Engine Temp ?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Engine Temp ?
My corvette before the one i purchased a year ago was a 1995 C4. Now i have a C5 (2004). I knew that the C4's had a problem with the engine heating up over 220 degrees. I was just wondering if any one has had problems with their C5's heating up over that 220 degree mark? The reason i ask, is because this weekend my car heated up to 228 degrees and i dont know if i should be concerned.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 5
From: Wichita Falls Tx
I drive my cars in a few parades each year during the hot months. I have found that the car will run about 10-15 degrees cooler if the air conditioning is turned on. The fans seem to operate more this way.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: richardson tx
[QUOTE=VinnyT;1560811938]No, it is normal. GM aluminum engines are made to run that hot. Keeps them clean and efficient!!!
[/QUOTE i dont know what you mean by clean but i do know the epa wants all the gases burned ( efficient ) befor they get out the back. which requires more heat. i dont like it. mine runs that hot aswell. i put a 160 degree thermostat in my `90 and started having issues. to long to get into.although im sure we can have our c5`s tuned for a cooler stat.
[/QUOTE i dont know what you mean by clean but i do know the epa wants all the gases burned ( efficient ) befor they get out the back. which requires more heat. i dont like it. mine runs that hot aswell. i put a 160 degree thermostat in my `90 and started having issues. to long to get into.although im sure we can have our c5`s tuned for a cooler stat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
I drove out to Palm Springs, CA (that's the desert for the non Southern Cailifornians out there). It was mid 90's to mid 100's outside during the course of the drive and at its hottest, my engine temp was at 248... highest engine temp I have ever seen in my ownership. There was an earlier thread on this subject and if there is a concern... which I have... some suggested getting a 178 thermostat and programming the fans to come on lower. I'm thinking about taking it a step further and getting a larger radiator.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
When you run your A/C one of the fans comes on. I believe the second fan comes on if the engine temp reaches 228 or something near that number.
Being as though I'm in south Alabama, I run my A/C most of the time and my engine temp stays about 192 degrees.
Being as though I'm in south Alabama, I run my A/C most of the time and my engine temp stays about 192 degrees.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Wellsboro Pa
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Merced Ca
My corvette before the one i purchased a year ago was a 1995 C4. Now i have a C5 (2004). I knew that the C4's had a problem with the engine heating up over 220 degrees. I was just wondering if any one has had problems with their C5's heating up over that 220 degree mark? The reason i ask, is because this weekend my car heated up to 228 degrees and i dont know if i should be concerned.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
The temps you are seeing are normal. One good step to take just to make sure, is check your radiator (it's behind the AC condensor) and make sure it's not covered with debris..since the C5's tend to sit low, the front end sometimes acts like a vacum cleaner and sucks crap up there
There is no good reason to switch to a lower t-stat unless you plan on adding cam/heads or blower etc.. stock the car is programmed to run those temps mainly for emissions. If you do change your t-stat you'll have to re-program your fans to come on sooner to make it work.
There is no good reason to switch to a lower t-stat unless you plan on adding cam/heads or blower etc.. stock the car is programmed to run those temps mainly for emissions. If you do change your t-stat you'll have to re-program your fans to come on sooner to make it work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
My corvette before the one i purchased a year ago was a 1995 C4. Now i have a C5 (2004). I knew that the C4's had a problem with the engine heating up over 220 degrees. I was just wondering if any one has had problems with their C5's heating up over that 220 degree mark? The reason i ask, is because this weekend my car heated up to 228 degrees and i dont know if i should be concerned.
Hypertechs can be found in the C5 Parts For Sale section for about $150-$175
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 900
Likes: 38
From: Waunakee Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '20
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Lower Lake Ca
There are 2 fans and each has 2 speeds. When I had the car tuned I had the tuner lower the activation temps 20 degrees for all 4 settings. Now the car gets up to 210 and drops to 205 and it never exceeds 220. Runs regularly at 201 to 205. Great for peace of mind.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Coming back from Bowling Green on Sunday the outside temp read 103 
but the coolant temp was a cool 195 unless I was stopped at an accident and then it would creep up to near 200.
No worries.
but the coolant temp was a cool 195 unless I was stopped at an accident and then it would creep up to near 200.No worries.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Spicewood, TX
Mine gets to 225 in the summer here for sure if I'm out for a long time in city driving where I'm not going fast.
I'm not worried, I've seen friends cars after a road event that put them up anywhere from 250-270 and their cars a fine.
I'm not worried, I've seen friends cars after a road event that put them up anywhere from 250-270 and their cars a fine.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I've got my tuning set up so that it kicks the fans on much sooner than stock, but even still I saw mine get up to 237F the other day on the way home from work in 95F heat with the AC on. It didn't get there until the end of my 70min drive home, in brutal rush hour traffic. For the first 30 min of the journey it stayed below 200F. It seems that once you're stuck in traffic and you've got the AC blasting, it starts creeping up and it's hard for it to get back down, even with the fans going full blast. With the AC off, and at a steady highway speed, it usually runs right at 190F.
