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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 09:51 PM
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Default Engine Temp Question

Yesterday while out cruising in our 02 Vert- my temp started rising while in a traffic jam. It normally runs about 185-195 when cruising- but while stuck in traffic is jumped up to 230 plus.

Is this normal, dangerous?
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by t-boy58
Yesterday while out cruising in our 02 Vert- my temp started rising while in a traffic jam. It normally runs about 185-195 when cruising- but while stuck in traffic is jumped up to 230 plus.

Is this normal, dangerous?
Normal.... You can easily hit those temps on hot days. Not at all dangerous.

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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 09:53 PM
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if it peaks at 230 in traffic but drops when you get moving, you're okay
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 11:18 PM
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Get a flashlight and crawl under the nose area and look up in there for debris. Being very careful, use a vacuum to remove all the material that gets sucked up there and in-between the fins. Be careful the fins are delicate.

In mid summer in non-moving operations it should rise up some from normal 194 or so, but 230 seems awfully high from where it has been running. Normally I see about 205 in worst cases but then the fans kick on just before and it knocks it back down to 199. Are you running the AC when this happens?

Last edited by Jet-Jock; Aug 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM.
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 01:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Jet-Jock
Get a flashlight and crawl under the nose area and look up in there for debris. Being very careful, use a vacuum to remove all the material that gets sucked up there and in-between the fins. Be careful the fins are delicate.

In mid summer in non-moving operations it should rise up some from normal 194 or so, but 230 seems awfully high from where it has been running. Normally I see about 205 in worst cases but then the fans kick on just before and it knocks it back down to 199. Are you running the AC when this happens?
The coolant temp can easily see 230. The engine is designed to operate at that temp. If the temp gets too high the engine will go into limp home mode.

Here is the description of how the cooling fans work:

The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).

Bill
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 01:28 AM
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I'd see temperatures up there quite often when I lived in Vegas. It comes straight back down when the air gets flowing again or the fans cut in.
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 06:48 AM
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I'd didn't say that wasn't a normal temp, what I said was jumping from the normals the OP had been seeing to suddenly see 230 was a bit high and there is probably some reason which can most likely be attributed to debris blocking air flow.

With the AC on it will not NORMALLY get to that temp, with the AC off, then yes it will get there before it turns on the cooling fans. I never see the upper limits since I live in FL and run AC all the time.

It is not much different the the temp ranges of the LT1. And the LS1 operates at nearly the same range values.
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 10:23 AM
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Thanks for the great info. No the A/C was not on-but after I started moving again- it dropped back down!
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 12:04 PM
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Then your system is operating correctly. Had you had the AC on it would have probably never gotten over 205°F. Same thing if you noted the temp and turned the AC it would have come back down. If you had the top down you can still run the AC just press the Mode button and take the system out of Auto mode. Generally upper/lower registers are a good mode for top down driving with the temp set a little higher. The fan relays are designed to be turned on at those higher temps minus the AC effect.
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Old Aug 11, 2008 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Jet-Jock
Then your system is operating correctly. Had you had the AC on it would have probably never gotten over 205°F. Same thing if you noted the temp and turned the AC it would have come back down. If you had the top down you can still run the AC just press the Mode button and take the system out of Auto mode. Generally upper/lower registers are a good mode for top down driving with the temp set a little higher. The fan relays are designed to be turned on at those higher temps minus the AC effect.
Wow-thanks for the great info- I have learned something new!
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