Running temperatures '00
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 165
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From: Mesa AZ
Running temperatures '00
Our new '00 seems to run @ 210 degrees..and the cooling fans come on @ about230 degrees with the A/C on..is this normal? She has the original coolant, is an original CA car, and I will be getting the original coolant replaced as soon as I get my tax return...please let us know your thoughts..Bob
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Our new '00 seems to run @ 210 degrees..and the cooling fans come on @ about230 degrees with the A/C on..is this normal? She has the original coolant, is an original CA car, and I will be getting the original coolant replaced as soon as I get my tax return...please let us know your thoughts..Bob
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The running temp seams a bit high - mine runs at about 195* or so. You might want to check the area in front of the radiator - these cars just about vacuum up anything in its path and that area gets clogged up every now and then - higher temps can result.
And yes, get the original coolant changed - that's something that should be done every 5 years or 100K miles.
And yes, get the original coolant changed - that's something that should be done every 5 years or 100K miles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
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From: Sacramento California
Switch to a 160 Thermostat and do an ECS Mail Order Tune and you will be running nice and cool. Mine was like yours and now my coolant floats between 170 -180 and my oil stays below 200. I have a 97' with 32K miles. Fluid was changed at 27K miles and the new tune and thermostat at about 31K miles. Made a big difference.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Iowa City Iowa
I have a stock thermostat and my 2000 with 69k miles runs 190-195. Both fans come on immediately when the A/C is turned on. I wonder if you have a lot of road trash against the front of the radiator. Check it out by looking under the front of the car, these cars suck up a lot of trash. Good luck, Ron
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
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Regarding fans and the A/C, the #1 fan turns on if A/C is on and engine temp is 85*C or above, or if A/C is on and A/C pressure is 1516 kPA or above, and the #2 fan kicks on if A/C is on and A/c pressure is 1759 kPA or higher.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
as the a/c over-rides the normal temperature sensor for turn on.it sound like you're running a bit hotter than most. my 04 runs at about 192 while moving at a good pace. it will creep up if stuck in traffic on a nice day. the fans kick on at about 225 on mine. stick with a stock thermostat. there's a reason GM put it in there .
Last edited by srs244; Apr 6, 2010 at 03:09 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Lexington Park MD
Why wait for a tax return? It only costs $20 if you do it yourself, well $35 for me because I bought an extra container of coolant and bought distilled water to flush the system with. The instructions can be found here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...tml?forum_id=1
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Sacramento California
I have a stock thermostat and my 2000 with 69k miles runs 190-195. Both fans come on immediately when the A/C is turned on. I wonder if you have a lot of road trash against the front of the radiator. Check it out by looking under the front of the car, these cars suck up a lot of trash. Good luck, Ron
We recently had a upper 70's low 80's day here. I ran up to get my kids a bite to eat. I was in a drive through and it took forever. Just sitting idling. The hottest my temp went to was 182. Then the second fan came on and it dropped to 178. Havn't run the AC yet so can't comment on that yet but the new 160 thermostat and tune made a world of difference. 20-30 degrees cooler has to be a good thing.
Also, do you have a 6 speed or an automatic? The Auto guys sure rave about these tunes.
Burning Brakes
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From: Santa Rosa California
Race Director
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From: Rio Rancho NM
Your car is running fine lots of incorrect info in this thread.
C5 Cooling Fans Operation
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).
When you have "cooling problems" always check the radiator for foreign material (grass, leaves, plastic bags, etc.), since these C5s are bottom breathers, they act as road vacuum cleaners.
C5 Cooling Fans Operation
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).
When you have "cooling problems" always check the radiator for foreign material (grass, leaves, plastic bags, etc.), since these C5s are bottom breathers, they act as road vacuum cleaners.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Your car is running fine lots of incorrect info in this thread.
C5 Cooling Fans Operation
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).
When you have "cooling problems" always check the radiator for foreign material (grass, leaves, plastic bags, etc.), since these C5s are bottom breathers, they act as road vacuum cleaners.
C5 Cooling Fans Operation
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).
When you have "cooling problems" always check the radiator for foreign material (grass, leaves, plastic bags, etc.), since these C5s are bottom breathers, they act as road vacuum cleaners.
Thanks, just trying to understand.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 397
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i was hitting 225 sitting in the drive through today at kfc, was wondering this exact thing, driving stays under 200, but traffic is a whole different ball game...i'm in FL, so if it's running this hot while it's only 85 degrees out, it's scary to think what the running temps will be when it gets another 10 degrees warmer and more humid 
, going to try ' forty below' in my radiator, after i do a flush and put new dexcool in it...how much to do a mail order retune ?
, going to try ' forty below' in my radiator, after i do a flush and put new dexcool in it...how much to do a mail order retune ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
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From: Sacramento California
The fans come on earlier with the custom tunes. The combo of the stat opening at a lower temp and the fans coming on at lower temps is why the car runs cooler. Maybe one of the tuners can chime in.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
A thermostat in a C5 controls ONLY how cold the coolant will get, not how Hot it will get... a 190 stat will only allow the coolant to get down to 190 on a cold day.. but on a warm day, a C5 can easily see 220/230.if you attempt to lower the fans operating start temps to something less than 190 the fans will never turn off and will burn out very prematurely.. the fans are designed to cycle..on and off.. in order to lower the coolant temps, the fans have to come on earlier to help to keep the car in the sweet spot... So if you put in a 160 stat like I do ( for the spring and summer, ) you can lower the start temps of the fans and actually attain those temps, so now when you get an increase of 20 to 40 degrees , it will take the coolant from 160 to 190/200. instead of starting at 190 and going up to 230.... If this does not make sense, PM me for some one on one help.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET