[Z06] C5 Z06 Normal Coolant Temp
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 24
From: Bogota
C5 Z06 Normal Coolant Temp
I've been searching for this on the forum and still i cannot believe I haven't been able to find a thread about it. I find information for the C6 and C7 but not for the C5. So my concern is simple. During daily driving, I get coolant temperatures as high as this:
Almost 230°F. When the fan activates then it will go down to 200°F and it will keep within this range during stop and go traffic. Is this expected? Or should I do something about it. This is my first V8 but as far as I know, on any engine it is not good to have coolant temps above 212°F which is the water boiling point but considering there is coolant instead of water, should I be worried?
I have the VCM tool from HP Tuners which is capable of changing the fan temperature trigger point. Should I lower it or I just leave the car alone. I must point out that the coolant temp has never exceeded 228°F and at highway speeds it will go down to 190 or lower.
Thanks for your opinion and I'm really sorry if this has been already discussed and solved here.
Almost 230°F. When the fan activates then it will go down to 200°F and it will keep within this range during stop and go traffic. Is this expected? Or should I do something about it. This is my first V8 but as far as I know, on any engine it is not good to have coolant temps above 212°F which is the water boiling point but considering there is coolant instead of water, should I be worried?
I have the VCM tool from HP Tuners which is capable of changing the fan temperature trigger point. Should I lower it or I just leave the car alone. I must point out that the coolant temp has never exceeded 228°F and at highway speeds it will go down to 190 or lower.
Thanks for your opinion and I'm really sorry if this has been already discussed and solved here.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
I think it is a little high and I don't like to see temps that hight on my vette. I installed the cool it mod on my car and if it gets up to 205 or so cruzing around town with no air on I bring on the fan with a key fob. Just my 2 cents.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 3
From: Hobe Sound, Fl
My 02 Z does this as well. I'm down in South Florida and have to be in some heavy stop and go traffic to get anything over 210. Highway speeds (65+) I see about 178-180ish depending on the temperature outside. I would say its pretty normal, anything higher and I would be a little worried. Oil temps which is another topic seem to be quite a bit higher but should be, 180-215 seems to be normal for around town driving.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 549
Likes: 44
From: Houston TX
On a side note, the boiling point of liquids increases when under pressure, so at 230 degrees your coolant is not boiling.
It also probably wouldn't hurt to clean out all of the debris that's built up on/around your radiator.
It also probably wouldn't hurt to clean out all of the debris that's built up on/around your radiator.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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I've been searching for this on the forum and still i cannot believe I haven't been able to find a thread about it. I find information for the C6 and C7 but not for the C5. So my concern is simple. During daily driving, I get coolant temperatures as high as this:
Almost 230°F. When the fan activates then it will go down to 200°F and it will keep within this range during stop and go traffic. Is this expected? Or should I do something about it. This is my first V8 but as far as I know, on any engine it is not good to have coolant temps above 212°F which is the water boiling point but considering there is coolant instead of water, should I be worried?
I have the VCM tool from HP Tuners which is capable of changing the fan temperature trigger point. Should I lower it or I just leave the car alone. I must point out that the coolant temp has never exceeded 228°F and at highway speeds it will go down to 190 or lower.
Thanks for your opinion and I'm really sorry if this has been already discussed and solved here.
Almost 230°F. When the fan activates then it will go down to 200°F and it will keep within this range during stop and go traffic. Is this expected? Or should I do something about it. This is my first V8 but as far as I know, on any engine it is not good to have coolant temps above 212°F which is the water boiling point but considering there is coolant instead of water, should I be worried?
I have the VCM tool from HP Tuners which is capable of changing the fan temperature trigger point. Should I lower it or I just leave the car alone. I must point out that the coolant temp has never exceeded 228°F and at highway speeds it will go down to 190 or lower.
Thanks for your opinion and I'm really sorry if this has been already discussed and solved here.
Last edited by mainecobra; Nov 17, 2015 at 03:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 24
From: Bogota
Thank you all for the very useful opinions. So i guess everything is ok but I wouldn't mind the temps to go a little but lower so probably I'll follow mainecobra´s advice to lower the fan start temp a little bit. Probably just 10° or 12°.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Last edited by laurent_zo6; Nov 22, 2015 at 08:37 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: smyrna de
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 119
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From: Bogota
Instructor
Joined: May 2014
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Thats alot hotter than my car runs down here in florida. I however run a 3/4 water to coolant ratio. Usually my car is around 194-198. Its also a 2002 Z06. My 98 Camaro runs at around the same with the same water/coolant ratio. Other than that both have stock cooling.
Make sure your z06 has the front air dam in place and that its working properly (not damaged or bent upwards). The previous owner of my car ran it without the air dam because it would scrape, but this caused the car to run around the same as yours. The complete air dam assembly can be found online for around $90 shipped.
Make sure your z06 has the front air dam in place and that its working properly (not damaged or bent upwards). The previous owner of my car ran it without the air dam because it would scrape, but this caused the car to run around the same as yours. The complete air dam assembly can be found online for around $90 shipped.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 24
From: Bogota
Thats alot hotter than my car runs down here in florida. I however run a 3/4 water to coolant ratio. Usually my car is around 194-198. Its also a 2002 Z06. My 98 Camaro runs at around the same with the same water/coolant ratio. Other than that both have stock cooling.
Make sure your z06 has the front air dam in place and that its working properly (not damaged or bent upwards). The previous owner of my car ran it without the air dam because it would scrape, but this caused the car to run around the same as yours. The complete air dam assembly can be found online for around $90 shipped.
Make sure your z06 has the front air dam in place and that its working properly (not damaged or bent upwards). The previous owner of my car ran it without the air dam because it would scrape, but this caused the car to run around the same as yours. The complete air dam assembly can be found online for around $90 shipped.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 308
Likes: 6
From: Winnetka, CA
As others have said your temp range is totally normal and functioning as designed. The LS family differs greatly from traditional SBC motors. Between the all-aluminum design, priority head cooling (flow enters the block at the heads), better designed water jacketing / flow passages and increased use of the engine oil as a coolant medium, the engine is supposed to run hotter coolant temps than were optimal on previous generation motors.
