radiator problem? I would love some help to point me in the direction to look for what could be the possible reason for it to do this
My 96 gets warm 220's in town and then cools off quickly to 194 on the road.
The LT's are designed to run hotter than a typical SBC due to emission standards.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
Never understood why everyone wants to make these cars run cooler when they were designed to run at these temps.
Anyway. Yes there is a way to make them run cooler. You need to have the computer reprogrammed to turn the fans on earlier and possibly run a cooler thermostat. Just putting in a cooler thermostat without reprogramming the fans will net you zero gain.
Other than those two things, there is little else you can do without manual intervention. By manual intervention I mean a physical switch to turn on the fans when you want them to turn on.
There are many topics here on the forum for both of these "fixes".
Anyway. Yes there is a way to make them run cooler. You need to have the computer reprogrammed to turn the fans on earlier and possibly run a cooler thermostat. Just putting in a cooler thermostat without reprogramming the fans will net you zero gain.
Other than those two things, there is little else you can do without manual intervention. By manual intervention I mean a physical switch to turn on the fans when you want them to turn on.
There are many topics here on the forum for both of these "fixes".
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,389
Likes: 2,741
Is there anyone that can help me figure out why my car runs hot fast? It usually is just fine while on the highway but while im sitting at a light the temperature gauge just rises very fast. I'm thinking its a radiator problem? I would love some help to point me in the direction to look for what could be the possible reason for it to do this
The suggestions to clean the radiator/condenser module deserve some thought and maybe it's really time for a cooling system service (flush and new coolant).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 761
Likes: 66
From: Fitzwilliam New Hampshire
My 94 base ran 194-198 highway 210-229 traffic.Pulled knocks,flushed system replaced stat to new superstat 180,all new hoses removed rad and flushed fins and condenser with water then compressed air now runs 184-190 highway,198-207 traffic have not had fans come on sense this was done very happy with results,a pain to remove rad,but put bottom shroud screws in from underneth by swapping clipnuts around I think this was the best service I have done sense getting the vette 3 months ago.Used new knocks,stat,hoses,cap and green coolant.I would have to use defrost on when 210+ to keep in a comfortable range before doing coolant system service.
Last edited by A Peter C4; Oct 1, 2016 at 08:59 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
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My 94 base ran 194-198 highway 210-229 traffic.Pulled knocks,flushed system replaced stat to new superstat 180,all new hoses removed rad and flushed fins and condenser with water then compressed air now runs 184-190 highway,198-207 traffic have not had fans come on sense this was done very happy with results,a pain to remove rad,but put bottom shroud screws in from underneth by swapping clipnuts around I think this was the best service I have done sense getting the vette 3 months ago.Used new knocks,stat,hoses,cap and green coolant.I would have to use defrost on when 210+ to keep in a comfortable range before doing coolant system service.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 409
Likes: 7
From: Taunton MA
Never understood why everyone wants to make these cars run cooler when they were designed to run at these temps.
Anyway. Yes there is a way to make them run cooler. You need to have the computer reprogrammed to turn the fans on earlier and possibly run a cooler thermostat. Just putting in a cooler thermostat without reprogramming the fans will net you zero gain.
Other than those two things, there is little else you can do without manual intervention. By manual intervention I mean a physical switch to turn on the fans when you want them to turn on.
There are many topics here on the forum for both of these "fixes".
Anyway. Yes there is a way to make them run cooler. You need to have the computer reprogrammed to turn the fans on earlier and possibly run a cooler thermostat. Just putting in a cooler thermostat without reprogramming the fans will net you zero gain.
Other than those two things, there is little else you can do without manual intervention. By manual intervention I mean a physical switch to turn on the fans when you want them to turn on.
There are many topics here on the forum for both of these "fixes".
I had the computer reprogrammed by Petris. One of the vendors on this site. Very easy to do, just unplug the 4 connectors, unscrew it and mail it to them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 285
My 94 base ran 194-198 highway 210-229 traffic.Pulled knocks,flushed system replaced stat to new superstat 180,all new hoses removed rad and flushed fins and condenser with water then compressed air now runs 184-190 highway,198-207 traffic have not had fans come on sense this was done very happy with results,a pain to remove rad,but put bottom shroud screws in from underneth by swapping clipnuts around I think this was the best service I have done sense getting the vette 3 months ago.Used new knocks,stat,hoses,cap and green coolant.I would have to use defrost on when 210+ to keep in a comfortable range before doing coolant system service.