Two easy questions:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Two easy questions:
1) When should my cooling fan come on? Driving the coolant temp is 185 ish (farenheit) but idling in traffic it slowly rises to around 230. ?? Is that ok?
2) Idle shakes. It's not misfiring but its not a completely smooth idle. I just installed new spark plugs and wires (small change in idle quality). Is there a normal amount of uneven-ness with the LS1 at idle? To add - My car is bone stock.
I know I've been asking many questions, but being new to this car I'm eager to learn and fix what needs to be fixed so I can relax. Thanks guys.
2) Idle shakes. It's not misfiring but its not a completely smooth idle. I just installed new spark plugs and wires (small change in idle quality). Is there a normal amount of uneven-ness with the LS1 at idle? To add - My car is bone stock.
I know I've been asking many questions, but being new to this car I'm eager to learn and fix what needs to be fixed so I can relax. Thanks guys.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Originally Posted by servohead
1) When should my cooling fan come on? Driving the coolant temp is 185 ish (farenheit) but idling in traffic it slowly rises to around 230. ?? Is that ok?
2) Idle shakes. It's not misfiring but its not a completely smooth idle. I just installed new spark plugs and wires (small change in idle quality). Is there a normal amount of uneven-ness with the LS1 at idle? To add - My car is bone stock.
I know I've been asking many questions, but being new to this car I'm eager to learn and fix what needs to be fixed so I can relax. Thanks guys.
2) Idle shakes. It's not misfiring but its not a completely smooth idle. I just installed new spark plugs and wires (small change in idle quality). Is there a normal amount of uneven-ness with the LS1 at idle? To add - My car is bone stock.
I know I've been asking many questions, but being new to this car I'm eager to learn and fix what needs to be fixed so I can relax. Thanks guys.
2) The idle should be baby smooth. I get a twitch in RPM on occasion, but no shaking. I would check the plug gaps to make sure that they are correct. (I don't know what is normal for the LS1)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
For the spark plugs I chose the AC iridiums which are pre gapped, and you can't adjust them anyway. To be more specific the idle is way smoother in the morning when I start it up. It starts to run uneven at operating temp... maybe I should run a vacuum test to see what it is at idle. Car performs nicely other than that. Thanks for the reply!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Miller,
So we might compare idle quality when the motor is hot; the amount of roughness I'm feeling is noticable to cause concern but not so rough that the motor feels as it might stall. My shifter will jiggle a little and you can feel motor-shake in the seats. I've seen alot of chevy V-8's do this before. It's just weird, I'd think you could get a "baby smooth" idle out of it as chase said. My car has 40 k on it so you know.
So we might compare idle quality when the motor is hot; the amount of roughness I'm feeling is noticable to cause concern but not so rough that the motor feels as it might stall. My shifter will jiggle a little and you can feel motor-shake in the seats. I've seen alot of chevy V-8's do this before. It's just weird, I'd think you could get a "baby smooth" idle out of it as chase said. My car has 40 k on it so you know.
Last edited by servohead; Nov 8, 2004 at 09:36 PM. Reason: just more to add
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Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
I've watched stock LS1s idle from the engine bay and they do shake a good bit. Stock 2000 SS, stock 2002 Z28, stock 99 C5, stock 03 Z06, etc.
It's impossible to know how much vibration you're talking about, but from what you're describing it's normal. These engines most certainly do not idle 100% perfectly.
Dope
It's impossible to know how much vibration you're talking about, but from what you're describing it's normal. These engines most certainly do not idle 100% perfectly.
Dope
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
Hey Steve Martin, I bet you get kidded with that monikker. Is it a shake or a lope? Corvette's stock cam isn't going to give you Lexus smoothness. If it's more than typical rocking, sounds like a compression/ leak down test is in order, also a valve spring check. 
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
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From: King George VA
Originally Posted by servohead
1) When should my cooling fan come on? Driving the coolant temp is 185 ish (farenheit) but idling in traffic it slowly rises to around 230. ?? Is that ok?
Many don't seem to like that temp, and use programs like LS1 edit to reprogram the fans to come on at a lower temp, like 210-220.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Yeah I do get jokes all the time about my name. Oh well, named after my uncle. I'm still a wild and crazy guy though.
Ok so I am used to working on volvo's, which all have very smooth running engines nowadays. It is possible that my motor is idling normally. With no codes stored over the 1000 miles I've driven it I'm pretty sure everything is ok. You guys are really helpful by the way. I really appreciate it!
Ok so I am used to working on volvo's, which all have very smooth running engines nowadays. It is possible that my motor is idling normally. With no codes stored over the 1000 miles I've driven it I'm pretty sure everything is ok. You guys are really helpful by the way. I really appreciate it!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 447
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
My car is also bone stock (internally), and it shakes and shimmies with the best of them, and did so on the original plugs (had 13K on them when I tossed them) and on the brand-new Bosch's. Yes, I agree that you would think these motors would idle very smoothly, but they do not, and yes, it's normal.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by servohead
1) When should my cooling fan come on? Driving the coolant temp is 185 ish (farenheit) but idling in traffic it slowly rises to around 230. ?? Is that ok?
2) Idle shakes. It's not misfiring but its not a completely smooth idle. I just installed new spark plugs and wires (small change in idle quality). Is there a normal amount of uneven-ness with the LS1 at idle? To add - My car is bone stock.
I know I've been asking many questions, but being new to this car I'm eager to learn and fix what needs to be fixed so I can relax. Thanks guys.
2) Idle shakes. It's not misfiring but its not a completely smooth idle. I just installed new spark plugs and wires (small change in idle quality). Is there a normal amount of uneven-ness with the LS1 at idle? To add - My car is bone stock.
I know I've been asking many questions, but being new to this car I'm eager to learn and fix what needs to be fixed so I can relax. Thanks guys.
As far as the fans go.. here is the prgramed sequences:
Depending on the model year...
For later model years:
The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).
For early model years:
Low speed fans come on at 219,high speed fans come on at 228,low speed with a/c on...
I hope you enjoy that car.
welcome to the forum seeya
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Westminster Colorado
Steve,
As the previous post stated a bit of shake seems to be the norm. As fart as temps go, I'm going to get a cooler thermostat and re-program my fans using LS1 edit.
Doesn't that Volvo inline six run smooth? I spend all my time working on Volvos as well. We have a bit in common, I own a Volvo shop, and I also have a '99 Pewter Hardtop.
As the previous post stated a bit of shake seems to be the norm. As fart as temps go, I'm going to get a cooler thermostat and re-program my fans using LS1 edit.
Doesn't that Volvo inline six run smooth? I spend all my time working on Volvos as well. We have a bit in common, I own a Volvo shop, and I also have a '99 Pewter Hardtop.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Wow! a volvo shop eh? I've been working for a volvo dealer as a technician for the last 2 years and i love it. Volvos are great to work on for the most part. You can understand how I'm a little picky about my idle quality as I am used to the 5 and 6 cylinder motors. Aside from this new vette I have a '96 850 turbo all modified up to about 300 hp which is fun to whip around(which is kind of all you can get safely out of it).
As far as that lower temp thermostat your going to put in: I thought about that, but what stops me is I don't know how the computer is going to take to it. Lower ECT temps I would worry would change the running parameters too much. However, I would love to see my LS1 run a little cooler.
As far as that lower temp thermostat your going to put in: I thought about that, but what stops me is I don't know how the computer is going to take to it. Lower ECT temps I would worry would change the running parameters too much. However, I would love to see my LS1 run a little cooler.
