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freeway engine temps?

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Old May 26, 2016 | 01:00 PM
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Default freeway engine temps?

i drove my car on the freeway yesterday about 40 miles one way no traffic cruising around 75-80 mph with my 3.73 thats about 2200/2300 rpms engine temp was 216-218 the whole time? usually its right around 195-205 and in traffic would creep up to 225 or so, coolant was changed when i did a cam swap a few weeks ago and coolant tank is where it should be?

what should i check?

Edit: I have a wideband gauge and its showing the same as it always does bonces around from 14.5 to 15.5ish when cruising

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Old May 26, 2016 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
You likely have air trapped in the cooling system.
how do i bleed the air out?

i just let the car idle for about 30 minutes temp was 199 when i checked it the fans was on so i know there working

Last edited by Stroker87; May 26, 2016 at 01:18 PM.
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Old May 26, 2016 | 01:45 PM
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make sure your radiator is clean ?????
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Old May 26, 2016 | 01:57 PM
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8VETTE7, i just did that to my car when i opened up the drivers side i got nothing, when i cracked open the passanger side i herd air pressure release i waited about 3-4 minutes got nothing so i started the car and about 20 to 30 seconds later started seeing coolant (engine was still hot though) so i hope that was my problem?

akapounder, i had it out when i did the cam swap it looked at it and it was pretty clean not much dirt really
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Old May 26, 2016 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
You likely have air trapped in the cooling system.
since you recently had the system open, either that or debris physically blocking the path of air... what I always do on my car is remove the surge tank cap and let the car idle until the fans cycle a few times (roughly 30 mins) and I will also turn the heater on full blast once the car is warmed up just for good measure... if there is any air in the system it will purge out of the surge tank as coolant is cycling through the system... once that's done you add coolant if necessary and replace the cap... it isn't by the book but it has always worked for me and I have never had an issue doing it this way

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Old May 26, 2016 | 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Stroker87
8VETTE7, i just did that to my car when i opened up the drivers side i got nothing, when i cracked open the passanger side i herd air pressure release i waited about 3-4 minutes got nothing so i started the car and about 20 to 30 seconds later started seeing coolant (engine was still hot though) so i hope that was my problem?

akapounder, i had it out when i did the cam swap it looked at it and it was pretty clean not much dirt really
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Old May 26, 2016 | 03:12 PM
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Old May 26, 2016 | 04:56 PM
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well ran the car for about 17 miles round trip on the freeway at 75mph temp was steady at 216 degrees, on the street while i was stopped at a red light it got up to 225 degrees then started to drop once i was moving (probably about a minutes light) a/c was on the whole time

as i'm typing this i have the car running with the heater on defroster and the cap on the tank off, so far its not looking like this is my problem?

another thing i noticed was my oil pressure at idle was only 21psi its normally in the 30+ area but oil temp was 232 degrees... maybe since the cars running hotter?


Edit: i opened the steam tubes again drivers side coolant came out like foam for a little bit passenger side just flowed regular, i'm off for another drive see what happens?

Last edited by Stroker87; May 26, 2016 at 05:03 PM.
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Old May 26, 2016 | 05:37 PM
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well just got back no difference, temps still 217-219 with the a/c on but soon as i turn it off temps was down to 205 degrees? on the way back the freeway was starting to get backed up from traffic so i took the street home with out the a/c on and temp was steady at 205 and red lights and in some traffic never got over 214 degrees

a/c problem? its working airs pretty cold just had it refilled when i did my cam swap (pulled the a/c condenser)
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Old May 26, 2016 | 05:40 PM
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This thread is in good hands no need for my input.
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Old May 26, 2016 | 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
This thread is in good hands no need for my input.
if you have an idea on whats going on or what i should try please feel free to chime in!
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Old May 26, 2016 | 08:08 PM
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Ok no one mentioned this, Have you looked to see if something got sucked up in front of the radiator ??

Last edited by Smoken1; May 26, 2016 at 08:09 PM.
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Old May 26, 2016 | 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoken1
Ok no one mentioned this, Have you looked to see if something got sucked up in front of the radiator ??
post 5 replied post 8
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Old May 26, 2016 | 09:26 PM
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You are right...
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Old May 26, 2016 | 09:35 PM
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my drive way has a incline the nose of the car was higher then the rear by about 4" but i'll give it a try with the ramps maybe it wasn't enough?

the thing that gets me is its only running hotter with the A/C on? i get in traffic the A/C makes the car run hotter but never seen the temps rise on the freeway 70+mph with the A/C on? even in traffic with the A/C off temps was lower then when on the freeway with it on?

just to be clear yes i did check the radiator to see if a bag or something was blocking it, when i had it out i looked it over and was pretty clean that was a few weeks ago

Last edited by Stroker87; May 26, 2016 at 10:11 PM.
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Old May 26, 2016 | 09:45 PM
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My 04 has heads, cam headers etc. But I installed a 160 stat and the tuner tweeked my fans also. That being said, mine runs between 174 and 180 on the highway. When in traffic or sitting at a light it very seldom goes over 201-203.
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Old May 26, 2016 | 10:24 PM
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didn't you have the car retuned very recently?... if so, did you notice the changes in temp after the retune?... it might be worth asking the tuner if they changed any of your fan settings
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Old May 26, 2016 | 10:29 PM
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yes fans are working hi/low like they should, I tried to contact the tuner left a massage he never got back to me but my wideband is showing the same its not lean?

it just dont make sense in traffic with out the a/c the temp is lower then with the a/c on cruising over 70mph? i'm thinking it must be something with the a/c maybe its over filled and putting to much strain on the engine? even on the freeway when i killed the a/c the temp dropped
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Old May 26, 2016 | 10:30 PM
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When I did my LS 6 intake and knew I had to mod the steam lines, I could see why the LS engine would trap air. Air will always go to the top, but the way the steam lines are it plain to see (for Me) how it would trap air. Some advised just to block off the back ports and to me this would make it worse. I have my lines coming off all four corners of the heads and meet at the hose to the radiator. when I put water in I just crack that line and in two times I have had my radiator drained I have not had issue one. never even start the engine just fill the tank to the line ???????
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Old May 27, 2016 | 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Stroker87
8VETTE7, i just did that to my car when i opened up the drivers side i got nothing, when i cracked open the passanger side i herd air pressure release i waited about 3-4 minutes got nothing so i started the car and about 20 to 30 seconds later started seeing coolant (engine was still hot though) so i hope that was my problem?

akapounder, i had it out when i did the cam swap it looked at it and it was pretty clean not much dirt really
Were you holding the radiator up to a LIGHT to see thru it? My pristine 04 23k mile car radiator LOOKED clean... but, if you held it up to the sun to look thru it... it was COMPLETELY blocked NO LIGHT... I had to wash between the fins with the garden hose...several times until it was perfectly clean and I could see thru it...they can LOOK very clean and be mostly or completely blocked off
I couldn't BLOW that $hit out with AIR either... I tried, wouldn't work...........
It was like a little tiny brick mason had taken to task with my car to fill every little void between the fins with iddy biddy bricks of made of dust clay (I guess) condensation and dust along with hot dry Oklahoma wind just block it off...

Last edited by 73Corvette; May 27, 2016 at 11:16 AM.
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