Car Running Hot
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Canandaigua NY
Car Running Hot
I noticed my car was running hot the other day. It climed to about 230. It was only climing when I was idleing or driving very slowly. If I was cruising or getting into it a little it cooled back down. I tired the replacing the thermostat and got the same results. So i just sat and watched the car idle from cold to 225 and noticed that the fans don't kick on until 220. What would cause this? The car has about 100k on the clock and it is an 01 with only an intake and catback. Thank you
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 264
From: Near Charlotte NC
I'm not sure when the fans usually kick in,but that sounds about right.
I would make sure the rad is clean and doesn't have any trash on the fins that would restrict air flow.
I used a hand-held tuner to adjust my fans to come on at 205.Works great for me here in the south.
As always,IMO.
\db2
Carolina
I would make sure the rad is clean and doesn't have any trash on the fins that would restrict air flow.
I used a hand-held tuner to adjust my fans to come on at 205.Works great for me here in the south.
As always,IMO.
\db2
Carolina
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Just pull the four bolts for the radiator/condensor cover and you can easily get an air-wand between them to blow out the tiny rocks, back forward and out. If you don't have a harbor freight around where you can get one for like $4.95 or so, you can go to the local home improvement store and fabricate a water wand type setup which will work just as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
yep,,, you have crud in your condensor and rad coils... The fins bend real easily so be real carefull with the hose sprayer or air sprayer... The top fan schroud comes off quickly and gives you full access.. You would not belive how much crud gets sucked up.. This needs to be done twice a year.. Every summer I see countless posts on this.. I bet there are 10 more post exactly like this by the end of next week.. I say we need a big giant pop- up warning people to clean the coils out as soon as you log onto this forum
Last edited by David426; Jun 4, 2010 at 03:38 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
FYI, your electric fans don't come on until 226 and 235 degrees. Until those temperatures are reached, it only cools with incoming air (bottom feeder). Ambient temperature and heat rising from the roadway add to the problem. Anything blocking the condenser or radiator will definitely have a negative effect on the cooling system...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Canandaigua NY
Thank you all. So is it mostly dirt stuck between the fins because I got under it and looked at it and it didn't look like it had a lot of stuff stuck in it. I will try the water when i get a chance.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Windham NH
Had mine for 2+ years now, and it plain ol' runs hot. No extras on mine to keep it down or cool it at some point earlier than its original design, and it runs at about 190/200 when I'm in the city, whether it's 60 degrees or 100 degrees, and it climbs to 220 when I'm stuck at lights for any period of time (and a tad hotter than that if you're stuck for more than a few minutes). Get 'er running again, and it drops to 190 again, or about 180 on the highway.
Hot, hot, hot, but I don't personally think that's a sign anything is wrong, per se. I've been up and under all the trash collectors built into the design and have found nothing wrapped up in the guts, either.
My 2 cents.
Dave
Hot, hot, hot, but I don't personally think that's a sign anything is wrong, per se. I've been up and under all the trash collectors built into the design and have found nothing wrapped up in the guts, either.
My 2 cents.
Dave
Last edited by chips*dad; Jun 5, 2010 at 09:21 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,357
Likes: 5,242
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Your temps are normal. Fans kick on at 226. It's routine for these cars to run up to 230 sitting in traffic. As long as it cools down to around 192 to 196 out on the open road you don't have an issue.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 491
Likes: 2
From: AZ
I have my fans set to come on at 180* and also have a 180* thermostat. I have never seen 190* in my car. I read somewhere on this forums that when dyno testing, you would experience power loss when coolant temps go above 200*. I would say clean your radiator and condenser, get a thermostat and set the fans for 180*, and you'll be set.
