Engine Temp...on 96
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Engine Temp...on 96
I know this is not a major concern, I have a 96 LT1 Automatic.. I about 3 yrs ago, & installed a Hypertech 160 thermostat & the program ..The car immediately started to run 175-178 all the time..
About 6 mos ago I added a can of "Water Wetter" I was told it would help me to run 10 deg cooler.. however in the last 3 months I've run at 180 - 195 even at 60 mph..
I race the car every week & want it to run as cool as I can get it to.. I just bought 2 gal of "Dex-Cool" antifreeze, & a new 160 thermostat,
Do you guys think I should just change the antifreeze & gut my old thermostat, or install the new one.. & what could have caused it to start to run 10-15 hotter after I added the water wetter ?
I've checked the radiator etc.. its CLEAN !!
Also a friend of mine (Chris aka INSANITY) has a 93 LT1 automatic... & he also has a 160 thermostat, & his car is running at 230!!! we checked his cooling system :( cant find anything.. could it be his Cats are clogged..
We both have the exact same engine combination, & last week I was running 12.95 @ 106 - 107 mph & he was 13.3 @ 104 mph.. He also has a Mizair Electric water pump, & can cool his motor down to 150 in 10 min.. but he gets VERY HOT on the highway..
About 6 mos ago I added a can of "Water Wetter" I was told it would help me to run 10 deg cooler.. however in the last 3 months I've run at 180 - 195 even at 60 mph..
I race the car every week & want it to run as cool as I can get it to.. I just bought 2 gal of "Dex-Cool" antifreeze, & a new 160 thermostat,
Do you guys think I should just change the antifreeze & gut my old thermostat, or install the new one.. & what could have caused it to start to run 10-15 hotter after I added the water wetter ?
I've checked the radiator etc.. its CLEAN !!
Also a friend of mine (Chris aka INSANITY) has a 93 LT1 automatic... & he also has a 160 thermostat, & his car is running at 230!!! we checked his cooling system :( cant find anything.. could it be his Cats are clogged..
We both have the exact same engine combination, & last week I was running 12.95 @ 106 - 107 mph & he was 13.3 @ 104 mph.. He also has a Mizair Electric water pump, & can cool his motor down to 150 in 10 min.. but he gets VERY HOT on the highway..
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Re: Engine Temp...on 96 (Red96Coupe)
Even though I can't substantiate it, i havea feeling the Meziere pump sometimes is the root of high temps even with a low thermostat........not sure why, but there are a number of cars out there with Mezieres that run very hot.......then there are the others who have no issues with them. I for a fact know my car runs cooler at 3,000 rpm in 3rd gear than at 2,200 rpm in 4th, both at the same speed. the temp goes immediately down 5 degrees when I downshift and hold it there......apparently the coolant flow is still restricted by the pump speed at 2,200 rpm
I know this is not a major concern, I have a 96 LT1 Automatic.. I about 3 yrs ago, & installed a Hypertech 160 thermostat & the program ..The car immediately started to run 175-178 all the time..
About 6 mos ago I added a can of "Water Wetter" I was told it would help me to run 10 deg cooler.. however in the last 3 months I've run at 180 - 195 even at 60 mph..
I race the car every week & want it to run as cool as I can get it to.. I just bought 2 gal of "Dex-Cool" antifreeze, & a new 160 thermostat,
Do you guys think I should just change the antifreeze & gut my old thermostat, or install the new one.. & what could have caused it to start to run 10-15 hotter after I added the water wetter ?
I've checked the radiator etc.. its CLEAN !!
Also a friend of mine (Chris aka INSANITY) has a 93 LT1 automatic... & he also has a 160 thermostat, & his car is running at 230!!! we checked his cooling system :( cant find anything.. could it be his Cats are clogged..
We both have the exact same engine combination, & last week I was running 12.95 @ 106 - 107 mph & he was 13.3 @ 104 mph.. He also has a Mizair Electric water pump, & can cool his motor down to 150 in 10 min.. but he gets VERY HOT on the highway..
About 6 mos ago I added a can of "Water Wetter" I was told it would help me to run 10 deg cooler.. however in the last 3 months I've run at 180 - 195 even at 60 mph..
I race the car every week & want it to run as cool as I can get it to.. I just bought 2 gal of "Dex-Cool" antifreeze, & a new 160 thermostat,
Do you guys think I should just change the antifreeze & gut my old thermostat, or install the new one.. & what could have caused it to start to run 10-15 hotter after I added the water wetter ?
I've checked the radiator etc.. its CLEAN !!
