Normal coolant temp
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 55
Likes: 11
From: Victoria,BC,Canada
Normal coolant temp
Hello all, The wife and I went on a nice club cruise today in our 2002 convertible. We had a total of 16 Vettes including 1 C8...very nice...I love the motor under glass.
Anyway the weather was overcast but bright and not hot. The road was up and down and varying speeds. I noticed in some place the coolant temp gauge was running 220-230 F. No coolant overflowed and no hot motor odor happened so I wasn't concerned but just want to check it out. Maybe a new WP and t-stat are in order? On a better note the gas gauge seems to function now displaying amounts well under 1/2 full. I put about 4 cans of seafoam thru it over the past few months and it sat in storage for a while.Around town on shorter trips it runs about 200F
Anyway the weather was overcast but bright and not hot. The road was up and down and varying speeds. I noticed in some place the coolant temp gauge was running 220-230 F. No coolant overflowed and no hot motor odor happened so I wasn't concerned but just want to check it out. Maybe a new WP and t-stat are in order? On a better note the gas gauge seems to function now displaying amounts well under 1/2 full. I put about 4 cans of seafoam thru it over the past few months and it sat in storage for a while.Around town on shorter trips it runs about 200F
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 207
Likes: 23
From: Atlanta, Ga
Before spending money on a water pump and T-stat, I would make sure the front of your condenser and radiator are clean. Our cars get air from the bottom and tend to suck up any and everything there is out there driving on the road. Shortly after I bought my 02 Z06 I looked under there and there was so much grass clippings and dirt clogged up on the front of the ac condenser. I ended up pulling the radiator and sprayed it down with simple green and back washed all the crud out the best I could. It made a big improvement on how much cooler the car ran by just pulling the rad and giving it a good cleaning. Only cost me a gallon of antifreeze and a gal of distilled water.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 55
Likes: 11
From: Victoria,BC,Canada
Before spending money on a water pump and T-stat, I would make sure the front of your condenser and radiator are clean. Our cars get air from the bottom and tend to suck up any and everything there is out there driving on the road. Shortly after I bought my 02 Z06 I looked under there and there was so much grass clippings and dirt clogged up on the front of the ac condenser. I ended up pulling the radiator and sprayed it down with simple green and back washed all the crud out the best I could. It made a big improvement on how much cooler the car ran by just pulling the rad and giving it a good cleaning. Only cost me a gallon of antifreeze and a gal of distilled water.
Thank you for your reply. I'll check it this week.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
There is about a 1/2 or 1inch gap between condenser and radiator from bottom side under the car or pull the rad top support to get to it from top side. I made a tool from copper tubing, closed the end so no air exit and drilled 4 holes for air to exit and use air compress or water to clean the condenser area. Mine had a good amount of junk on front of condenser up at the top. Clean it off as best you can and it will help with temps.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,735
Likes: 1,203
From: Wisconsin
Keep in mind these LS motors run hotter than the good old days.
From the factory service manual:
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)
From the factory service manual:
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)
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,134
Likes: 2,979
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Before spending money on a water pump and T-stat, I would make sure the front of your condenser and radiator are clean. Our cars get air from the bottom and tend to suck up any and everything there is out there driving on the road. Shortly after I bought my 02 Z06 I looked under there and there was so much grass clippings and dirt clogged up on the front of the ac condenser. I ended up pulling the radiator and sprayed it down with simple green and back washed all the crud out the best I could. It made a big improvement on how much cooler the car ran by just pulling the rad and giving it a good cleaning. Only cost me a gallon of antifreeze and a gal of distilled water.
There is about a 1/2 or 1inch gap between condenser and radiator from bottom side under the car or pull the rad top support to get to it from top side. I made a tool from copper tubing, closed the end so no air exit and drilled 4 holes for air to exit and use air compress or water to clean the condenser area. Mine had a good amount of junk on front of condenser up at the top. Clean it off as best you can and it will help with temps.
This is definitely the place to start and likely the cause of higher than normal temps. They are not extremely high but if it was my C5 I'd be looking at why. Cruising on a non-hot day my C5 runs about 200 degrees
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 782
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
Temps you posted are normal for a C5. Even when I don't need AC I leave it turned on and adjust the temperature on the HVAC. That keeps the fan running in traffic and the car runs cooler.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 108
Likes: 30
From: Rancho Cucamonga, Ca
Did the clean out on my 03 too. Crawled under there blew it out with air and used a soft brush side to side.
