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Old Jun 8, 2010 | 06:06 PM
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Default air dam

my c5 is a rebuilt and it has always ran 230 with the a/c off. I have replaced the radiator with a 3 core, and a new water pump. Still no change.
I also have the fans to where they run constantly.


It is missing the air dam that directs air to the radiator, is this why its running hot?
I removed the plastic around the fog lights to let more air in because of the missing dam. Didnt help the temp.

Does it make that much different to have it?

Do I most likely have a bad head gasket or cracked head?

Advice appreciated
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Old Jun 8, 2010 | 06:34 PM
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Default Missing Air Dam

Yes it make a lot of difference, but in your case I'd have to think something else is going on. My totally stock 2003, runs at 200 degrees and in heavy stop and go traffic with the A/C on max it runs at 210 degrees. So I have to think you'd do your self to reinstall the air dam, (And easy job) then see if your temps. come down.
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Old Jun 8, 2010 | 07:42 PM
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My airdam just came off a week ago and I seem to run between 200-220 in stop/go.

At speed on the freeway it seems to sit around 190ish.

Honestly though it doesn't seem much different than when it did with the airdam. When I sat idle or stop/go for awhile even with it, it crept to 220.
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Old Jun 8, 2010 | 10:04 PM
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Just a thought, but maybe your temp sensor isn't accurate. What's your oil temp read? My water temp is useally about 200 and my oil is useally 190-195.
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Old Jun 8, 2010 | 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by tbiker99
Just a thought, but maybe your temp sensor isn't accurate. What's your oil temp read? My water temp is useally about 200 and my oil is useally 190-195.
Ill check and see what my oil reads tomorrow. Would a lower temp thermostat help? Mines stock.
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Old Jun 8, 2010 | 10:47 PM
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You can get a replacement air dam anywhere that fine Corvette accessories are sold.
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Old Jun 9, 2010 | 02:02 PM
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will a 160degree thermostat and fans running all the time help?
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Old Jun 9, 2010 | 02:49 PM
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I actually paid attention to the digital display after this post yesterday and noticed WITHOUT the DAM in stop and go I range from 198-201.
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Old Jun 9, 2010 | 03:31 PM
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I think you will be amazed at the difference re-installing the air dam will make in the temps. The most important is obviously the center section, which is designed to get air to the radiator for cooling. The side sections complete the look. As others have said, it's easy to find and easy to install. The engineers had it there for a reason, not to just make scrape sounds on low hanging fruit.
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Old Jun 9, 2010 | 04:07 PM
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this seems a little high even without an air dam. with the fans running all the time it should not get that hot. my guess would be that the thermostat is stuck closed or halfway open or something. remove the the t-stat and check to see if its broken.
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Old Jun 9, 2010 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by SaberD
this seems a little high even without an air dam. with the fans running all the time it should not get that hot. my guess would be that the thermostat is stuck closed or halfway open or something. remove the the t-stat and check to see if its broken.
Exactly ! But I'd still reinstall the Air Dam. It's only held on with 4 10mm bolts, and the sides are held on by 4 #6 sheet metal screws.
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