I bought a 1996 with a LT-4 engine about 6 weeks ago. It's my first. Last week sitting in traffic my temperature guage went from approx. 215 to 250 in 3-5 minutes. The traffic started to move again and it went back to normal temp. but if I were held up for 20 minutes I wonder what would have happened. I'm not much of a mech. but I have checked the obvious no noticeable leaks, over flow resevoir is at the correct level. The vette looks and drives great. Do I have a problem or is this normal for these engines?

 

That is normal temperature if youre stuck in traffic.

I would not let it get over 250 again though, you should remove your radiator shroud and youll see alot of trash between the radiator and condensor, clean that and they should stay closer to normal running temp.

 

Mine hit 230 (digital), which was right on the start of the coolant temp 'redline' (analog) last week in traffic. That's the hottest it's ever been, but the fans must have kicked on at that point because it started dropping back to about 220 while still sitting there.
I would think 250 is WELL into the danger zone. Are your fans functional?

At what temps are the fans supposed to come on, anyway? Anyone?

Larry
code5coupe
:seeya

 

I believe (ive had mine reprogrammed for awhile now) that they came on at 228F and the aux fan about 10F higher than that.

 

I was about to post a similar topic. MY 95 has a reconditioned radiator and I run 65/35 water/coolant mix with a bottle of water wetter. I am down here in Orlando on vacation and on the way to the beach the other day I hit 252 deg. digital. :eek: When we got to the beach, it dumped cooling fluid bigtime. It continued this pattern for the next day, so I took it to TJ's shop behind Rogers Coevette since it was close by and I know their reputation and experience with C4's. (They do all the work for Rogers who's inventory is at least 50% C4's) After explaining my sienerio, TJ informed me that anything above 235deg. digital was WAY above normal, even under extreme conditions. His initial theory is that it may be 'boil-over' rather than a radiator leak, due to a faulty fan relay, stuck stat. , or similar malfunction. It has not run hot at night. In addition to the above, I believe that possibly the presure from the boil-over has lead to a small hose burst or blown seal somewhere ont the radiator. TJ said he would run a diagnostic for free, and call me with a report before work. My baby has had to stay the night. We arived there on a busy mid-day, unannounced.

Rogers is absolutley awesome, and my initial impression of TJ's service shop in back (dont recall the exact proper shop name right now) is that its a top notch corvette sevice center. You can tell right when you get there.
:chevy

 

i removed my radiator cover and could not believe the amount of leaves that were stuffed in there.

Paul

 

yeah same thing here,
It normally gets no higher than 230, but it got up to 240 yesterday and got me a little worried.
Got plans to clean under the radiator shroud and replace the thermestat this weekend to see if that helps any.


[Modified by enhance, 12:12 PM 5/29/2003]

 

I live in Phoenix, so my LT4's cooling system gets put to the test. I don't think it's ever went over 230, although I've never been stopped in traffic for an extended period when the outside temps were well over 100.