engine temp
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: rincon ga
engine temp
Do corvettes normally run hotter? I have a 98,it normally runs 190-210 but if I race around a little bit or get stuck in a lot of traffic it climbs on up there. Any way to drop temp or make it run cooler without changing the radiator? thanks 
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ nj
I have a 2001. In traffic (even in 50 degree weather), it goes up to 226. On the open road, it runs about 200 degrees. I don't really worry too much since the low speed fan kicks on at 226 and stays on until the temp goes down to 219. I can literally watch this happen on the DIC coolant readout. I can see the temp hit 226 and it almost immediately starts to drop when the fan starts up. My thinking is as long as the fan is working, it won't overheat.
From what I've read, most guys run cooler than us. So I guess ours are runnig a little hot but nothing to worry about. Vettes are designed to run between 200 and 230. If you want to, you can change out your themostat and have your fan reprogrammed to come on at a lower temp.
From what I've read, most guys run cooler than us. So I guess ours are runnig a little hot but nothing to worry about. Vettes are designed to run between 200 and 230. If you want to, you can change out your themostat and have your fan reprogrammed to come on at a lower temp.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 58,515
Likes: 70
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by vettenovice
If you want to, you can change out your themostat and have your fan reprogrammed to come on at a lower temp.
also... climb under the car and see if you have leaves and other debris blocking the radiator. It is a pretty common problem
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Originally Posted by vettenovice
I have a 2001. In traffic (even in 50 degree weather), it goes up to 226. On the open road, it runs about 200 degrees. I don't really worry too much since the low speed fan kicks on at 226 and stays on until the temp goes down to 219. I can literally watch this happen on the DIC coolant readout. I can see the temp hit 226 and it almost immediately starts to drop when the fan starts up. My thinking is as long as the fan is working, it won't overheat.
From what I've read, most guys run cooler than us. So I guess ours are runnig a little hot but nothing to worry about. Vettes are designed to run between 200 and 230. If you want to, you can change out your themostat and have your fan reprogrammed to come on at a lower temp.
From what I've read, most guys run cooler than us. So I guess ours are runnig a little hot but nothing to worry about. Vettes are designed to run between 200 and 230. If you want to, you can change out your themostat and have your fan reprogrammed to come on at a lower temp.
yeap. Even in the 50 degree weather here and cooler air, if I am in stop and go traffic, it climbs up to 225..this summer every once in a while it would climb to 230. I keep an eye on the radiator to make sure nothing is stuck under there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 58,515
Likes: 70
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by baldy26
yeap. Even in the 50 degree weather here and cooler air, if I am in stop and go traffic, it climbs up to 225..this summer every once in a while it would climb to 230. I keep an eye on the radiator to make sure nothing is stuck under there.
check this out
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=938518
Last edited by bsmith; Nov 3, 2004 at 10:55 AM.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,053
Likes: 24,730
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
The temps you mention are really about normal. Mine does the same thing.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
With the stock fan settings I would see 220-230F coolant temps in traffic, but when I got mine dyno tuned I had them lower the fan settings, so now I never see over 194. It keeps my oil and trans temps much lower too, which is nice. I've still got the stock thermostat.