Made sure the center section of the dam was placed and aiming correctly. Just did a drive on Route 66
2 weeks ago in 108-112 temps with AC on she ran about 194. Now in town she'll get up to 198-212. Cleaning
was a huge help.
Made sure the center section of the dam was placed and aiming correctly. Just did a drive on Route 66
2 weeks ago in 108-112 temps with AC on she ran about 194. Now in town she'll get up to 198-212. Cleaning
was a huge help.
Last edited by larney; Jun 16, 2020 at 09:53 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
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I got caught in traffic a couple of years ago going to the Bloomington Gold show at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the temp on my 2002 got pretty up there. 230 or so. I know the fans switch on at pretty high temps, but it drove me crazy. I bought the fan control switch setup sold by Sac City Corvette and installed it. You can manually control one of the fans using the little microswitch mounted on the console. I know your situation is different since you were moving but I just wanted to make a comment that this little thing put me at ease. With all the construction and stupid accidents anymore, getting stuck on the interstate or somewhere when it is really hot made me nervous. I did check mine last winter when I replaced all the belts and hoses and found everything really clean and neat. My little car doesn't have a ton of miles though. Ken
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 969
Likes: 141
From: Staten island NY
If Hi-Temp is bothering you. Sac City Corvettes sell a Cool It V2 it is a manual on/off for you Hi Speed fan. Takes about 5-10 minute install. Works great during drive or after shut down
Talk to Chris @ Sac City Corvette
Talk to Chris @ Sac City Corvette
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
I had this on my previous 01 and it worked great. About 120.00 I think.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 245
Hello all, The wife and I went on a nice club cruise today in our 2002 convertible. We had a total of 16 Vettes including 1 C8...very nice...I love the motor under glass.
Anyway the weather was overcast but bright and not hot. The road was up and down and varying speeds. I noticed in some place the coolant temp gauge was running 220-230 F. No coolant overflowed and no hot motor odor happened so I wasn't concerned but just want to check it out. Maybe a new WP and t-stat are in order? On a better note the gas gauge seems to function now displaying amounts well under 1/2 full. I put about 4 cans of seafoam thru it over the past few months and it sat in storage for a while.Around town on shorter trips it runs about 200F
Anyway the weather was overcast but bright and not hot. The road was up and down and varying speeds. I noticed in some place the coolant temp gauge was running 220-230 F. No coolant overflowed and no hot motor odor happened so I wasn't concerned but just want to check it out. Maybe a new WP and t-stat are in order? On a better note the gas gauge seems to function now displaying amounts well under 1/2 full. I put about 4 cans of seafoam thru it over the past few months and it sat in storage for a while.Around town on shorter trips it runs about 200F
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Whippany NJ
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09
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Hello all, The wife and I went on a nice club cruise today in our 2002 convertible. We had a total of 16 Vettes including 1 C8...very nice...I love the motor under glass.
Anyway the weather was overcast but bright and not hot. The road was up and down and varying speeds. I noticed in some place the coolant temp gauge was running 220-230 F. No coolant overflowed and no hot motor odor happened so I wasn't concerned but just want to check it out. Maybe a new WP and t-stat are in order? On a better note the gas gauge seems to function now displaying amounts well under 1/2 full. I put about 4 cans of seafoam thru it over the past few months and it sat in storage for a while.Around town on shorter trips it runs about 200F
Anyway the weather was overcast but bright and not hot. The road was up and down and varying speeds. I noticed in some place the coolant temp gauge was running 220-230 F. No coolant overflowed and no hot motor odor happened so I wasn't concerned but just want to check it out. Maybe a new WP and t-stat are in order? On a better note the gas gauge seems to function now displaying amounts well under 1/2 full. I put about 4 cans of seafoam thru it over the past few months and it sat in storage for a while.Around town on shorter trips it runs about 200F
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
. She had a 383 that was supercharged and boy, she got hot. The fan control helped keeping the temps down. On my current supercharged C5, I had a technician change my factory fan settings to much lower temps.
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The temps you were seeing are not abnormally high as the LS motors do run hotter than what you may be used to. Do the radiator area clean out and see if the temps come down.