100 degrees over ambient
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
100 degrees over ambient
It has been my observation that the C5 I have runs 100 degrees over ambient out side temperature.
This last weekend, I discovered a crack in the plastic tank on my radiator, and the water pump was leaking.
Friday on the way home, I had noticed that the temp on the engine was higher than normal, accompanied by the smell of antifreeze.
the outside temp was around 80 degrees, and the engine temp was around 210.
That was a tip off for me that there was something wrong, but as I was on the way home, I did not stop to investigate.
When I got home, I let the car sit overnight, and Saturday I looked it over.
I got a water pump from O reilly's because they had one in stock, and the radiator from AutoZone, because they had one of those.
New antifreeze and hoses.
So on Monday, driving it to work, it was around 68 degrees. The engine temp was 172
On the way home, it was 81 degrees, and the engine temp was 179
Tues, it was 70 degrees, and the temp was 170
On the way home, it was 85 degrees, and the engine was at 187.
Today, it was 73 degrees in the morning, and I had a little traffic, and it was 179.
On the way home, it was 90 degrees, and the engine temp was 193.
Just this small amount of driving makes me think GM planned on 100 degrees over ambient.
Anybody?
This last weekend, I discovered a crack in the plastic tank on my radiator, and the water pump was leaking.
Friday on the way home, I had noticed that the temp on the engine was higher than normal, accompanied by the smell of antifreeze.
the outside temp was around 80 degrees, and the engine temp was around 210.
That was a tip off for me that there was something wrong, but as I was on the way home, I did not stop to investigate.
When I got home, I let the car sit overnight, and Saturday I looked it over.
I got a water pump from O reilly's because they had one in stock, and the radiator from AutoZone, because they had one of those.
New antifreeze and hoses.
So on Monday, driving it to work, it was around 68 degrees. The engine temp was 172
On the way home, it was 81 degrees, and the engine temp was 179
Tues, it was 70 degrees, and the temp was 170
On the way home, it was 85 degrees, and the engine was at 187.
Today, it was 73 degrees in the morning, and I had a little traffic, and it was 179.
On the way home, it was 90 degrees, and the engine temp was 193.
Just this small amount of driving makes me think GM planned on 100 degrees over ambient.
Anybody?
Last edited by coupeguy2001; May 11, 2017 at 07:53 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
They are designed run at around 200-235 deg F stock. Engines are designed to run at a certain operating temperature and cooler isn't necessarily better. The internal parts expand with heat to a certain tolerance as part of the design. It is not a amount over ambient temperature that this car runs at. The thermostat opens at around 190 deg and the fans are programmed to come on to regulate temps.
I am not sure what may have caused your parts failure. I have seen cracked radiator housings here but not hat often. Having the water pump fail and radiator crack at the same time seems like a bit of a coincidence unless one caused the other through overheating. Maybe the thermostat was stuck closed at some point.
I am not sure what may have caused your parts failure. I have seen cracked radiator housings here but not hat often. Having the water pump fail and radiator crack at the same time seems like a bit of a coincidence unless one caused the other through overheating. Maybe the thermostat was stuck closed at some point.
Last edited by Rob 02; May 12, 2017 at 04:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
My ride runs very close to your temps rather than the 200 to 210 like most Vettes out there. Guess it helps to have a GOOD water pump, clean radiator, good hoses, fresh coolant mixture etc.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
I have a 160 deg thermostat and the fans programmed to come on sooner. I replaced almost everything under the hood when I did my engine rebuild. It stays below 200 deg in Florida with the A/C on most of the time.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 367
From: Iowa
They are designed run at around 200-235 deg F stock. Engines are designed to run at a certain operating temperature and cooler isn't necessarily better. The internal parts expand with heat to a certain tolerance as part of the design. It is not a amount over ambient temperature that this car runs at. The thermostat opens at around 190 deg and the fans are programmed to come on to regulate temps.
I am not sure what may have caused your parts failure. I have seen cracked radiator housings here but not hat often. Having the water pump fail and radiator crack at the same time seems like a bit of a coincidence unless one caused the other through overheating. Maybe the thermostat was stuck closed at some point.
I am not sure what may have caused your parts failure. I have seen cracked radiator housings here but not hat often. Having the water pump fail and radiator crack at the same time seems like a bit of a coincidence unless one caused the other through overheating. Maybe the thermostat was stuck closed at some point.
Based on your temps I think the previous owner put a 160 degree t-stat in your car.
My normal coolant temperatures, at speed, averages 196. As soon as I slow down, stopped, etc. the temp rises between 220-230 degrees. This is all NORMAL! Above 35mph the fans do not come on. Air flow cools the radiator. Someone else will need to chime in for definitive numbers but I believe factory sensors turn one fan on when temps reach 226 and both fans on when coolant reaches 235. Both fans come on when AC is turned on.
Edit: These are the temps my car runs at regardless of outside temperature. The car runs these temps when it's 60 degrees outside or 100 degrees. The only time it runs lower is when it's like 40 degrees or colder. Then my car runs around 193 degrees or so.
Last edited by Macleod52; May 12, 2017 at 10:21 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I do have a 160 t stat, but that doesn't mean that is regulating anything but the minimum temp
Last edited by coupeguy2001; May 12, 2017 at 07:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Not sure. I got the car with 22,000 miles on it about 10 years ago.
Never did anything to the car except oil and filter changes till 2 years ago.
Since then, it has been a brake modulator, both door unlock relays, the steering unlock bypass, 4 tires, both headlight motor gears, right front driving light bulb, and resoldered the resistors in the temp controllers.
Changed the coolant 3 times, oil pressure sender 3 times. water pump and radiator.
Nothing else! great car.
Never did anything to the car except oil and filter changes till 2 years ago.
Since then, it has been a brake modulator, both door unlock relays, the steering unlock bypass, 4 tires, both headlight motor gears, right front driving light bulb, and resoldered the resistors in the temp controllers.
Changed the coolant 3 times, oil pressure sender 3 times. water pump and radiator.
Nothing else! great car.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; May 14, 2017 at 12:50 AM.
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