Originally Posted by Evil-Twin View Post
You can not see the radiator to inspect it./...from the front, the condenser ahead of it blocking your view and the fans block view from the rear... I've seen a small plastic grocery bag get sucked up between the condenser and the radiator.. I've also seen a plastic grocery bag get sucked into one of the fans itself, shutting it down..

How did you see it? you started this paragraph with "you can not see the radiator to inspect it"

 

There are a number of suggestions here that are valid and may be the cause of your high temps. First, ET is correct in his description of how the condenser, radiator and fans are located in the car and why it is necessary to remove the radiator to clean it properly. You can clean the condenser from the front as it is accessible and if blocked will not let air reach the radiator either through normal movement or being sucked through by the fans. You can try blowing air/water down between the condenser and radiator (I would think you would have to remove at least the top radiator support/shroud to do so)but you will be better served by removing the radiator to really clean it. Also as mentioned you should check that your center air dam is functioning correctly as well as ensure that the new thermostat is operating as designed. Finally as also noted if the system was not burped properly you may have an air block in the system. And without the need to parse words for effect I have also "seen" bags sucked into the space between the radiator and condenser causing almost immediate temp rise. I use the word "seen" as a descriptor for the fact of actually having had to remove the radiator to view it. But we all use the word "seen" as such. So yes while you cannot view it while the radiator is still in the car you will see it when removed. So ET was correct again, though taken to task for just using the words we all do.

 

First


Originally Posted by jdvann View Post
The debris in the radiator may not be visible...overtime it forms a thick gunk inside of the cooling vanes, best way to clear that is air or water sprayed through the radiator...

I agree but, the best way is to remove the radiator and clean it.

It's really hard to tell if the radiator is clean just by looking at it casually, mine looked clean but, when I tried blowing what little tiny bit of crap was in it out ( I made a special tool to reach between the coils to blow them clean) it wouldn't even blow thru it...it was completely plugged off, but only between the fins. I just took it out and took the water hose to it and cleaned it. NO more overheating.

I was taken to school by Bill on what I can and cannot see...
It is very simple to pull the shroud off the top of the condenser and radiator to inspect, along with taking a flashlight and looking at the space between the condenser and radiator, from the bottom.. even though with a "casual" look, it may appear to be clean... (That's what I thought when I inspected mine, till I removed it) In my opinion the best method, based on my experience and from what I was seeing, was to take out the radiator and clean it properly.
I was being facetious in response to Bill being so condescending and rude. I know what he meant...

 

Your friend Bill says you can't see ...how do you do it?

 

Just trying to get back to helping the OP with his issue. I have no dog in this fight as the saying goes so what you and Bill wish to debate is up to the both of you.

 

I remove the radiator...

 

Sorry about all the fall out.. my suggestion is...

Jack up the front of the car and with a good light see if there is anything obvious between the radiator and the condenser, or on the front of the condenser. If that all appears to be clear then you can remove the shroud covering the top of the radiator and condenser.. you can move the fans back just a little bit, enough to look and if it appears to be clear I would still try running some water thru it or blowing air thru it to check for possible blockage of the fins that you cannot see from those vantage points...from there I believe removal is the last option for peace of mind that your condenser and radiator are clear and allowing the maximum performance to keep your LS1 cool

Phew.. I hope this helps you

 

Originally Posted by alxltd1 View Post
Check to see if you have accumulated dirt, grass clippings, leaves and other assorted trash in the front of the radiator. I clean mine when ever up on the lift or every 3 months which ever comes first. You will be surprised how much gets in there.

You didn't suggest that to the OP.. you just said "check to see"...
How does he do that? By removing the radiator? MRI, crystal ball?

You clean yours whenever on the lift...so you remove the radiator put the car on the lift and then clean?

 

AS A GM factory Field Engineer after my design phase from 1995 through launch, I saw hundreds of problems and was responsible for 31 engineering fixes for the C5 platform... You ask question as if you are challenging my input...I've seen most of the problems from field problems when dealerships request Factory engineering services.. I've taken these cars apart or had them taken apart for inspection and debugging.

