Thermostat is running hot..HELP!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota, FL
Cruise-In I Veteran
Thermostat is running hot..HELP!!
My 160 degree thermostat (2 years old) was running hot, so I replaced it..Even with the new thermostat the engine is running hot...There is no coolant leakage and the fans are coming on the way they are supposed to. It seems to run very hot when the a/c is on. I can let the car idle (a/c on) for a few minutes and I can see the needle climb past 220 to 230 and I have had it to the point where it almost redlined before I shut the engine off..However, once I shut the a/c off, the gauge will slowly go back to 190..I'm at wits end..
Any ideas/suggestions??
Thanks in advance,
David
Any ideas/suggestions??
Thanks in advance,
David
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
Originally Posted by dmc1007
Runamuk,
Thanks for the response..We've checked for debris and there is nothing to be found..
Tnx/David
Thanks for the response..We've checked for debris and there is nothing to be found..
Tnx/David
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
A low thermostat will not make your car run any cooler.
it only opens faster and stays open. It is common to have the coolant temps at 220/230F. That's why fan parameter algorithms where set at the 230F range, for the upper range.
exchanging heat to the engine is brought about by lowering the fan settings or driving fast enough for the air to exchange enough heat to lower the coolant temp.
using a lower stat will allow lower fan settings without having the fans run constantly.
loss of coolant pressure is another issue...
it is common to have a bad coolant recovery tank cap. it requires 18 pounds of pressure to maintain an ideal coolant environment.
it only opens faster and stays open. It is common to have the coolant temps at 220/230F. That's why fan parameter algorithms where set at the 230F range, for the upper range.
exchanging heat to the engine is brought about by lowering the fan settings or driving fast enough for the air to exchange enough heat to lower the coolant temp.
using a lower stat will allow lower fan settings without having the fans run constantly.
loss of coolant pressure is another issue...
it is common to have a bad coolant recovery tank cap. it requires 18 pounds of pressure to maintain an ideal coolant environment.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
You really need to remove the top radiator cover and the front cover and check the condenser and radiator. A slow increase in temperature over time, in my opinion, is indicative of buildup of debris on the radiator or condenser. Looking from below and getting in there are two different things, and you may be surprised at what you find. This is something that should be done with a C5 as soon as temps indicate an issue.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 2
From: Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Originally Posted by dmc1007
Runamuk,
Thanks for the response..We've checked for debris and there is nothing to be found..
Tnx/David
Thanks for the response..We've checked for debris and there is nothing to be found..
Tnx/David
I recomend you check again. My coolant was running hot... and even hotter with the air on. I looked under the car at the radiator... just a little bit of stuff at the very top. I pulled the radiator shroud off and it looked ok at first glance.
With a closer look I notice that fins were packed with dirt
I couldn't see it till I tried to look through the radiator, like looking through an air filter. My air conditioning condensor was not much better.
I removed the radiator and had it cleaned, now my temps hang about 214* no matter how hard I push the Vette... even with the air on.
.
Last edited by George8211; Aug 6, 2005 at 07:50 PM.
Wil Cooksey #256
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 24
From: Sacramento Kalifornia
I used a Predator to change the fans in my Vette and all of a sudden it started running hot. I checked the fan temps with the Predator and somehow they were set back to original temps. I have no idea how they got reset.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
I see your car is a 2000. I often heard people refer to these cars as vacuum cleaners to the amount of dirt they suck into the radiator. I'd be willing to bet if you got a air compressor and blew it out it would run cooler.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 1
From: Bowling Green KY
Originally Posted by dmc1007
My 160 degree thermostat (2 years old) was running hot, so I replaced it..Even with the new thermostat the engine is running hot...There is no coolant leakage and the fans are coming on the way they are supposed to. It seems to run very hot when the a/c is on. I can let the car idle (a/c on) for a few minutes and I can see the needle climb past 220 to 230 and I have had it to the point where it almost redlined before I shut the engine off..However, once I shut the a/c off, the gauge will slowly go back to 190..I'm at wits end..
Any ideas/suggestions??
Thanks in advance,
David
Any ideas/suggestions??
Thanks in advance,
David
Coincidentally, I just worked on my vehicle too (2002). I changed the thermostat, water pump and lower radiator hose (assumption was that the hose was collapsing internally), flushed my radiator and still to no vail. Finally, I hooked up everything but left my upper radiator hose to the radiator off and then force flushed the system through the reservoir tank. (I had noticed that when I put the a/c to heat the vehicle was not getting warm - hence no water circulation through the evap core - could be air pocket). Took several long seconds, and when all the air pocket was flushed out - i had good flow of water, i hooked up the hose back to the radiator and guess what it worked - my system is now running where it should be around 194-199 cruising, around 200-220 sitting idle in my garage!
hope this helps!