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From: NNCC No Name Car Crew; Owned 1 C2, 2 C3's, 1 C4, 3 C5's, 1 C6, 2 C7's; Now '86, '03; S. DE
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Wnner - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24-'25-'26
Clean This Up Lately?
While futzing around under the front end, I just happened to look up inside this cavern with a light and saw dried weeds, small limbs, and dried grass clippings and the like. Got most of it out vacuuming except for some real small stuff. Note to self, wear a mask, quite dusty up there.
They sell air and water wands that are designed to get up in there and properly clean out the radiator and condenser. Make sure that you go from behind them to really get them clean. It will likely make a notable difference in your coolant temps.
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Unfortunately the C5 acts like a vacuum cleaner as it goes down the road. I spent quite a few hours keeping that area of the car clean between the 3 C5s that I owned.
My dad had never done this, though when he had the radiator replaced in 2013 I am sure they cleaned it. When I got the car last Oct it ran hot, I could not believe the amount of stuff that was in there. Leaves, sticks, two plastic bags, etc. My temps dropped quite a bit after cleaning.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
It's not just the "running hot", it will also kill airflow to the a/c condenser, causing high-pressure spikes that cause leaks, usually in the compressor where the body-joins are.
yes, on the wands and screens for sure. When I replaced the radiator, a/c condenser and pretty much all of that up front parts due to an accident, there was a bunch of crap stuck up in there. Also found the build sheet in the bumper cavity. Was kind of toasty but good enough to read although I had already received one from the museum both were a match which made me feel good. Cheers!!!