Cooling Questions
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Armada Michigan
Cooling Questions
You guys are a wealth of information, so I'm turning to you for assistance. As many of you may know, each year we have an event here in Detroit called the "Woodward Dream Cruise", which equates to over a half million cars idling for hours down a crowded street. It makes me real nervous when I see the temp gauge continuing to rise. Are there any suggestions as to how to reduce engine temperatures when idling for excessive periods of time? I could switch out thermostats, but don't think that would be too effective when there's no air moving through the intake. Are there cooling assist fans or something else out there that would help?
Secondly, I've been looking at some of the engine compartment "gingerbread" to dress up the motor compartment. Am I only making the situation worse by adding shields on top of the engine that could trap more heat? BTW, I'm running a stock LS1 in a 2004. Thanks.
Secondly, I've been looking at some of the engine compartment "gingerbread" to dress up the motor compartment. Am I only making the situation worse by adding shields on top of the engine that could trap more heat? BTW, I'm running a stock LS1 in a 2004. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
You are correct that changing the t-stat would not help.
I would install a simple manual fan control switch to turn on one or two of the cooling fans. You just ground a pin on one of the relays near the battery. A simple toggle switch mounted under thew dash works fine. Email me if you want any additional instructions.
Adding some engine chrome will have a negligible effect.
$5.00, switch and wire.
I would install a simple manual fan control switch to turn on one or two of the cooling fans. You just ground a pin on one of the relays near the battery. A simple toggle switch mounted under thew dash works fine. Email me if you want any additional instructions.
Adding some engine chrome will have a negligible effect.
$5.00, switch and wire.
Last edited by warren s; Jan 20, 2011 at 12:02 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 1
From: Eureka California
SacCityCorvette sells a really slick remote fan switch that can be hooked up to control the fans in high speed or low, with the engine running or not running. Very inexpensive and it really works! It's called Cool It v2. Easy to install and well worth the very low cost.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
The switch to operate the fans is in the engine compartment on the base unit?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 1
From: Eureka California
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Armada Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
The C5 won't overheat unless something is wrong or you don't like the AC. With the AC on it forces the fans to come on. They only shut off if the car exceeds a certain speed (I believe it's 35 mph?).
There are only three "main" things that contribute to a C5 overheating:
1) Lower cowling is missing, which directs air up into the condenser/radiator (car overheats at higher speeds)
2) Condenser/Radiator are dirty and not allowing air flow through them. (car overheats at any speed, air being pushed up OR fans sucking air through)
3) One or more of the fans has failed and is not pulling enough air thru the condenser/radiator. (car overheats in stop/go traffic less than 35 mph. The car will cool down as speed increases over 45 mph).
Yes there are other things such as air in the system, broken thermostat or broken water pump but the above 3 are most common.
Word of caution:
I have watched C5s vacuum up streamers and other trash during parades, be careful what you drive over as the front end is a vacuum. You could temporarily install a screen over the opening for the parade, I would think something like chicken wire would be fine, I wouldn't want much smaller openings as it may restrict airflow.
There are only three "main" things that contribute to a C5 overheating:
1) Lower cowling is missing, which directs air up into the condenser/radiator (car overheats at higher speeds)
2) Condenser/Radiator are dirty and not allowing air flow through them. (car overheats at any speed, air being pushed up OR fans sucking air through)
3) One or more of the fans has failed and is not pulling enough air thru the condenser/radiator. (car overheats in stop/go traffic less than 35 mph. The car will cool down as speed increases over 45 mph).
Yes there are other things such as air in the system, broken thermostat or broken water pump but the above 3 are most common.
Word of caution:
I have watched C5s vacuum up streamers and other trash during parades, be careful what you drive over as the front end is a vacuum. You could temporarily install a screen over the opening for the parade, I would think something like chicken wire would be fine, I wouldn't want much smaller openings as it may restrict airflow.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Armada Michigan
The C5 won't overheat unless something is wrong or you don't like the AC. With the AC on it forces the fans to come on. They only shut off if the car exceeds a certain speed (I believe it's 35 mph?).
There are only three "main" things that contribute to a C5 overheating:
1) Lower cowling is missing, which directs air up into the condenser/radiator (car overheats at higher speeds)
2) Condenser/Radiator are dirty and not allowing air flow through them. (car overheats at any speed, air being pushed up OR fans sucking air through)
3) One or more of the fans has failed and is not pulling enough air thru the condenser/radiator. (car overheats in stop/go traffic less than 35 mph. The car will cool down as speed increases over 45 mph).
Yes there are other things such as air in the system, broken thermostat or broken water pump but the above 3 are most common.
Word of caution:
I have watched C5s vacuum up streamers and other trash during parades, be careful what you drive over as the front end is a vacuum. You could temporarily install a screen over the opening for the parade, I would think something like chicken wire would be fine, I wouldn't want much smaller openings as it may restrict airflow.
There are only three "main" things that contribute to a C5 overheating:
1) Lower cowling is missing, which directs air up into the condenser/radiator (car overheats at higher speeds)
2) Condenser/Radiator are dirty and not allowing air flow through them. (car overheats at any speed, air being pushed up OR fans sucking air through)
3) One or more of the fans has failed and is not pulling enough air thru the condenser/radiator. (car overheats in stop/go traffic less than 35 mph. The car will cool down as speed increases over 45 mph).
Yes there are other things such as air in the system, broken thermostat or broken water pump but the above 3 are most common.
Word of caution:
I have watched C5s vacuum up streamers and other trash during parades, be careful what you drive over as the front end is a vacuum. You could temporarily install a screen over the opening for the parade, I would think something like chicken wire would be fine, I wouldn't want much smaller openings as it may restrict airflow.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 173
From: Citrus Heights CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
Thanks KC. Maybe I overstated the situation.....I've never had it "overheat" per se and give me problems. It just appeared last summer the temp gauge was getting up into the 230-240 range and I was concerned that continuing at such a slow pace was going to result in my having to push it off the road. Maybe that's an acceptable temperature under those circumstances.
As mentioned above you would be surprised to see how much dirt, grass and sand is in between the fins on the radiator and condenser. Be sure to wash it out before the parade and your temps will probably be down 5-10 degrees. I took a air wand from harbor freight and bent the tip so it would fit in between the condenser and radiator so I could blow stuff back out the way it came in.
If you look up there closely on both sides of the condenser there is a thick foam strip on each side to keep air from going around the radiator. I had one disappear and my temps climbed 10 degrees.
Little things to check to make the parade worry free...
