C6 cooling problem?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
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C6 cooling problem?
This past weekend I drained enough coolant out of the cooling system so I could add a bottle of Redline waterwetter. I then started the car to get it up to temp to make sure the Redline was circulated throughout the cooling system. However, as the coolant temp rose, it seemed to just keep getting hotter. Within a couple minutes it had reached 216 degrees and the cooling fan had not come on once. Can anybody tell me at what temp. is the cooling fan supposed to come on? As a matter of fact, I have never heard the cooling fan come on at all. However, when I drove it later that day, the temp never went above 206, but most of the time I was moving and pushing air through the radiator. I would just like to know if this could be a potential problem or is this normal. Thanks in advance for any help on this, vette54.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
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Did you refill with coolant, or distilled water. Didn't think that any water wetter product worked well with coolant. Probably a waste of money, using it with coolant. Think a better choice would have been a 160* t'stst with cooling fans adjustment thru the computer. My car runs in the hi-170* range with the 160* t'stat at highway speeds. Just my $0.02.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Originally Posted by EuroRod
Did you refill with coolant, or distilled water. Didn't think that any water wetter product worked well with coolant. Probably a waste of money, using it with coolant. Think a better choice would have been a 160* t'stst with cooling fans adjustment thru the computer. My car runs in the hi-170* range with the 160* t'stat at highway speeds. Just my $0.02.
50/50 228deg
50/50 + water wetter 220deg
water 220deg
water + water wetter 202deg
http://www.redlineoil.com/whitePaper/17.pdf
I use it in my bike with just water. Since that cooling system is so small, I still have most of the bottle left over from flushing it last week. I'll probably put it in the Vette, and if I drain the system I'll still use coolant, but less than 50%.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,252
Likes: 133
From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by LS WON
Just using water alone your car will run cooler if you want to take that risk.
The real risk is in the northern states/colder months....can't do that here in NJ.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 800
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
I am actually going this route when I put in my electric water pump, in vegas the possiblity of needing antifreeze is slim to none and it sure will help when the temp pegs 120.
I also agree with the others, are you sure its not an air bubble?
I also agree with the others, are you sure its not an air bubble?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by EuroRod
Did you refill with coolant, or distilled water. Didn't think that any water wetter product worked well with coolant. Probably a waste of money, using it with coolant.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,867
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From: Wantagh,L.I. New York
Originally Posted by LS WON
Just using water alone your car will run cooler if you want to take that risk.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 7,837
Likes: 107
From: Huntington Beach California
Originally Posted by c6vette
How will the water pump be lubicated with just water- Alsothere is no rust inhibitor in plain water could be a problem unless that additive contains both.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 178
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From: Rochester New York
There is a special way that you have to bleed the system.
You have to do this a couple of times until the temp's regulate.
Or something like that... Just had my Mod guys put in a 160 degree t-stat and they had to bleed it, heat it up, bleed it again and then it regulated.
You have to do this a couple of times until the temp's regulate.
Or something like that... Just had my Mod guys put in a 160 degree t-stat and they had to bleed it, heat it up, bleed it again and then it regulated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Originally Posted by c6vette
How will the water pump be lubicated with just water
Originally Posted by rwpatte
I thought the water pump had sealed bearings.
You're right Patte, I just happened to read that in the service manual last night.
Originally Posted by c6vette
Alsothere is no rust inhibitor in plain water could be a problem unless that additive contains both.
Originally Posted by GooseyGoose
There is a special way that you have to bleed the system.
You have to do this a couple of times until the temp's regulate.
Or something like that... Just had my Mod guys put in a 160 degree t-stat and they had to bleed it, heat it up, bleed it again and then it regulated.
You have to do this a couple of times until the temp's regulate.
Or something like that... Just had my Mod guys put in a 160 degree t-stat and they had to bleed it, heat it up, bleed it again and then it regulated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
One of the guys (I think ShopDog) came up with a great procedure. I used it and it worked great. Fill as much as you can, take off the hose that goes to the front of the heads, put your finger over the overflow hose and your mouth over the place where you pour in the antifreeze and BLOW. Keep putting more antifreeze in until that when you blow antifreeze come out of the hose you took off. Put the hose back on and top off. I know it sounds funny, but it works.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Black Diamond Washington
Not sure I understand why a 160 therm will help keep it cooler? If the normal temp is higher than the oem therm what good will a lower setting therm do? The temp will not be held down by a valve that opens sooner. I can see where at first it will open sooner to alow flow sooner but the temp will still climb to what ever it did before as long as it was running higher than the 190 that is stock. ie if normal temp is 205 it will be 205 no matter what therm you install (160 or 190). What am I missing here?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
Originally Posted by Jimailer
Not sure I understand why a 160 therm will help keep it cooler? If the normal temp is higher than the oem therm what good will a lower setting therm do? The temp will not be held down by a valve that opens sooner. I can see where at first it will open sooner to alow flow sooner but the temp will still climb to what ever it did before as long as it was running higher than the 190 that is stock. ie if normal temp is 205 it will be 205 no matter what therm you install (160 or 190). What am I missing here?
It will run cooler if you are at speed, but if you want it to run cooler in traffic, you have to reset the fan on temps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
Originally Posted by mlongo99
The lower thermostat thing seems to be one of those debateable mods that people will never agree on. At least for a stock/almost stock car.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If my memory serves me correctly, the water pump has a mechanical seal that is lubricated by the coolant in the system. The seal and the bearing are one, thus it get lubed by the coolant.
But I could be wrong, it has been 20 years since I worked for a waterpump co.
But I could be wrong, it has been 20 years since I worked for a waterpump co.