Overheating Problem
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,767
Likes: 19
From: East Texas
100% water cools better compared to a coolant/water mix. Water and water wetter works great and some put a little bit of coolant in for it's lubrication.
One thing that's a must... get all the air pockets out. Air pockets create steam and will pressurize any setup (even one with a good pressure cap) quickly, leading to coolant being released. Coolant released and now you have less of it and that means more air pockets!
Seriously though... for driving in the street a clean system without obstruction to airflow, with no air pockets and proper shrouding will not need anything but coolant. Add all the cooling mods mentioned already, plus a bit not, and any setup can be made to run cool in the street (and track). Do every mod without the fundamentals and it'll never stay cool for very long.
Checkout the autocross section for all you could ever want to know on keeping these cars cool.
One thing that's a must... get all the air pockets out. Air pockets create steam and will pressurize any setup (even one with a good pressure cap) quickly, leading to coolant being released. Coolant released and now you have less of it and that means more air pockets!
Seriously though... for driving in the street a clean system without obstruction to airflow, with no air pockets and proper shrouding will not need anything but coolant. Add all the cooling mods mentioned already, plus a bit not, and any setup can be made to run cool in the street (and track). Do every mod without the fundamentals and it'll never stay cool for very long.
Checkout the autocross section for all you could ever want to know on keeping these cars cool.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 8
From: Hayward California
Here's a link from the service manual...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...dure-help.html
On my setup it was tricky to get trapped air out because my radiator was laid down and making it lower (all hoses to it were below the top of the block). What helped was to take a coolant connection that's at the highest point on the motor and use it as a bleed. I chose crossover tube line. You disconnect the line (from the crossover tube end) from it to the radiator. Keep the hose that's disconnected raised and as coolant or water is put in trapped air will hopefully leave through the bleed. I normally put fluid in until I see it coming out of the crossover tube.
Like I said, this worked well for me since my radiator was lowered.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...dure-help.html
On my setup it was tricky to get trapped air out because my radiator was laid down and making it lower (all hoses to it were below the top of the block). What helped was to take a coolant connection that's at the highest point on the motor and use it as a bleed. I chose crossover tube line. You disconnect the line (from the crossover tube end) from it to the radiator. Keep the hose that's disconnected raised and as coolant or water is put in trapped air will hopefully leave through the bleed. I normally put fluid in until I see it coming out of the crossover tube.
Like I said, this worked well for me since my radiator was lowered.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
mods I have made to get coolant temps under control:
1.dewits rad,2.spal fans,3.fans reprogrammed,4.first I tried 180º stat replaced by 160º,4.ac condenser and radiator pulled and cleaned,5.foglights & bezel removed,6. twin ics left in stock location behind brake ducts,but the str8 part of the y pipe sectioned by about 6"so the y pipe could b moved up by that amount(6")this way a lot more air can now get to the ac condenser and radiator and coolant temps now around 180º...a4 tranny(4l60) also running hot with 1 b&m maxi cooler(the biggest one)installed behind driver's front tire in scoop opening...now adding another maxi cooler w/o fan tomorrow ..hopefully this will keep my temps in the 200º range or lower..and hoping I will now be able to use my ac...hope mentioning my tranny was not off topic too much.
1.dewits rad,2.spal fans,3.fans reprogrammed,4.first I tried 180º stat replaced by 160º,4.ac condenser and radiator pulled and cleaned,5.foglights & bezel removed,6. twin ics left in stock location behind brake ducts,but the str8 part of the y pipe sectioned by about 6"so the y pipe could b moved up by that amount(6")this way a lot more air can now get to the ac condenser and radiator and coolant temps now around 180º...a4 tranny(4l60) also running hot with 1 b&m maxi cooler(the biggest one)installed behind driver's front tire in scoop opening...now adding another maxi cooler w/o fan tomorrow ..hopefully this will keep my temps in the 200º range or lower..and hoping I will now be able to use my ac...hope mentioning my tranny was not off topic too much.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,197
Likes: 2
From: Niagara Falls NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
mods I have made to get coolant temps under control:
1.dewits rad,2.spal fans,3.fans reprogrammed,4.first I tried 180º stat replaced by 160º,4.ac condenser and radiator pulled and cleaned,5.foglights & bezel removed,6. twin ics left in stock location behind brake ducts,but the str8 part of the y pipe sectioned by about 6"so the y pipe could b moved up by that amount(6")this way a lot more air can now get to the ac condenser and radiator and coolant temps now around 180º...a4 tranny(4l60) also running hot with 1 b&m maxi cooler(the biggest one)installed behind driver's front tire in scoop opening...now adding another maxi cooler w/o fan tomorrow ..hopefully this will keep my temps in the 200º range or lower..and hoping I will now be able to use my ac...hope mentioning my tranny was not off topic too much.
1.dewits rad,2.spal fans,3.fans reprogrammed,4.first I tried 180º stat replaced by 160º,4.ac condenser and radiator pulled and cleaned,5.foglights & bezel removed,6. twin ics left in stock location behind brake ducts,but the str8 part of the y pipe sectioned by about 6"so the y pipe could b moved up by that amount(6")this way a lot more air can now get to the ac condenser and radiator and coolant temps now around 180º...a4 tranny(4l60) also running hot with 1 b&m maxi cooler(the biggest one)installed behind driver's front tire in scoop opening...now adding another maxi cooler w/o fan tomorrow ..hopefully this will keep my temps in the 200º range or lower..and hoping I will now be able to use my ac...hope mentioning my tranny was not off topic too much.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 3
From: halton region Ontario
I have same problem. I have a maggie here in Maryland. When 95 degrees plus my car runs very hot in traffic. 220-243. I turn off ac and it comes down into the 220's. I purchased a Dewitt's radiator with oil cooler. I am going to purchase a Meziere electric water pump also. After reading many forum posts I think the combination of the radiator, fan kit from Dewitt's, and the electric water pump...problem solved.
After spending mega coin to grow mega HP getting the type of cooling that will make us happy will only come with the best parts available to achieve our cooling goals. $$$$ cha chingSame philosophy rings true with so many aspects of a high HP car.
cha ching
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
Let's just say that temps remained high until last few steps were done..ie instal of 160 stat,sectioning y pipe(ics)removing fogs and bezels,pulling and cleaning ac condensor & radiator..now coolant stays at 178-180 even in stop & go traffic or over the road. Although not sure if those temps would be maintained if idled for a prolonged time or in stop & go for a very long time. However, now I feel as though I have a much lower temp to start from when I should get into those kinds of situations. I'm looking for the same thing re my a4 tranny temps ..I would really like to get them down to around 175..that way I have some wiggle room when in the afore mentioned situations. Hope the info I've provided helps
