96 LT1 Normal Engine Temp
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
96 LT1 Normal Engine Temp
Hello all...New 96 Coupe owner here, I just noticed my engine temp today was a little higher than I expected it to be. Living here in Las Vegas I've been running the Vette with the A/C on all the time. Today I didn't use it for the first time and my engine temp when I got off of the expressway got up to 220 degrees by the time I parked the car. i opened the hood and did not see the fans come on. I kicked on the A/C the fans came on and the temp dropped right back down to 200 degrees where i normally see it run. It was steady there and rock solid as usual. My question is what is the temp the engine should normally run? What temp should the engine fans kick in without the A/C running?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Those temps are perfectly normal... The A/C definitely keeps it cooler around town and in stop'n'go traffic, but you might find that running the A/C on the freeway actually causes the car to run a few degrees warmer (i.e., the fans being on actually impede cooling). I used to live in Arizona, and when I moved up here to San Jose, I did an experiment on the freeway. At cruising speeds, my coolant temps were consistently 197-198, almost regardless of outside temps (and it was 100+ in June in W. Arizona and into L.A. Turned on the A/C, temps climbed to 201-02...turned it off - back down. I know it's just 5 degrees, but it was reproducible over a series of tests. If you want your car to run lower temps in city traffic, keep the A/C on. On the freeway, the oncoming air will do all the work.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Thanks all! I'm just getting to know the car and what's "normal" for an LT-1 motor. I was just surprised to see the temp over 200 for the first time. It looks like 260 degrees is the max on the temp gauge.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Normal?
You're vette is normal for where you live. They usually run around 190-
220 depending on the outside temp and the shape of the cooling system. The a/c being on will generly reduce the running temp.
220 depending on the outside temp and the shape of the cooling system. The a/c being on will generly reduce the running temp.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Thanks all! I just wanted to get a line on what was normal for the engine. I just wasn't expecting it to get up to 220 degrees. With the A/C running and the outside temperature up to about 105 degrees it never got over 200 degrees engine coolant temperature. It definitely runs cooler with the A/C engaged.
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: BLOOMINGTON Il
correct
The fans will come on when the A/C is turned on, but without the A/C on the fans come on @ 228 degrees. The same thing scared me when I got my car home. I sat in it without the A/C on while it was running not paying attention as I read through the manual and played with the different switches and buttons. When I got to the gauges and swithed to temp I almost fainted. Called the dealer and they patched me through to a tech who assured me this was normal. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Great! It was almost the same scenario for me. I wasn't really paying attention to the Temp gauge or the readout at the time and my jaw dropped when I saw where the temp was at. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Auburn
Wow! You all have been great help here! I replaced my thermostat, water pump, and Optispark a week ago...today, outside temp was about 74 and I was idling enjoying life...looked at my gauge just to be sure and showed that it was 220! I instantly got sick to my stomach...thought I screwed something up...geesh...these cars could kill one, huh?
Last edited by HickmanC4; May 10, 2017 at 02:20 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
The '96 has two speed fans that are on high with the a/c on. Your temperatures are in normal range and operating as designed.
If you want to get them down you will need to get your PCM re=programmed. Don't let this scare you. It's a great time to change other things that really make a difference in how it runs.
My fans come on at 207 and off at 195 on low.speed. I think the engine likes it cooler. OK for 10 years. Cnanged octane to 93, little firmer shifts at wot, and Corsa Catback tuned in. I love the chnges.
If you want to get them down you will need to get your PCM re=programmed. Don't let this scare you. It's a great time to change other things that really make a difference in how it runs.
My fans come on at 207 and off at 195 on low.speed. I think the engine likes it cooler. OK for 10 years. Cnanged octane to 93, little firmer shifts at wot, and Corsa Catback tuned in. I love the chnges.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 462
Likes: 30
From: Riverside California
Wow! You all have been great help here! I replaced my thermostat, water pump, and Optispark a week ago...today, outside temp was about 74 and I was idling enjoying life...looked at my gauge just to be sure and showed that it was 220! I instantly got sick to my stomach...thought I screwed something up...geesh...these cars could kill one, huh?