I hate this crap I get from clueless children who constantly challenge my input...I posted pictures and a video to show how buried the actual radiator is.. and you said you inspected yours... NO You Didn't and I was trying to point that out to you as a courtesy, and you disrespected me and my help... and for what< I don't get paid to be here.. I came here 14 years ago to give back thousand of help requests, just as I was doing for GM. as a courtesy here.. it has become apparent to me that too many clueless challenge everything I say so with my health in such bad condition... I don't need this any more. You Kids can figure it out yourself... Wait, you already have it all figured out... when this forum become negative, a smart man would have to give it up...
I don't need this any more.

 

Not impressed by your credentials, nobody gets paid here, well I guess the vendors do. I am NOT a kid. You cannot possibly know what I can or can't see when I am working on my car unless you are looking thru my eyes... I can see what I can see... IF you would like I can jack up the car, take a picture and show you that I can see both the front and the back side of the Radiator on my car without removing anything...it's not only possible I just did it about 15 minutes ago! Yes I know the difference between the condenser and the radiator, I've had the radiator out and cleaned it. I didn't "challenge" your input you CHALLENGED mine.

Because your a retired GM engineer doesn't give you licence to be condescending, arrogant, demeaning, stubborn, or right all the time. Heck you might even be wrong occasionally... I am.

For the sake of more bickering here are the pics..you can clearly see the gaps in front of and behind the radiator...if you shine a light in these gaps you can "casually" inspect the radiator



front of radiator gap about 1 1/2"



Back side of radiator... you can't see as well because the bottom of the radiator shroud is fairly close, about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch



Now the part I thing we agree on, is that you can't see inside the fins, and that removal is necessary to inspect for absolute certainty that nothing is obstructing flow thru the cores...

 

vettefan84, After a period of time you will find that when certain members chime in and give support it's worth listening to. Back to your issue, I have been down this road myself and the solution is, all of the above! You must take out the radiator and inspect it, I went through all the trouble of a modded air nozzle wand to a modded water nozzle wand and thought I was pretty comprehensive and diligent about the radiator cleaning issue, I was wrong. Upon taking it out to do another task I could clearly see that both methods were not sufficient to clean the core. I ended up even taking a a toothbrush and cleaned it with a mix of different detergents and upon rinsing and using a air nozzle I still ended up removing almost 2 1/2 cups of fine sand and debri. After this I took my core to a radiator shop and had them do a flush and re-installed. Blam, 168-175 degree temps on a average temp day( 70-80 degrees ) on the freeway. A lot of sh_t accumulates after 10-15 years of neglect or non-maintenance. I hope you take 'All' these suggestions and apply them to resolve your issue. Take care and don't let it make you run 'Hot"!!

 

Well said.

 

Ok cupcake. You seem intent on just continuing to run this into the ground as your ego or sensitivity was hurt somehow. I gave my advice to the OP in two posts and it still stands. There is a difference between checking and cleaning. You will notice that in my follow up post I stated that to properly clean the radiator it has to be removed. I can check it with the car on the lift by looking up between the radiator and condenser but unless it is very clogged it is hard to tell how dirty until you remove the radiator, which I do to clean it. You can continue to spin the conversation but why not start your own thread? There you can spew all the sarcasm your little heart desires. For me I will just adhere to my father’s advice from a long time ago and not engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. Truth be known I really don’t give a rats azz what you think and to continue providing you with an opportunity to hi jack the thread does the OP no good. So have a nice day cupcake.

 

It's official

 

There is a difference between checking and cleaning. You will notice that in my follow up post I stated that to properly clean the radiator it has to be removed. I can check it with the car on the lift by looking up between the radiator and condenser but unless it is very clogged it is hard to tell how dirty until you remove the radiator, which I do to clean it. Exactly that is what I said! You CAN inspect the radiator from below, at least both sides of it, just not the fins...so, it's a safer bet to remove and make sure it's clean... we actually agree.

Ouch.. was trying to clarify

 

Thanks for your advice..ok when i bought this car it cames without air dams....and that temperature is when i go over 60 mph,,,i.m gonna clean the condenser and radiator and of course to install a new air dam ..honestly this car doesnt have any air dam..i got it like that,,,,i was going at 70 miles on freeway temperature 250...i think if i go at 90 mph my car explodes lol...well i gonna do all of that you say..clean radiator condenser new air dams ...and also bleed the cooling system thanks one more time

 

Nice i totally agree,,,,,,

 

Glad we were able to help. New air dam is easy install and will fix your overheating at speed problem.

 

I'm glad that's finished.

Great advice..

 

Just wondering