C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Temp needle past 220

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 9, 2021 | 07:01 PM
  #1  
Escue's Avatar
Escue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 158
Likes: 14
Default Temp needle past 220

Today it was 63 degrees and my 2002 C5 base was getting hot sitting in traffic. I was stopped for about five minutes due to construction with the engine at idle. The temperature gauge was getting close to 240 degrees. Once out of traffic the needle faded to around 200 degrees. This doesn’t seem normal. Suggestions?
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2021 | 07:30 PM
  #2  
mmartinez's Avatar
mmartinez
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,134
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
Default

First thing to check is the radiator make sure you haven't sucked up a plastic bag, next thing to check is the electric fans, are they coming on?
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2021 | 05:42 AM
  #3  
Escue's Avatar
Escue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 158
Likes: 14
Default

Ok, thanks. I’ll check the fans.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2021 | 06:15 AM
  #4  
StrangelovesM6Vert's Avatar
StrangelovesM6Vert
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
Default

If it climbs up that high you can put the heater on full to bring it down.
There's a Tractor Genie right angle air and water wand you can use to clean out the rad fins.

Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Nov 10, 2021 at 06:18 AM.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2021 | 12:53 PM
  #5  
lamaro88's Avatar
lamaro88
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 252
Likes: 60
From: Ventura CA
Default

Clean out the radiator like others suggested, a good preventative thing to do, also check the coolant level. Same thing was happening to my car a few weeks ago, and after cleaning and adding coolant, my temps went back to normal. I did check the fans also and they were working.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2021 | 07:39 PM
  #6  
Escue's Avatar
Escue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 158
Likes: 14
Default

Thanks, I’ll check the coolant n fans.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2021 | 08:18 PM
  #7  
FOGeologist's Avatar
FOGeologist
Racer
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 456
Likes: 144
From: Frederick Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by mmartinez
First thing to check is the radiator make sure you haven't sucked up a plastic bag, next thing to check is the electric fans, are they coming on?
I made my own cleaning spray wand and will rent it to you for the low, low price of free - just pay the postage both ways.

It worked the treat for me, blowing butt loads of plant detritus, dust and other crap out of my radiator.

I hooked it directly to my garden hose, using a shutoff valve, took the top radiator mounts off, and scooching the rad forward a couple of inches, I was able to slide the angled wand with it's side-facing holes to shoot several streams of high-pressure water and blow the crap out the front.

My car is 25 years old, and a fair amount of stuff, leaves, pine needles, tumbleweed remnants, etc. was blown free.

No escalating temps for me after the treatment, and I was routinely going over 220 in traffic and in drive-throughs.

IM or email me if you are interested in my offer.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2021 | 11:12 PM
  #8  
jim993's Avatar
jim993
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
Default

And you can install a Sac City CoolIt. I have had one for about eight years. It allows you to call up high fan from the cockpit with a fob. I use it when in traffic or coming off track after last lap.

https://www.saccitycorvette.com/HardWireCoolit.html
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Nov 11, 2021 | 01:14 PM
  #9  
kh400's Avatar
kh400
Pro
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 651
Likes: 33
From: North Port Florida
Default

Originally Posted by FOGeologist
I made my own cleaning spray wand and will rent it to you for the low, low price of free - just pay the postage both ways.

It worked the treat for me, blowing butt loads of plant detritus, dust and other crap out of my radiator.

I hooked it directly to my garden hose, using a shutoff valve, took the top radiator mounts off, and scooching the rad forward a couple of inches, I was able to slide the angled wand with it's side-facing holes to shoot several streams of high-pressure water and blow the crap out the front.

My car is 25 years old, and a fair amount of stuff, leaves, pine needles, tumbleweed remnants, etc. was blown free.

No escalating temps for me after the treatment, and I was routinely going over 220 in traffic and in drive-throughs.

IM or email me if you are interested in my offer.
Need to clean out debris from radiator at least once a yr. They draw air up from the road and the debris with it.
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2021 | 01:24 PM
  #10  
Escue's Avatar
Escue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 158
Likes: 14
Default

I like the looks of the Sac City fan part. Thanks for the suggestion. I also plan to clean out the radiator as we have a lot of leaves.
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2021 | 02:20 PM
  #11  
Kubs's Avatar
Kubs
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,682
Likes: 3,433
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Default

Cleaning the radiator of debris is good, but lets not forget the fans dont even come on low until 220. Thats not really hot for these cars.
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2021 | 03:00 PM
  #12  
SacCityCorvette's Avatar
SacCityCorvette
Supporting Vendor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,469
Likes: 136
From: SacCityCorvette.com in Sacramento Ca Join us on Facebook!
St. Jude Donor '12,'13,'15,'16,'17
Default

Originally Posted by Escue
I like the looks of the Sac City fan part. Thanks for the suggestion. I also plan to clean out the radiator as we have a lot of leaves.
Hi Escue,
We also have the plug and play wireless Coolit if you are interested.

https://www.saccitycorvette.com/COOLITv2.html
__________________
Don't forget to check out our products at www.saccitycorvette.com

If you like our products, tell others! If not, tell us!











Reply
Old Nov 13, 2021 | 07:17 PM
  #13  
irfgt's Avatar
irfgt
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,942
Likes: 7
From: Gaffney, S.C.
Default

Turn your A/C on. If the temperature drops, the fans are working.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2021 | 07:43 PM
  #14  
Escue's Avatar
Escue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 158
Likes: 14
Default

Thanks!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Temp needle past 220





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:17 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE