How does that happen - let me guess $$$
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 18
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From: Rhode Island
New forum member
I just purchased a 2001 C5 and it has only 46,000 miles. It has a 165 degree thermostat in a drive-thru it heat's way up. I live in Rhode Island can anybody advise me on what I should do to get it to run cooler?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
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From: Walhalla South Carolina
How do U know it is a 165 unless U installed it or is that what previous owner told you. That is not the stock thermostat, prob was a 180 or 190 but anyway how hot does it get. U say heats way up, what is the temp number and how long does it take to heat up, 10 min 30, etc. You have two cooling fans behind radiator and one kicks on around 205 or 210 and if temp continues to rise the high speed fan kicks in around 230 or so. Don't hold me to these numbers but they are approximate. First see if the fans are coming on, look at the fan and listen and see if they are on. Also when ever the AC is on the fan comes on automatically, see if that is the case. I assume you have antifreeze in rad and it isn't low. These cars run pretty hot, mine runs about 190 unless you stop or in traffic and then the temp goes up pretty fast but never overheats. They make a mod called coolet mod that allows you to turn the rad fan on anytime with a key type fob or you can have your fans set to come on at a lower temp with someone with a tech II computer.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
From: Rhode Island
it goes up over 220 and it gets there pretty quick. i'm considering to use water wetter. I've used it before.I lived in vegas and had a 69 camaro with a 427 big block and it worked
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 760
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From: All Over The Place
Get a tune so that the fans kick on sooner. Mail order with ECS in Cream Ridge NJ (supporting CF vendor).
Also, get the front end up in the air and clean out the radiator. These cars are bottom feeders and suck up a lot of garbage (adding the screen underneath is a typical mod as well. Thermostat may not be operating as designed either. Unless you really know the previous owner, take nothing for granted. Simply throwing in a lower operating thermostat isn't the cure all to run cooler.
Also, get the front end up in the air and clean out the radiator. These cars are bottom feeders and suck up a lot of garbage (adding the screen underneath is a typical mod as well. Thermostat may not be operating as designed either. Unless you really know the previous owner, take nothing for granted. Simply throwing in a lower operating thermostat isn't the cure all to run cooler.
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No Hostility Be Happy
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From: South Hill Wa
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Aside from that everyone has come up with the typical things to check. Will sit back and see if the OP figures it out.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
From: Rhode Island
My car has less than 47,000 miles and the previous owner was a 60 yr old gentleman. He took very good care of it. I just got nervous when the temp gauge went up to 220. I ran water wetter in my other corvettes and in my 69 Z-28 with a 427 big block. I had no problems and I was living in Vegas at the time. I'll probably run it in this one too.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Yeah, I hate high temps too even though the LS1 is okay with it. Fist thing you need to do is clean the radiator and then clean the radiator again. Hit the condenser while you are at it.
Unfortunately ECS stopped doing that. Worried about the EPA rampage.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]
I wonder if Chuck Cow stopped doing them too?
Unfortunately ECS stopped doing that. Worried about the EPA rampage.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]
I wonder if Chuck Cow stopped doing them too?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Beautiful Springboro, OH
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Welcome to the forum, Brad! You just need to run your Vette by the nearest Newport Creamery and get it a cabinet! (we have some long-time friends who live in Johnston and Providence). I appreciate your commitment by investing in a lifetime membership, and actually need to do the same myself! Keep us posted on the water wetter solution!
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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My car has less than 47,000 miles and the previous owner was a 60 yr old gentleman. He took very good care of it. I just got nervous when the temp gauge went up to 220. I ran water wetter in my other corvettes and in my 69 Z-28 with a 427 big block. I had no problems and I was living in Vegas at the time. I'll probably run it in this one too.
Yeah I think you are all good. If you have a good tuner near by as suggested by others they can turn the fan on and off temps down and it will make a huge difference. I know I panicked the first time I saw it get up around 230 something when it was 90 degrees outside. Since then the car has been tuned a couple different times for various mods with the fans adjusted. It rarely goes over 200 anymore.
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