Is 230 normal for a 70 degree day in stop and go traffic? Or should I be looking for something wrong?

 

Sounds pretty normal. You should see 198 driving down the road and 220 or so in the drive thru at Wendy's. If it does not cool down to 198 when you get on the freeway then something is wrong (crud in the radiator fins, plastic bag blocking airflow, etc.)

 

 

ya it drops back down once I get back to open air cruising. Was just worried about it getting so high in the stop and go.

 

Mine rarey gets to 230 in normal stop and go traffic.

 

You've either got your AC off, which means the fans won't come on till 230 degrees. Or you have a plastic bag or something up in the air intake duct. Either way the Dexcool and the LS1 can handle those temps.

 

As long as the temp goes back down when you get the car moving again, it's not too hot at 230 while sitting in stop and go traffic.

 

Auto or stick? If auto keep an eye on trans temp.

 

 

Some things to think about, maybe time for a radiator flush and new radiator fluid. I've heard 5 years on the fluids, then replace if a daily driver. The chemicals break down with uses, but see the GM chart and follow their recommendation. I had Jiffy Lube do a flush radiator when I purchased my C5 in 2008 doing a reverse flush. The color was a dark orange, now it's a bright orange just like the a new vehicle. I'm running 198 to about 220 as well, in stop and go in San Francisco commute traffic, so your in good company.. Enjoy the ride..

 

Drove it down to Santa Barbara tonight, 60 miles both ways and it ran just above 200 the whole way, with and without AC on. Is there a way to make the fans come on at lower temp?

 

change the thermo and change the fan settings and you can make it run under 190*

 

You probably have debris built up between the condenser and radiator. You need to get one of those appliance brushes for cleaning the rear fins (about $5. HomeDepot) and compressed air, release the air duct and remove the four bolts holding the radiator cap on. Prop up the air duct and lift the cap out. Carefully brush the debris out between the two while blowing with compressed air from both sides. Lift the top front of the intake to remove the debris caught at the top. Be careful with the fins, the appliance brush moved vertical motions should clean it right up. You will be surprised with is built up in there.

Your temps at cruise should be around 194-198, stopped idling with ac on around 198-201, and with ac off it will get to about 230 when the fans kick on and bring the temp back down. With the ac on and idling you hit 205 you'll hear the second fan kick on and the temp come back down to around 199.

The max temp is much higher. Yes they can run around 220-230, and that is within normal range, with a cooling system working properly you should see 198's during normal operation.

Yesterday highway speed cruise to the beach (80 mi) with the top down and ac off, I ran 194-196 most of the way (it was 88 out) until I got to A1A and stop lights. While waiting at a light ac off, the temp climbed to 203, then I switched ac back on to regulate temps they got to 205 and dropped back down to 198 for the rest of the trip south about 20 miles. Coming back home late night around 70F out, top up ac on total highway cruise 196-198.

It's always operated that way since new. Except when it gets clogged up, then I notice the temps a little higher and that's my clue to give it a cleaning.

Appliance brush shown.



Top of intake area.



Flashlight there for scale to show how much stuff comes out and that's at a regular cleaning interval.

 

Had the car washed today and checked all up in the front end, didnt find any plastic or debris, but pulled the air filter and it was kinda bad so replaced. I will check down the front of the rad. Also looked at the fluid it looks kinda dark, so will search out a place to get it flushed.

 

You only want Dexcool. Make sure whom ever it is that does the flush is aware of the bleed-burp procedure (a search here will find it). Chevy people should know.

Yeah it's amazing how much material will collect in that small space between the condenser and radiator. If the vehicle is up in the air you can look between the from below. But to clean them you need to remove the cap.