[Z06] She's a Hottie...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
She's a Hottie...
Hi Folks.
I need some input/advice. As I sat at a stoplight in traffic a few days ago I noticed the temp gauge swing up just past 220 degrees. It's winter here in North Carolina but we had a balmy 70 degree day. If the car gets that warm on a 70 degree, low humidity day it doesn't bode well for the summer heat.
I have read alot about swapping out the thermostat for a cooler (175 degree, etc.) one or, installing a Constant Monitor Fan Controller or, using coolant additives to help lower engine operating temps.
I've read a few pro's and con's type articles regading running the engine at lower temps and frankly I'm not sure what, if anything, I should/would/could do.
She just seems a bit too hot.
What do you think?
Thanks!
-Jay
I need some input/advice. As I sat at a stoplight in traffic a few days ago I noticed the temp gauge swing up just past 220 degrees. It's winter here in North Carolina but we had a balmy 70 degree day. If the car gets that warm on a 70 degree, low humidity day it doesn't bode well for the summer heat.
I have read alot about swapping out the thermostat for a cooler (175 degree, etc.) one or, installing a Constant Monitor Fan Controller or, using coolant additives to help lower engine operating temps.
I've read a few pro's and con's type articles regading running the engine at lower temps and frankly I'm not sure what, if anything, I should/would/could do.
She just seems a bit too hot.
What do you think?
Thanks!
-Jay
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
It's normal for the LS6 temp to rise when there is no air flow. The low-speed fans come on at around 225 and the high-speed fan kicks in at around 235. So the stock set-up is well engineered to keep the engine within a safe temperature range.
Normal cruise temp is 190-194. If you hammer the car through the gears and then bring it to a stop, the water temp will rise until the fans come on or you bring the car back up to speed and the air flow brings the temp back down.
There really is no need or benefit from running a lower temp thermostat.
Finally, the most accurate temp readings are found in the DIC, rather than the dash gauge.
Ranger
Normal cruise temp is 190-194. If you hammer the car through the gears and then bring it to a stop, the water temp will rise until the fans come on or you bring the car back up to speed and the air flow brings the temp back down.
There really is no need or benefit from running a lower temp thermostat.
Finally, the most accurate temp readings are found in the DIC, rather than the dash gauge.
Ranger
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 6
From: Gulf of Mexico Florida West Coast
Thats normal for our cars, on my predator programer I lowed my fans to kick in at 195. I am considering a 175 stat for summer driving here in Jersey. That might be a problem on the good days of winter though.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Originally Posted by Ranger
It's normal for the LS6 temp to rise when there is no air flow. The low-speed fans come on at around 225 and the high-speed fan kicks in at around 235. So the stock set-up is well engineered to keep the engine within a safe temperature range.
There really is no need or benefit from running a lower temp thermostat.
Ranger
There really is no need or benefit from running a lower temp thermostat.
Ranger
Thanks Ranger. I appreciate your response.
I've read several articles that either suggest or just state outright that lower engine temps improves power and performance and that the higher OEM operating temp is designed to help lower emissions and to address the fact that the car is sold in all regions of the country where it could be driven year round.
Are performance gains fact or fiction?
I'm all ears.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by Jay's Z
Thanks Ranger. I appreciate your response.
I've read several articles that either suggest or just state outright that lower engine temps improves power and performance and that the higher OEM operating temp is designed to help lower emissions and to address the fact that the car is sold in all regions of the country where it could be driven year round.
Are performance gains fact or fiction?
I'm all ears.
I've read several articles that either suggest or just state outright that lower engine temps improves power and performance and that the higher OEM operating temp is designed to help lower emissions and to address the fact that the car is sold in all regions of the country where it could be driven year round.
Are performance gains fact or fiction?
I'm all ears.
With stock tuning on the car and at stock/near stock power levels. I alway produced the best performance numbers when I began the run at 190-195. If the temp was lower or high, performance was reduced.
You could detect the performance reduction with professional timing equipment, but not seat-of-the-pants. So the differences are not large.
Keep in mind that switching to a lower temp thermostat only changes the temp at which water is sent into the radiator. Once you're at or above normal operating temp in hard driving, it doesn't help. What does is changing the fan-on settings by programming, but again it's not really worth fretting about.
My car did 200+ passes under 11.8 with stock thermostat and stock tuning.
Ranger
Last edited by Ranger; Feb 11, 2006 at 12:56 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 7,607
Likes: 1
From: ECS Sales & Service Advisor
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Also it won't hurt to take a look up in the rad. C5's can suck up a fair amount of leaves & trash into the rad shroud. The first time I looked up into mine I was amazed of how much crap was stuck up there!! 
I wasn't seeing any extreem temps, but it certianly wasn't helping cooling!
I wasn't seeing any extreem temps, but it certianly wasn't helping cooling!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte North Carolina
As mentioned in other replies, make sure air intake components are free of debree, air intake filter is clean.
I had a "quick tune" performed on my 02 Z which included eliminating the skip shift, turned on fans at 190, bumped up timing a little in the mid rpm ranges, couple other mods to the PCM. Cost me $250.00.
Engine runs much cooler in July/August in NC weather. Diff in power, maybe a little. No testing before and after.
It was worth it to me psychologically to see the coolants not getting above 215 while sitting a stop light in 95 degree weather.
I had a "quick tune" performed on my 02 Z which included eliminating the skip shift, turned on fans at 190, bumped up timing a little in the mid rpm ranges, couple other mods to the PCM. Cost me $250.00.
Engine runs much cooler in July/August in NC weather. Diff in power, maybe a little. No testing before and after.
It was worth it to me psychologically to see the coolants not getting above 215 while sitting a stop light in 95 degree weather.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 1
From: Middleboro Massachusetts
I've seen a few statements made in Chevy High Performance magazine where the Gen III's make power with alittle hotter temps. Tuning can provide some alternate fan activation temps. if 220 makes you uncomfortable. Mine are set to activate at 185 degrees.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
First of all, 220 degrees is not too hot at all. New cars are designed to run hotter than you might be use to. This is to better burn off emissions. Also, just adding a lower temp thermostat will not make your car run any cooler without doing any other mods, such as changing when the fans turn on. It will only make it take longer for your car to warm up to run properly, especially in colder weather.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
No. I have not turned on the A/C at all. I will try that when the weather turns warmer. I'm not going to do anything immediately.
I haven't driven the car in the summer heat yet. I'll see how things look this spring and decide.
In the mean time, I'll keep reading these great posts.
Thanks again!
I haven't driven the car in the summer heat yet. I'll see how things look this spring and decide.
In the mean time, I'll keep reading these great posts.
Thanks again!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
i dont wanna hijack the thread too badly but is there any type of purge system in the cooling system? i noticed water leaking from the water pump area, just started yesterday, and common knowledge would tell me that either the water pump, or the gasket is bad, but i was hoping there is just something that i dont know about, maybe something to relieve pressure? probably not..... the car still hasnt lost any water, ive been checking the levels about 5 times a day, and it hasnt gotten above normal temps, so im not really too sure what to do. i cant see exactly where its leaking from
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: naples fl.
Originally Posted by bobgodd
i dont wanna hijack the thread too badly but is there any type of purge system in the cooling system? i noticed water leaking from the water pump area, just started yesterday, and common knowledge would tell me that either the water pump, or the gasket is bad, but i was hoping there is just something that i dont know about, maybe something to relieve pressure? probably not..... the car still hasnt lost any water, ive been checking the levels about 5 times a day, and it hasnt gotten above normal temps, so im not really too sure what to do. i cant see exactly where its leaking from