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

temp gets hot in traffic

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 24, 2017 | 06:00 PM
  #1  
robertm1958's Avatar
robertm1958
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Fl.
Default temp gets hot in traffic

Hello again everyone!
It seems my 94 is getting hot in traffic. Open road it's fine. Any answers as to what may the problem or problems? Please feel free to list any and all possible parts that I may need. I will change all if needed. Thank You!
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2017 | 06:14 PM
  #2  
bac22's Avatar
bac22
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Default

What do you consider hot? I believe fans kick on around 220 which is normal.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2017 | 06:15 PM
  #3  
WVZR-1's Avatar
WVZR-1
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,373
Likes: 2,734
Default

Originally Posted by robertm1958
Hello again everyone!
It seems my 94 is getting hot in traffic. Open road it's fine. Any answers as to what may the problem or problems? Please feel free to list any and all possible parts that I may need. I will change all if needed. Thank You!
Lots to check and I'd think it wise to get your hands on an FSM so that you can do some diagnostics then check and confirm your findings. Much depends on the quality of the cooling components, coolant and system maintenance. If you don't know that it's been serviced recently I'd think you do it, check for trash in the cooling module etc. I wouldn't throw parts at it but check and do maintenance related items that you can't confirm. The fans in a '94 I believe are multi-stage so anything is likely possible.

You're comment is based upon the cluster analogue gauge or based on maybe the digital function through the cluster that actually reports what the PCM sees? The analogue is know to be very inaccurate.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2017 | 06:17 PM
  #4  
geb@abq's Avatar
geb@abq
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 111
Likes: 10
Default

Originally Posted by robertm1958
Hello again everyone!
It seems my 94 is getting hot in traffic. Open road it's fine. Any answers as to what may the problem or problems? Please feel free to list any and all possible parts that I may need. I will change all if needed. Thank You!

Hi Robertm. I think I may be having a heating problem also, and am anxious to hear what response you get. Everyone is going to tell you that the LT1 runs hot: primary fan comes on at 228 and Secondary at 238, clean the debris out of the radiator, etc, etc. I have a 180 stat. and going down the road at 50mph in 80 degree weather, I see 210 temp on digital gauge. I think that is too hot. I have the radiator out right now and am contemplating getting a new 2 row aluminum one. My old one appears to be new OEM, so PO must have had heating problems in Phoenix AZ ??

So...Have you flushed the system and cleaned the debris between the radiator and a/c condenser ??
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2017 | 07:18 PM
  #5  
Lt4-396's Avatar
Lt4-396
Racer
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 320
Likes: 23
Default

Originally Posted by geb@abq
Hi Robertm. I think I may be having a heating problem also, and am anxious to hear what response you get. Everyone is going to tell you that the LT1 runs hot: primary fan comes on at 228 and Secondary at 238, clean the debris out of the radiator, etc, etc. I have a 180 stat. and going down the road at 50mph in 80 degree weather, I see 210 temp on digital gauge. I think that is too hot. I have the radiator out right now and am contemplating getting a new 2 row aluminum one. My old one appears to be new OEM, so PO must have had heating problems in Phoenix AZ ??

So...Have you flushed the system and cleaned the debris between the radiator and a/c condenser ??

I OE radiator cools fine for a stock motor. Personally I would not replace the radiator unless yours leaks or you have a spare $500.
In 80F Temps and doing anything above 20mph my car never sees over 200.
Now in traffic that's a different story. Turning your ac on turns the fans on and will keep the Temps below 210 in traffic.
In one of my lt4s I have a switch that I manually control the fans and in the other lt4 I have the computer reprogrammed.

A good coolant flush can make a world of a difference.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2017 | 10:39 PM
  #6  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Again how hot
If youre just looking at the gauge youll think its going to pop
theres a way to pull it up on thedigtital readout but its been too long cant recall.
Those cars ran too friggin hot in the name of emissions for the day no car needs to run 230 240 fries everything under the hood
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2017 | 10:21 AM
  #7  
RollaMo-LT4's Avatar
RollaMo-LT4
Race Director
20 Year Member
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Default

Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Again how hot
If youre just looking at the gauge youll think its going to pop
theres a way to pull it up on thedigtital readout but its been too long cant recall.


OP, read this thread:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...peratures.html


Until a temp reading from the digital temp gauge is posted, nobody will know if it is too hot or not.

Post the reading from the digital gauge.


That analog gauge does not have a linear scale and will have to believe your overheating every time the car stops.
If the needle isn't into the shaded area on the gauge, the car isn't overheating.


Last edited by RollaMo-LT4; Mar 25, 2017 at 10:21 AM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2017 | 11:10 AM
  #8  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,418
Likes: 3,273
From: Hartford WI
Default

I'd scan the ECM and hit the ECM temp sensor with an IR thermometer to see if they are close. If they are, scan the radiator for cold spots. Assuming you have no debris in the radiator and condenser.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To temp gets hot in traffic

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:32 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE