Engine Temperature experience?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Boerne Texas
Engine Temperature experience?
I recently purchased a 13,000 mile 1999 Auto Convertible in Oklahoma. On the 300 mile trip home I hit rush hour traffic just North of Ft Worth. It took me about an hour to get thru it. I noticed that for the entire trip thru Oklahoma (and after the traffic subsided) the car ran at a tick over the 190 mark. In the traffic the temps crept up 220 then continued to the 230 degree mark. I didn't expect that. Abut that time the traffic let up and I was able to roll and it stayed at 220 then went back down to the tick over 190.
Is this normal? Has anyone had similar experience in traffic. The car didn't get close to the 255 Hot area but since I am not familiar with the car don't know if this is something I should have the dealer check as I may be paranoid about engine heat. Thx
Is this normal? Has anyone had similar experience in traffic. The car didn't get close to the 255 Hot area but since I am not familiar with the car don't know if this is something I should have the dealer check as I may be paranoid about engine heat. Thx
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 445
Likes: 4
From: San Diego CA
Its normal, the corvette uses a high pressure radiator cap which allows the normal operating temp to be higher than most cars. In traffic your fans will come on around 230 and will drop the temp back down to 190ish.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 15
From: Seattle WA
Perfectly normal. 230 isn't really the danger zone for these motors - creep up too far above 240 and start worrying, get above 250 and you need to figure out what's wrong with your cooling system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 10
From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
If you get worried, put your AC on. It will turn on BOTH electric cooling fans on your radiator and you will see your engine temp go down.
About 3 years ago I posted the same question!! Mine jumped to 226 and about freaked out!!
Now, just as a maintenance issues, check to make sure you didn't suck in a walmart bag on the radiator. These cars are "bottom feeders" and will suck up grass trimmings, dirt, trash, small children (joking), etc, etc.
About 3 years ago I posted the same question!! Mine jumped to 226 and about freaked out!!
Now, just as a maintenance issues, check to make sure you didn't suck in a walmart bag on the radiator. These cars are "bottom feeders" and will suck up grass trimmings, dirt, trash, small children (joking), etc, etc.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,065
Likes: 24,731
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
In stop and go traffic, your temps are not uncommon. On the open highway, 190 is about right too.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,498
Likes: 1,822
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 671
Likes: 10
From: Tulsa OK
Mine runs about the same. I bought a low mileage '02 in the summer of '09 and the first thing I did was change all fluids (coolant, brake fluid and oil) just to be safe. I believe age makes a difference on all fluids, some more than others.
Good luck with the new Corvette.
OBD
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 585
I have the same experience but I do notice performance suffers GREATLY in mine once I get to 200 or more. Below that and it is fine.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 543
From: Appleton WI
Your temp readings don't sound out of line for transitioning from highway to stop-and-go traffic. Turning the AC on may turn on the radiator fans but may also drive your engine temp up due to the additional work required to run the compressor. If your radiator is plugged, you could push the engine to overheat temps.
If you ever get into a situation where you're approaching boil over and suspect a radiator problem, turn your heater on the highest temp and fan settings. It will be uncomfortable in the car but you can cool the engine and attempt to drive somewhere to get it fixed. Your heater core is essentially another radiator.
I had an old Caddy at one time and was overheating on my way through Canada. That trick allowed me to drive the 50 miles to get across the border into the USA and to my parent's place. I was able to coordinate repairs from there. Turned out the lower half of the radiator was plugged with sludge.
If you're using the heater trick and you lose heat, shut the engine down. You've lost too much coolant!
If you ever get into a situation where you're approaching boil over and suspect a radiator problem, turn your heater on the highest temp and fan settings. It will be uncomfortable in the car but you can cool the engine and attempt to drive somewhere to get it fixed. Your heater core is essentially another radiator.
I had an old Caddy at one time and was overheating on my way through Canada. That trick allowed me to drive the 50 miles to get across the border into the USA and to my parent's place. I was able to coordinate repairs from there. Turned out the lower half of the radiator was plugged with sludge.
If you're using the heater trick and you lose heat, shut the engine down. You've lost too much coolant!
Last edited by 3sACROWD; Mar 2, 2012 at 08:16 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 333
From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
The car has no engine-driven fan, and when the coolant temp is below 226 F the electric fans do not run either (with the A/C off). So this means that when sitting in traffic, there is very little cooling air being passed through the radiator, and the temps will start to creep up just from normal idle operations.
When the coolant temp reaches 226 F, the low speed cooling fan will be commanded on. It will be turned off when the coolant goes back down to 219 F. As a backup, if the coolant temp reaches 235 F, the high speed cooling fan will come on and will be turned off when the coolant goes back down to 226 F.
When the A/c is on, the low speed fan is commanded on when the coolant gets to 185 F and vehicle speed is less than 35 MPH.
The above is from the service manual. So your operation looks normal.
Also, from the manual, the system does not consider an over temp situation to have occurred until the temp reaches 256 F.
I just recently changed the coolant in my '01, and when finished, I let the engine idle until it got up to the 226 F range, and bingo the fan came on as described and shut off as described.
When the coolant temp reaches 226 F, the low speed cooling fan will be commanded on. It will be turned off when the coolant goes back down to 219 F. As a backup, if the coolant temp reaches 235 F, the high speed cooling fan will come on and will be turned off when the coolant goes back down to 226 F.
When the A/c is on, the low speed fan is commanded on when the coolant gets to 185 F and vehicle speed is less than 35 MPH.
The above is from the service manual. So your operation looks normal.
Also, from the manual, the system does not consider an over temp situation to have occurred until the temp reaches 256 F.
I just recently changed the coolant in my '01, and when finished, I let the engine idle until it got up to the 226 F range, and bingo the fan came on as described and shut off as described.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 1
From: Eureka California
To make yourself a little more comfortable with the temps, which are normal, install a V2 or V3 fan control switch from saccitycorvette. Just switch on the fans when your temp gets around the 200 degree mark and it'll keep your temp down while in traffic. They really work! They're inexpensive and incredibly easy to install. Takes about 30 min, tops. The new models even turn off the fans with the ingnition. Your fans still run automatically if your temp goes up.
Get one, they're awesome!
Pete O.
Get one, they're awesome!
Pete O.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Not sure, but I think you could re-program the fans to turn on at a bit lower temperature - but don't do this unless your engine's summertime temperatures are creeping above 230. You'll notice this primarily in stop-and-go go afternoon rush hour traffic.
Da' Lizzard
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 704
Likes: 101
From: Duluth MN
I recently purchased a 13,000 mile 1999 Auto Convertible in Oklahoma. On the 300 mile trip home I hit rush hour traffic just North of Ft Worth. It took me about an hour to get thru it. I noticed that for the entire trip thru Oklahoma (and after the traffic subsided) the car ran at a tick over the 190 mark. In the traffic the temps crept up 220 then continued to the 230 degree mark. I didn't expect that. Abut that time the traffic let up and I was able to roll and it stayed at 220 then went back down to the tick over 190.
Is this normal? Has anyone had similar experience in traffic. The car didn't get close to the 255 Hot area but since I am not familiar with the car don't know if this is something I should have the dealer check as I may be paranoid about engine heat. Thx
Is this normal? Has anyone had similar experience in traffic. The car didn't get close to the 255 Hot area but since I am not familiar with the car don't know if this is something I should have the dealer check as I may be paranoid about engine heat. Thx
