Temperature too high?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 39
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From: Greensboro North Carolina
Temperature too high?
Have a 2002 Coupe that coolant temp runs about 195-200 at highway speeds. When in traffic for short periods (5 minutes) the temp goes to 225-230. Temp drops back to around 200 as soon as I get up to about 45 mph. Does this not seem a little too high? Will a 160 thermo help with high temperature? If so, will I need to change fan settings?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Those are very normal temps for a stock car. No need to become concerned unless you see it exceeding 235.
A lower temp thermostat won't limit your maximum coolant temps when not moving...that is the function of the fans.
However, installing a lower temp Tstat allows you to reprogram the fans to control the high end of the temp spectrum without having the fans run constantly. Meaning, if you try to cool the motor down to the point the Tstat is closing, the fans will almost never shut off. THAT is the one and only reason a lower temp Tstat should be installed.
You can reprogram the fans conservatively, ie: have them cycle between 220 down to 210 without changing the Tstat. But, if you want a window of coolant temp much below that, then a lower temp Tstat would be necessary.
A lower temp thermostat won't limit your maximum coolant temps when not moving...that is the function of the fans.
However, installing a lower temp Tstat allows you to reprogram the fans to control the high end of the temp spectrum without having the fans run constantly. Meaning, if you try to cool the motor down to the point the Tstat is closing, the fans will almost never shut off. THAT is the one and only reason a lower temp Tstat should be installed.
You can reprogram the fans conservatively, ie: have them cycle between 220 down to 210 without changing the Tstat. But, if you want a window of coolant temp much below that, then a lower temp Tstat would be necessary.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 11
From: Powell TN
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
The factory on settings for the fans are 225 for Fan 1 and 235 for Fan 2. A lower thermostat will keep your temps down for the majority of the time you drive. The only time your temps will come up is when sitting in traffic in the cooler months of the year, but they come right back down quickly because of the cooler outside air. In the warmer months, you will most likely have the A/C on, which causes both fans to be on, so it won't matter if you are sitting in traffic or not. As long as you have air flow across the radiator, your temps will stay in the lower range. I have a 160 stat and my temps stay around 178* - 181*. I have HP Tuners, so I have lowered my fan on settings, but you can still benefit from a lower stat, and lower coolant temps, without having to spend the money on a tune just to turn the fan settings down. If you decide to get a tune after some mods, you can turn the fan temps down then.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Seems about normal from my experience with my 2004. I doubt a 160 thermostat will help stop the temp going up in traffic or at stop lights. The basic problem is two fold in MHO.
1) the fans don't come on until about 226 and go off at about 219 degrees. (Exception is that if you have the AC on) so you can expect to see the temp rise to at least 227 or so before you start to get any relief.
2) the capacity of the radiator is insufficient to provide enough cool water when the thermostat does open (again IMHO) unless you are moving fast enough to have a decent air flow through the radiator.
Your OEM thermostat is probably something like 195 and as you mention in a very few minutes of traffic or at a stoplight the temp heads to somewhere between 220 and 235 or so. Yet if you get back to moving, the temp will settle down to more reasonable levels quickly. The air moving through the radiator makes it start cooling the water again.
One possible solution I have heard mentioned is to have the temp values at which the fans turn on and off reprogrammed. Not sure if that can really be done or not. Maybe a knowledgeable tuner will help answer that one.
I live in Tucson where summer temps are often above 105 so I am about to order a larger capacith radiator from Tom Dewitt who has a special going between now and Dec. 15. Much bigger capacity and all aluminum. ie not the plastic tanks that are prone to leak over time.
I'm sure others will chime in with their opinion.
Chuck S.
1) the fans don't come on until about 226 and go off at about 219 degrees. (Exception is that if you have the AC on) so you can expect to see the temp rise to at least 227 or so before you start to get any relief.
2) the capacity of the radiator is insufficient to provide enough cool water when the thermostat does open (again IMHO) unless you are moving fast enough to have a decent air flow through the radiator.
Your OEM thermostat is probably something like 195 and as you mention in a very few minutes of traffic or at a stoplight the temp heads to somewhere between 220 and 235 or so. Yet if you get back to moving, the temp will settle down to more reasonable levels quickly. The air moving through the radiator makes it start cooling the water again.
One possible solution I have heard mentioned is to have the temp values at which the fans turn on and off reprogrammed. Not sure if that can really be done or not. Maybe a knowledgeable tuner will help answer that one.
I live in Tucson where summer temps are often above 105 so I am about to order a larger capacith radiator from Tom Dewitt who has a special going between now and Dec. 15. Much bigger capacity and all aluminum. ie not the plastic tanks that are prone to leak over time.
I'm sure others will chime in with their opinion.
Chuck S.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Roswell GA
Those are fairly normal temps though. You should be closer to 220 when sitting in traffic, unless it is a real hot day. As long as you are under 235, you are good though.
