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Just got my 1987 yesterday. While bringing it home down I-95 in Florida the temp at 70 was 209 210.after that I slowed down to 62 I am not familiar with these cars so I slowed down and cut off the A/C temp went down to 203 could not go any faster or it would heat up. After I got on city streets temp went up to 213 at 35 40 no A/C.. I read on the forum that these cars run hotter. Is that true if so what temp should i expect to see as normal. Any help would be appreciated. I do not have a manual but ordered one today and I would really like to drive and enjoy my car. It is a 1987 and has front and rear spoilers and ground effects and says Greenwood on it. I really enjoy it but parked it until I find out if I have a problem or not. Any help would be appreciated
welcome to the forum...you'll get lots of help here...always state the year when you post. I had the exact same reaction when I bought my 85 and drove it home in S Florida....On hot days, with the a/c on, it was scary....but 220 is not uncommon for l98's.....i've made some changes mentioned in the above post and run 180-190 in the summer down here....good luck....getting a fsm will be a big help....buy a fuel pressure gauge, you'll need it......
Hi! I hope you're enjoying a pleasant day. Apparently, that high temp is the norm. My car, an '85, if I let it sit, and observe things, the temp goes up to about 225 or so, maybe as high as 235... until the fan kicks in, I'm not sure what temp thermostat the car left the factory with... but the Spec I find is 195... then things cool down, to about 205... it's been a while since I did this test, but I believe I'm in the right neighborhood with the numbers. Someone here, I'm sure, will clarify and confirm the whole high temp thing... a lot of people change things up to get a lower temperature range.
I have bought components to drop the temp range down to 195 degrees, which is the factory spec for the Thermostat. Again, it's been a while and although I have the parts, I'm not quite sure about the whole project. Been busy getting hospitalized, 13 spine surgeries in 2 years. Just now getting the works going again. my car cooling system project is only half done. And completion just happens to be next. But I'm moving very slow.
So I believe the Fan comes on now at 210 and drops the temp down to 195 then shuts off. The Thermostat opens at 195. I feel like the factory specs are quite high. Although, I don't want to initially go too far from it. I do mainly street driving. I paste the pedal every chance I get, but mostly just around town driving, any chance I get.
I'm thinking the engineers had something in mind when they let the temp get so high from the factory. Maybe for emissions? Fuel mileage? Fuel atomization in the cylinders? I believe at lower temperatures, and just normal driving, maybe higher temps prevent oil gunk build up? There are good reasons for very low temps, I'm sure, but I think from an engineering mind, looking at the whole ball of wax, maybe it's not so good to have super low coolant temps, unless maybe you're racing doing more heavy duty driving. Again, maybe for sludge elimination, fuel atomization, emissions processing, cooling system gunk/rust prevention... who knows what went through the minds of those engineers. Be fun to hang out with them and pick their brains.
I wouldn't worry about your system too much. Although, if I were you, I'd think about upgrading/updating your cooling system in the near future... Oh, jeeze! and of course check your coolant, hoses, radiator cap, etc... first things first, right?!?
Here's somethings you may find cool if you decide to modify/upgrade/update your cooling system... and then there's a picture of the thermostat. I got a different temp fan switch, coolant sensor/sender, etc. And I got a really nice Aluminum Racing 3 core Radiator from eBay and at the time, about 2 years ago, it was about $99 bucks. I had a mobile mechanic come out and do the radiator & hoses cause I had a small leak. He cost about $75 bucks. I found him in Craigslist. I got another guy now, again from Craigslist, Fantastic, Brilliant, Very Thorough mechanic. I gave him a pile of work to do, and he did an awesome job and hung out and explained things, and chatted, he was very knowledgable. He knew Corvettes! Talked the same lingo.
Enjoy!
Johnny
CONTINENTAL (aka Goodyear) 5008 High Performance (Cooling System Hose) Kit
Blue Xtreme Kit
Note from ME: It's Nice!. Complete set of hoses, including both normal and heavy duty option hoses.
CONTINENTAL 5008 High Performance Kit Info<br/>Blue Xtreme Kit
get a lower temp fan sender....easy to install, change the t-stat to 180....if you have a z51 85, run a wire to a grounded toggle you can install in your dash, it will turn the aux fan on when you want....otherwise it won't go on until 238 I believe....that will keep your 85 cool down here in S Fl....GM had the high temps for emissions, so unless your in CA,.... mine runs 180-190 on hot days down here in Ft Myers...I did have a new radiator put in a couple of years ago.....
My '87 is about the same, getting up towards 230F coolant is a time to start going HMM. But, if it's 95 out, the A/C is on and you're sitting at light after light, wouldn't be surprised.
Driving in 60F-70F, mine sits at 195ish above 40mph. In town driving is hotter, always.
A lot of folks suggest dropping to a lower thermostat, I'm not sure about that. It would heat the block slower to normal oil temp. I prefer to think engineer's had a reason to go 195F, wish we could ask them.
Wouldn't go too low on your tstat, as others have said. The car is supposed to run that hot, it's ok, and nothing it about to blow up. If you're sitting above 220 regularly, then I'd be concerned. Hitting that temp sitting at a traffic light? No big deal. I put in a 180 tstat and I regularly cruise around 180-190 depending on the temp outside, whether the AC is on, etc. It sounds scary but it really isn't, as a matter of fact you can do more harm than good with too cool an engine. Oil has to reach temp to really do its job.
A lot of folks suggest dropping to a lower thermostat, I'm not sure about that. It would heat the block slower to normal oil temp.
I prefer to think engineer's had a reason to go 195F, wish we could ask them.
Wouldn't the thermostat simply close when it is cold till it gets to temp, whatever it is set for then open? How does it slow or quicken the heating process?
I know they had a reason for this but, as always, I don't assume the reason they have is one that is pertinent to me. Their concern might be emissions and cost, etc, etc. Doesn't mean that is my issue.
Wouldn't go too low on your tstat, as others have said. The car is supposed to run that hot, it's ok, and nothing it about to blow up.
If you're sitting above 220 regularly, then I'd be concerned. Hitting that temp sitting at a traffic light? No big deal. I put in a 180 tstat and I regularly cruise around 180-190 depending on the temp outside, whether the AC is on, etc.
It sounds scary but it really isn't, as a matter of fact you can do more harm than good with too cool an engine. Oil has to reach temp to really do its job.
Is it supposed to run hot because it makes better power or is it supposed to run hot because of emissions? If it is the former, fair enough. If it is the latter, why do I care?
In stop and go traffic, AC cooling is affected.
Isn't oil temp about 20-30 over coolant anyways? Besides evaporate and boil off the condensation, which probably will happen over a drive and to flow around, what are the other considerations?
get a lower temp fan sender....easy to install, change the t-stat to 180....if you have a z51 85, run a wire to a grounded toggle you can install in your dash, it will turn the aux fan on when you want....otherwise it won't go on until 238 I believe....that will keep your 85 cool down here in S Fl....GM had the high temps for emissions, so unless your in CA,.... mine runs 180-190 on hot days down here in Ft Myers...I did have a new radiator put in a couple of years ago.....
Emissions! I knew it! I think I will change mine to the 180 like you did. I've installed those Radiator Fan Bypass Switches on 2 of my vehicles of the past. That's the way to go. Thanks for the info/tips! John.
Emissions! I knew it! I think I will change mine to the 180 like you did. I've installed those Radiator Fan Bypass Switches on 2 of my vehicles of the past. That's the way to go. Thanks for the info/tips! John.
I think you need to get the car running properly before you start modification or it will have more variables than you need. Best time to start mods is when the car is running perfectly than to be trying solve a problem and add more different parts into the mix.
Just got my 1987 yesterday. While bringing it home down I-95 in Florida the temp at 70 was 209 210.after that I slowed down to 62 I am not familiar with these cars so I slowed down and cut off the A/C temp went down to 203 could not go any faster or it would heat up. After I got on city streets temp went up to 213 at 35 40 no A/C.. I read on the forum that these cars run hotter. Is that true if so what temp should i expect to see as normal. Any help would be appreciated. I do not have a manual but ordered one today and I would really like to drive and enjoy my car. It is a 1987 and has front and rear spoilers and ground effects and says Greenwood on it. I really enjoy it but parked it until I find out if I have a problem or not. Any help would be appreciated
It should never get to 210* at 70mph, so you likely have an air flow problem. Check the air dam and look for debris between the radiator and a/c condenser.
1987 Temp question
mine runs 180-190 on hot days down here in Ft Myers...I did have a new radiator put in a couple of years ago.....
