Can someone tell me what temperature should be expected in your Z when sitting through heavy traffic? I'm from San Diego so the temp around here may be a bit warmer than normal. My temp seems to hover around 230-237 F in traffic but then cools back down to 222-225 F when I'm on the highway. Is this pretty normal? Need your input....thanks!

 

Cruising on the highway, even on a hot day, I would expect to see the engine temp in the 195 to 200 degree range. It will take a few minutes to come back down after sitting in traffic, but if after, say, 10 minutes of highway driving your still showing 225, that's too hot.

Check the radiator intake area. Our cars act like vacumn cleaners and can load up a lot of debris in the radiator area. If that's not the issue, check your coolant, is it full, and when was it last flushed/changed?

HTH

 

Are you talking about coolant temps or your oil temp?

 

umm, I don't know if my readings are the norm but I figure it wouldn't hurt as a comparison. My Z gets to 225 F in traffic, but stays at around 190 F at a steady cruise. Hope that helps.

 

Sounds to me like your radiator fan is not comming on. Your car should get up to about 220 and the fan should come on and the temp should drop to 190. This is very easy to check. Open the hood and start the car and let it warm up. Watch the temp gage. Eventualy it will reach 220 maybe 230 then you should hear the fan come on and you should see the temp gage go down to 190 very quickly (about 15 Seconds). If the fan doesn't come on at all check to make sure the wires are good and properly connected then check the temp control switch which turns the fan at the right temp.
If the fan turns on check for garbage on the radiator. If clean Change your thermostat.

 

I'm talking coolant temps ... my oil on the freeway (on a hot day) stays at about 205 .... in traffic oil can easily get to 230 and takes a while to come down from there even on the freeway.

 

Unfortunately, I got the car used so I'm not sure when the radiator was last flushed. I'll follow the advice given. Thanks for the info guys!

 

If the coolant level is fine, I'd would start using the AUTO climate control option in the car. It keeps the fans on, because the a/c compressor is cycling, and your car stays cooler. If you want to open her up, just turn off the climate control momentarily.

The stock fan settings are designed to come on wayyy late (in my opinion).

 

thats about right for 85 plus day in san diego! i am from Poway and its 100 up there a lot. i am in phoenix now and it is hot as hell here !

if you do not go up in the mountains and experience 32 degree or below weather. which never happens in san diego!

do what i did. its cheap and it works damn good! drain your radiator and put distilled water in it, with Redline water wetter. pep boys has it cheap. Royal Purple engine oil and Syncro Max tranny oil is cheap there too

Redline has corrosion protection and lubricants. do not do a flush, just drane and fill. leave the little bit of old antifreeze in there for any remote chance of cold weather

i did this and my temps dropped dramatically ! i still get hot ( 220 + or - )when i run the engine hard at high rpms for a long time. because its fun !!!!!

but the engine cools down very very fast !!!!!!!

i am at 187 degrees ( that is stock thermostat temp) at cruising speed and maybe 200-220 in hot day with stop and go traffic! i do a fast idle in neutral and water temps drop 10 degrees in 90 seconds ! woohoo!

try it you like it!

plus its cheeeeeap !

PS....my a/c is alwys on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This Is pretty normal.

WHEN I OWNED MY 99 HARDTOP IT WAS THE SAME AS YOURS AND WHEN I OWNED MY 02Z THE SAME.

AND THE 03 Z I OWN NOW IS THE SAME.

Check the radiator area.
And check your coolant.

 

 

Mine is at 194 on the highway. About 205 in the city. During rush hour it will got 230+. Just turn on the A/C. Both cooling fans then turn on and the temp will fall.

 

your temps are the same as mine. In traffic i hit 230 and as soon as the gauge hits 230 the fans kick in and it drops to 220. When driving highway speeds I haven't really payed attention. As long as mine don't go above 220, im not concerned.