C5 operating temps...
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Buffalo Texas
make sure the radiator and condenser are free of debris, best to back flush with water, upper shroud off. I run a 180 stat and have it tuned to have the fans come on earlier !!! runs 192 all day, hottest ever in traffic 207 !! (100 degree day)
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 669
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From: NE USA
Yes, normal, I think the electric fans kick on or around 228. I'd get the nose up in the air and look up at the a.c. coil that is mounted just in front of the radiator. Make sure its clean, bugs can get caked on it and slow airflow. At hwy speed enough air moves through it to run a bit cooler, typically just over 200.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2015
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Drifting
Joined: May 2007
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From: Huntersville, NC
The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).
Normal driving with driving speed that flows sufficient air across the radiator with the AC off, the coolant temperature with a factory thermostat is 190°F, The fans will be off. The factory setting will not let the first cooling fan come on until the coolant reaches 226°F.
Normal driving with driving speed that flows sufficient air across the radiator with the AC off, the coolant temperature with a factory thermostat is 190°F, The fans will be off. The factory setting will not let the first cooling fan come on until the coolant reaches 226°F.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Carson City Nevada
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1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Buffalo Texas
funny to me that the most true performance car GM makes runs with hot temps while EVERY other LS powered car or truck runs well under 200 degrees always ????? Heat = damage Cool= HP !!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Carson City Nevada
Pounder. I'm guessing since it's a bottom feeder, it can't run as cool as the other vehicles. I noticed whenever I installed a vararam on these, however, they ran cooler. I assume that's because the air is now coming in through the fog light openings in front.
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1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Buffalo Texas
you guys can run yours at high temps, I like mine where it runs cool and if I got into real traffic jam I would have much more range before it got to 230 or higher which to me is way to hot !!!! Why do so many have vibration damper, waterpump and alt failures ??? Heat is why !!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,660
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From: SF Bay Area
Higher operating temps = better thermal efficiency = better MPG. And more HP. Lower operating temps = more possible wear on the engine.
Also, most GM cars and trucks have 190 degree thermostats, no different from the Corvette.
http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/...the-advantage/
http://www.superstreetonline.com/how...ncrease-power/
Also, most GM cars and trucks have 190 degree thermostats, no different from the Corvette.
If you're chasing more power, this isn't a place to look. Any power gain would be circumstantial (ie, only under certain conditions), incredibly negligible, and at the risk of accelerated wear on your expensive engine internals (especially in street cars).
Hotter engines make more power. Sure, cooler air and fuel is denser, meaning more of it can fill combustion chambers to make more power, but once detonated, less energy (heat, in this case) being absorbed by engine material and coolant means more of it can be put toward forward motion.
Last edited by Tsumi; Aug 7, 2017 at 12:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
you guys can run yours at high temps, I like mine where it runs cool and if I got into real traffic jam I would have much more range before it got to 230 or higher which to me is way to hot !!!! Why do so many have vibration damper, waterpump and alt failures ??? Heat is why !!!!!
Me too. My 2000 runs between 170 and 2000 depending on speed, traffic and ambient temps. That's with over 150,000 miles.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,439
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From: Buffalo Texas
Higher operating temps = better thermal efficiency = better MPG. And more HP. Lower operating temps = more possible wear on the engine.
Most tuners add a cooler thermostat = HP
Also, most GM cars and trucks have 190 degree thermostats, no different from the Corvette. and they run under 200 degrees ???? not saying the C 5 temps are not normal for the design, but don't want mine running that hot, hence 180 stat and a tune to turn on fans earlier !! runs 192 all day hottest in 100 degree weather 207 !!!
http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/...the-advantage/
http://www.superstreetonline.com/how...ncrease-power/
Most tuners add a cooler thermostat = HP
Also, most GM cars and trucks have 190 degree thermostats, no different from the Corvette. and they run under 200 degrees ???? not saying the C 5 temps are not normal for the design, but don't want mine running that hot, hence 180 stat and a tune to turn on fans earlier !! runs 192 all day hottest in 100 degree weather 207 !!!
http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/...the-advantage/
http://www.superstreetonline.com/how...ncrease-power/
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: SF Bay Area
They run the cooler thermostat because it makes it "safer" to run the timing closer to detonation point to increase HP. If everything is equal, a hotter engine will have less thermal loss than a cooler engine, have less friction, and wear less, all of which equate to more HP and better efficiency. 180 degrees is not significantly different from 190 though, and the gains in the tune outweigh the inherent HP loss of lower temperatures.
As for trucks running cooler, their fans are most likely timed to run at lower temps, or they are belt driven and run full time. Thermostats set the floor temperature, not the upper limit temperature.
As for trucks running cooler, their fans are most likely timed to run at lower temps, or they are belt driven and run full time. Thermostats set the floor temperature, not the upper limit temperature.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,439
Likes: 2,184
From: Buffalo Texas
They run the cooler thermostat because it makes it "safer" to run the timing closer to detonation point to increase HP. If everything is equal, a hotter engine will have less thermal loss than a cooler engine, have less friction, and wear less, all of which equate to more HP and better efficiency. 180 degrees is not significantly different from 190 though, and the gains in the tune outweigh the inherent HP loss of lower temperatures.
As for trucks running cooler, their fans are most likely timed to run at lower temps, or they are belt driven and run full time. Thermostats set the floor temperature, not the upper limit temperature.
As for trucks running cooler, their fans are most likely timed to run at lower temps, or they are belt driven and run full time. Thermostats set the floor temperature, not the upper limit temperature.