Coolant Temps
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Coolant Temps
Hello Gents, just wondering what kind of coolant temps you guys are seeing? I have a stock cooling system with an ECS kit, small intercooler in front of the rad. Lately, we been seeing mid 90 degree ambient temps and I’m wondering at what point you would start to be concerned. In traffic I’m seeing higher 230’s. I know not much is going to help ya when ur not moving. While moving and driving normal it comes down a bit to the lower 230’s. I don’t push the car in this heat, it honestly feels like it’s down about 200hp so I don’t bother. Just wondering what you guys are seeing and maybe changes you made that helped (bigger rad/brushless fans).
Thanks guys🍻
Thanks guys🍻
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 359
From: Virginia
A full size dewitts radiator and SPAL fans will help a lot in traffic. Motion Raceworks steam vent kit may help a little bit, especially if you are running the LS6 style steam vent setup instead of the LS1 style. Making sure the coolant system is burped properly goes a long way as well; just jack up the passenger front corner with the coolant tank cap off, put the heat on high and fans on low, run the engine until the fans come on and then reinstall the coolant cap and shut it down.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Thanks for the reply. Considering I melted a ringland on my #7 a couple years ago a steam kit looks like a good place to start. Not sure how I hadn’t even heard of it. I’ll double check any air in the system as well thanks for the tip!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 747
There's a current thread "front end cooling mods" that might help you with some ideas. I'm on stock radiator and fans and don't see numbers that high in SoCal heat. I've only ever seen temps that high when I didn't have the top radiator shroud in place. I also have the Trackspec side hood vents installed, but I wouldn't say those are doing anything significant for cooling.
1. Make sure your radiator and condenser are free of debris (pull out anything obvious by hand and use an air/water wand to flush the fins)
2. Burp the coolant as already advised
3. Have the fans programmed to come on earlier or buy a SacCity coolit
4. Opening up the front license plate area mostly helps the intercooler, but might help with the radiator a little
5. Middle Trackspec hood vent would help
There are more extreme measures you can take, but unless you're far beyond stock, I'd focus on the health of the stock system first. I've seen a lot of posts from guys that have spent a lot of money on aftermarket radiators and fans just to end up where they already were or worse :/
1. Make sure your radiator and condenser are free of debris (pull out anything obvious by hand and use an air/water wand to flush the fins)
2. Burp the coolant as already advised
3. Have the fans programmed to come on earlier or buy a SacCity coolit
4. Opening up the front license plate area mostly helps the intercooler, but might help with the radiator a little
5. Middle Trackspec hood vent would help
There are more extreme measures you can take, but unless you're far beyond stock, I'd focus on the health of the stock system first. I've seen a lot of posts from guys that have spent a lot of money on aftermarket radiators and fans just to end up where they already were or worse :/
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
I can’t confirm that the fans have been adjusted. Phil Hoefler tuned it and I think I remember him asking what t stat I had in it. I could pull up the tune. I have the AC going and I believe that automatically enables both fans?
Seems like a cowl would allow some heat to escape? What about ceramic coating my headers?Thanks again🍻
Seems like a cowl would allow some heat to escape? What about ceramic coating my headers?Thanks again🍻
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 385
Likes: 102
From: Virginia
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 747
Just drove 2.5 hrs in 100+ (hit 108 for a while) degree weather today. While in stop and go traffic (0-10 mph), coolant temps were consistently between 198-203. The highest it ever got was 230 and that was during constant up hill with the a/c on. Because I'm missing the entire center air dam, temps went from 200-207 while going 60-70 and around 207-216 while going 70-85.
This is with a 100% stock, 19 year old cooling system with the exception of a 160 tstat (which I will be gladly removing next time the blower has to come off).
I'd definitely check the health of your cooling system before spending a ton of money trying to fix it.
This is with a 100% stock, 19 year old cooling system with the exception of a 160 tstat (which I will be gladly removing next time the blower has to come off).
I'd definitely check the health of your cooling system before spending a ton of money trying to fix it.