High Engine Temperature
03-06-2003, 12:52 PM
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High Engine Temperature
Why did GM design the corvette engines to run so hot? Pollution controls? Certainly not better performance. Every engine mod to increase HP suggests that you lower operating temperature. What about the lessening of wear and tear on the engine parts? I read this in the tech section of a recent corvette mag. What was the original design intent?
03-06-2003, 01:18 PM
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Re: High Engine Temperature (94 Red Roadster)
Yeah it was mainly for emissions purposes. When engines run hotter, most of the bad stuff is eliminated.
Ideally, youd have oil around 190-215F and coolant much colder for great power, but LT1s are just a little different in that they like that warmer temp a little more than the old SBC. While the L98 likes to run at the 180-190 mark, the LTs seems to like it about 10-20 degrees warmer.
If the engine is TOO cold or for too long, the contaminants arent burned off and you get condensation buildup in the engine, which is why most people tell you its best to get the engine up to about 210 Oil so the condensation is eliminated. Cold engines spin bearings and with a non-synthetic oil youll have alot of sludge buildup in the pan.
Ideally, youd have oil around 190-215F and coolant much colder for great power, but LT1s are just a little different in that they like that warmer temp a little more than the old SBC. While the L98 likes to run at the 180-190 mark, the LTs seems to like it about 10-20 degrees warmer.
If the engine is TOO cold or for too long, the contaminants arent burned off and you get condensation buildup in the engine, which is why most people tell you its best to get the engine up to about 210 Oil so the condensation is eliminated. Cold engines spin bearings and with a non-synthetic oil youll have alot of sludge buildup in the pan.
03-06-2003, 08:21 PM
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Re: High Engine Temperature (8686corvette)
hey vader86, I wish my L98 ran at 190-200, mine runs at 200-240, that's hot!!!!! :mad :mad :mad
My '88 runs at 178 while cruising, even in the warmest weather, 172 in cold weather.
Have you pulled the RAD out of the car and cleaned it and pulled all the trash out of the RAD compartment?
I run a 170 degree thermo
I have a 195 fan switch, which needless to say only comes on when stuck in very long waits.
:steering:
03-07-2003, 12:05 AM
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Re: High Engine Temperature (8686corvette)
hey vader86, I wish my L98 ran at 190-200, mine runs at 200-240, that's hot!!!!! :mad :mad :mad
Flush the coolant and refill, remember to burp the system properly (see 'running hot as hell' thread on this page)
Add a bottle of water wetter
Change your tstat to at least a 180, i run a 160, there have been numerous threads on this so run a search.
Add a fan switch wired to the main fan so that it will come on earlier.
And your engine probably wont see 210 again until the hottest days of summer.