Cooling problems
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Cooling problems
I have a 2002 C5 ZO6 with a cammed 418 block and stock cylinder head that have been"worked to flow optimally".
. I have a larger radiator with integrated oil cooler plus additional oil cooler which is stacked up front right in the middle of the opened front fascia. The front end is the tiger shark. The car has 500 horsepower at the rear wheels and I race road circuits. The car still gets too hot at the track. Are there any Engineers out there to offer any advice. I'm curious if the stock cylinder heads aren't blowing enough air through the motor to keep things cool but really didn't want to get into bigger cylinder heads as possible. Car has plenty of horsepower already
. I have a larger radiator with integrated oil cooler plus additional oil cooler which is stacked up front right in the middle of the opened front fascia. The front end is the tiger shark. The car has 500 horsepower at the rear wheels and I race road circuits. The car still gets too hot at the track. Are there any Engineers out there to offer any advice. I'm curious if the stock cylinder heads aren't blowing enough air through the motor to keep things cool but really didn't want to get into bigger cylinder heads as possible. Car has plenty of horsepower already
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
I don't know much about the tiger shark front end, but some of those non stock front ends can decrease air flow thru the radiator. I would also seriously think about removing the additional oil cooler as it may be restricting air flow to the radiator, and does the car still have the middle air dam that directs air to the radiator, C5 were designed to pull in air from under the front bumper and direct it up onto the front of the radiator. Things to consider.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
I don't know much about the tiger shark front end, but some of those non stock front ends can decrease air flow thru the radiator...
...does the car still have the middle air dam that directs air to the radiator, C5 were designed to pull in air from under the front bumper and direct it up onto the front of the radiator...
...does the car still have the middle air dam that directs air to the radiator, C5 were designed to pull in air from under the front bumper and direct it up onto the front of the radiator...
Take a look at this recent Thread with a similar situation. Problem was identified and solved.Last edited by GCG; Apr 23, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
yes it has high flow fans, I already ran the car without the extra oil cooler up front...it got hot, that's why we added it and it DOES help, just how much it helps is not fully known since no races this year.
I do have the stock intake system bottom feeder with the stock lower air dam to push air to the intake and radiators. I know the stock system was very good and I never had heating issues with the stock motor even when I ran the car in summer with race tires for 15-20 min . time trials with NASA. BUT with the bigger motor I'm looking for engineering options in addition and to confirm to what the shop is saying and doing.
I do have the stock intake system bottom feeder with the stock lower air dam to push air to the intake and radiators. I know the stock system was very good and I never had heating issues with the stock motor even when I ran the car in summer with race tires for 15-20 min . time trials with NASA. BUT with the bigger motor I'm looking for engineering options in addition and to confirm to what the shop is saying and doing.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 3,925
From: Cincinnati, OH
1) Cylinder heads have no impact on "blowing air through the motor to keep it cool".
2) I'm confused...you have an aftermarket radiator with integrated oil cooler AND a external coil cooler? What are you using?
3) Not all oil coolers are created equal (staked plate vs fin and tube). Look up Improved Racing products for a solution and compare it to what you have.
4) Look in Autocross/Road Race section as this is a popular topic and discussed a lot for solutions. You don't have a "special case" or crazy build so a solution is already been figured out.
5) You could have added an oil cooler that is not sufficient (does not have a high enough BTU rating) AND with the addition of an aftermarket bumper it restricts proper air flow.
2) I'm confused...you have an aftermarket radiator with integrated oil cooler AND a external coil cooler? What are you using?
3) Not all oil coolers are created equal (staked plate vs fin and tube). Look up Improved Racing products for a solution and compare it to what you have.
4) Look in Autocross/Road Race section as this is a popular topic and discussed a lot for solutions. You don't have a "special case" or crazy build so a solution is already been figured out.
5) You could have added an oil cooler that is not sufficient (does not have a high enough BTU rating) AND with the addition of an aftermarket bumper it restricts proper air flow.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 616
Likes: 118
From: Alpharetta GA
Move oil cooler inside of cabin, in front of AC vents. Run AC the whole time. Oil temps will be low.
All joking aside, are the lines from the radiator to the external oil cooler properly so oil is actually making it to the external oil cooler?
All joking aside, are the lines from the radiator to the external oil cooler properly so oil is actually making it to the external oil cooler?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
Have to be more specific on your post, I naturally assumed that you were talking about engine temp/water temps not oil temps, so either you do not have enough air flow thru your oil cooler or it doesn't have the ability to lower your oil temps sufficiently..
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=Tokuzumi;1601380967]Move oil cooler inside of cabin, in front of AC vents. Run AC the whole time. Oil temps will be low.
All joking aside, are the lines from the radiator to the external oil cooler properly so oil is actually making it to the external oil cooler?[/
thanks guys, now I got things to check!
All joking aside, are the lines from the radiator to the external oil cooler properly so oil is actually making it to the external oil cooler?[/
thanks guys, now I got things to check!
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 551
Likes: 275
From: Orlando FL - USA
Can you post some pics of your setup? What oil cooler and radiator do you have?
Upgrading fans only help improve cooling at idle or very low speeds, by the way. At track speeds the fan and radiator shroud is usually a restriction to air flow.
Upgrading fans only help improve cooling at idle or very low speeds, by the way. At track speeds the fan and radiator shroud is usually a restriction to air flow.