Also a friend of mine (Chris aka INSANITY) has a 93 LT1 automatic... & he also has a 160 thermostat, & his car is running at 230!!! we checked his cooling system :( cant find anything.. could it be his Cats are clogged..
We both have the exact same engine combination, & last week I was running 12.95 @ 106 - 107 mph & he was 13.3 @ 104 mph.. He also has a Mizair Electric water pump, & can cool his motor down to 150 in 10 min.. but he gets VERY HOT on the highway..
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Engine Temp...on 96 (Red96Coupe)
A 160 thermostat will be wide open except in the winter because the C4 radiators are sized for 180/195 F and they cannot transfer heat fast enough to maintain 160. Thermostats have only several degrees between starting to open and fully open. If you run higher than about 164 degrees, you wasted your money and effort to lower your coolant temps by installing a 160 thermostat.
Why your temps increased after adding water wetter, I couldn't say, but I think its more likely that some debris got between the a/c condenser and the radiator. You cannot see the debris unless you remove the top bracket holding the radiator and condenser.
The Meziere pump runs at constant speed, the mechanical pump follows the engine rpm. The temp increases with increasing speed (engine requires more hp) with an electric pump, because the electric pump is fixed in its delivery, and the mechanical pump delivers more coolant the faster the engine runs.
AlexD, this is why your friends car runs cooler at 3000 rpm than 2200 rpm, his water pump moves more water. My 87 runs cooler and cools off faster since I installed a Stewart pump. I knew the factory pump needed more flow rate because at stoplights I could race the engine slightly and watch the coolant temperature fall.
Why your temps increased after adding water wetter, I couldn't say, but I think its more likely that some debris got between the a/c condenser and the radiator. You cannot see the debris unless you remove the top bracket holding the radiator and condenser.
The Meziere pump runs at constant speed, the mechanical pump follows the engine rpm. The temp increases with increasing speed (engine requires more hp) with an electric pump, because the electric pump is fixed in its delivery, and the mechanical pump delivers more coolant the faster the engine runs.
AlexD, this is why your friends car runs cooler at 3000 rpm than 2200 rpm, his water pump moves more water. My 87 runs cooler and cools off faster since I installed a Stewart pump. I knew the factory pump needed more flow rate because at stoplights I could race the engine slightly and watch the coolant temperature fall.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Re: Engine Temp...on 96 (jfb)
jfb:
>Why your temps increased after adding water wetter, I couldn't say, but I think its more likely that some debris got between the a/c condenser and the radiator. You cannot see the debris unless you remove the top bracket holding the radiator and condenser.<
I agree with what you are saying about the radiator not being big enough to cool it lower than .xxx deg.. my car used to run 175-180 now its 190-197
I have cut a hole in the side of the radiator shroud because I mounted a trans cooler in front of the condenser, & I had to get my hand between the condenser & the radiator to put the plastic ties through the condenser, & with a flashlight I am able to see right up to the top of the radiator.. & its CLEAN..
I have cut a screen & screwed it to the bottom of the intake where the air is drawn in.. & no leaves or debris can get in between there.. I've checked it..
I'll post when I put in new Dex-Cool in a few days..
>Why your temps increased after adding water wetter, I couldn't say, but I think its more likely that some debris got between the a/c condenser and the radiator. You cannot see the debris unless you remove the top bracket holding the radiator and condenser.<
I agree with what you are saying about the radiator not being big enough to cool it lower than .xxx deg.. my car used to run 175-180 now its 190-197
I have cut a hole in the side of the radiator shroud because I mounted a trans cooler in front of the condenser, & I had to get my hand between the condenser & the radiator to put the plastic ties through the condenser, & with a flashlight I am able to see right up to the top of the radiator.. & its CLEAN..
I have cut a screen & screwed it to the bottom of the intake where the air is drawn in.. & no leaves or debris can get in between there.. I've checked it..
I'll post when I put in new Dex-Cool in a few days..
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Engine Temp...on 96 (Red96Coupe)
It will help in the summer to use a low percent antifreeze mixture. Pure water carries away heat better than water/antifreeze, but offers no corrosion protection and little lubrication for the water pump.
You may have a small amount of air in your cooling system when you added the water wetter. At high speeds, this air will cause foaming in the coolant and foam is a very poor conductor of heat and it could be the cause of your increased temperature. Try "burping" your cooling system.
You may have a small amount of air in your cooling system when you added the water wetter. At high speeds, this air will cause foaming in the coolant and foam is a very poor conductor of heat and it could be the cause of your increased temperature. Try "burping" your cooling system.
