What is stock idle coolant temperature?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 844
Likes: 55
What is stock idle coolant temperature?
I have a 2002 Z06 - all stock and if I start it up in the garage and let it idle the coolant temp comes up to about 220-225 degrees and remains there. The fans come on right about 225.
Is that a normal coolant temp at idle for stock C5 Z06?
Ambient temp in my garage is about 78 degrees.
Is that a normal coolant temp at idle for stock C5 Z06?
Ambient temp in my garage is about 78 degrees.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
YES that is absolutely normal.. Low speed fans come on at 224 ish and then
if temp still rising, the hi speed is kicked on at around 230.
Going down the road with air coming in, you should get around 200 ish depending
on conditions
if temp still rising, the hi speed is kicked on at around 230.
Going down the road with air coming in, you should get around 200 ish depending
on conditions
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
That's pretty much the only reason I did a hypertech tuner years ago..
I went with a 180 thermostat and then set fan to come on low initially at
205 ish.. You can also do a cool little item from sac city corvette that allows
you to override the pcm and turn on fans anytime.
Under 35 mph , your low speed fans come on with AC on as well.. fyi
I went with a 180 thermostat and then set fan to come on low initially at
205 ish.. You can also do a cool little item from sac city corvette that allows
you to override the pcm and turn on fans anytime.
Under 35 mph , your low speed fans come on with AC on as well.. fyi
Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 134
From: Hanover Maryland
That's pretty much the only reason I did a hypertech tuner years ago..
I went with a 180 thermostat and then set fan to come on low initially at
205 ish.. You can also do a cool little item from sac city corvette that allows
you to override the pcm and turn on fans anytime.
Under 35 mph , your low speed fans come on with AC on as well.. fyi
I went with a 180 thermostat and then set fan to come on low initially at
205 ish.. You can also do a cool little item from sac city corvette that allows
you to override the pcm and turn on fans anytime.
Under 35 mph , your low speed fans come on with AC on as well.. fyi
Does the Tstat and fan tune keep you low 200s? I hate to be the guy, but I also don't enjoy seeing my temps fluctuate so much. Car will be run in the winter so I'm also looking for a solution that doesn't impede warm-up by too much.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
you can tune the car to run at 190-200 with a stock thermostat just by changing the fan settings... 180 stats are fine too but I am not a fan of 160s
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
I've ran the 160 stat too.. NOT good for winter/mild weather driving. It runs too
cool and that's not good for piston wall wear on LS motors.
The 180 is a really good choice.
With it, stock fan settings , you'll run around 185-190 at highway speeds or
when the ac is on with low speed fans.
I wouldn't worry too much about the temp fluctuations.. Factory would fluctuate
from 195-225 all the time .
cool and that's not good for piston wall wear on LS motors.
The 180 is a really good choice.
With it, stock fan settings , you'll run around 185-190 at highway speeds or
when the ac is on with low speed fans.
I wouldn't worry too much about the temp fluctuations.. Factory would fluctuate
from 195-225 all the time .
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