Just had a thought for a STICKY in this section... How about a "Cooling" STICKY? A place for members to post up their Do's and Don'ts as well as results such as operating temps and correlating ambient temps. With upgrading radiators, t-stats and fans being a focus of topic. Along with any install advice and part number lists Members may have to share.

 

Sounds like a good idea.

 

 

too.

I have spent many hours searching for data like this.

I am in the midst right now of changing my stat to a 180. I have had a 160 and a 187 previously.

I am just trying to find the sweet spot and in California my temperature range isn't to bad.

I found some solid advice from posts by Evil Twin in the C5 section. This was 1/2 a dozen years back or more.

A retired 35 year senior engineer with GM and worked extensively on the C5.

Might be a good starting point.

He also talks of tire tuning, which opened my eyes too.

Theses cars like to run 30-31 psi HOT for best performance and wear. The 30psi sticker on the door jamb is GM's way of letting people know not to inflate to max. pressure stated on the tire. He says GM calls the sticker and 'idiot sticker"

He also says optimum coolant is 190-200 and oil 210-220.

I have seen some different post by him with some different numbers but all within my listed numbers. Basically 190 coolant and 210 oil.

Lots of discussion regarding this on all the forums but I figure Evil Twin was involved in the testin of the modern day corvette and should have the data to make the call.

My climate is mild so I am trying to find the sweet spot for year long driving.

Why....because I like trying.

Do I think it will make a noticeable difference, dunno but I want to try and get closer to his data numbers for the fun of it. After all knowledge isn't useful unless it is put into action. And I hate unused knowledge.

Hey what can I say, this is how i roll. I love to tinker for small improvements in everything. You should see by golf game! Golf is made for people like myself, a great tinkering game.

 

If Evil Twin had so much to do with the development of the modern Corvette why would you change anything? If you are racing on the track under extreme conditions I could see where you might need additional help with equipment. Otherwise why change anything from stock?

 

Because the car is made to be shipped all over the World and run in different climates and altitudes.

There is a sweet spot found under GM's testing and I want to try and get closer to it for my conditions. Like I said because I enjoy doing this type of thing.

Really is not a difficult thing to understand.

 

I too think a Cooler sticky is a good idea, with all of the disparate posts on the various sub forums this seems to be a popular topic. I have also been researching this topic but more from a track-use perspective. One answer I haven't found much info on is the A-6 and its optimal temps for hpde.

I'm glad to see your comments regarding tire pressures and temps. Many on this forum are hard on the GY Supercars but my experience has been quite different. I've been running with them within the same criteria as you mention, trying to keep them at 30psi when heated up. For example, the start of my hpde sessions, I'll let the tires cool after I arrive and deflate the right front to 26psi and the others to 27 (for predominantly left turning tracks). When reaching the paddock after the first session, I'll check and adjust them all to 30psi, they will all need it (typically at 32 - 34). I then check them again after each session and adjust them to 30 HOT. These tires can generate at least 1.05g's, not bad for a street tire IMHO. I'll try a set of Michelin Super Sports next and use the same methodology.

For cooling my '12GS A-6, I decided to use a DeWitts radiator set up for both EOC and TOC as my first attempt at bringing down the engine oil temps (currently hitting 280). If I need to, I will then add an external EOC and install it first in line, the EOC built into the radiator will help regulate the engine oil temps for every day driving.

 

Good information regarding the tire temps.

Also when I had the SC F1's I too found the grip to be ok. What I did not like was the harshness of the RF over pavement changes and having the rear end kick out on these changes in turns, and the noise.

 

Create the thread and I'll put a link to it in this existing DIY sticky.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...d-updated.html

Would that work okay for you and others?

If so, let me know when the thread is ready. Others can add posts to it any time.

 

Well I have used the 187, 180 and 160 stat. in my 2008 LS3 MN6 with 4:10 differential gearing.

I'll start with my recollection of the 160 degree unit.

My car has headers, cat back and intake with a tune, so only slightly modded. Later the headers were replaced with the Z06 system and the stock intake put back on. Basically stock.

The 160 degree stat during my San Francisco Bay Area Winter weather I felt ran a little cool for street only use. I would see 172-174 in average temperature of 45-55 degrees. With 2008-2010 degrees engine oil.
During the Summer it would rise up to 178-180 for weather between 75-90 degrees. With Oil temps not changing much.

These temperatures account for all but maybe a couple of weeks worth of driving out of the year, regarding the Summer and Winter combined.

With the 187 degree stat I saw 196-200 in the Summer and with similar results in the Winter, maybe a degree or two less.. With oil temp it was more like 225.

I was hopping for somewhere in between with the use of the 180 degree unit.
What I see in the summer is 194-196 with a 220-222 coolant temp. I expect in the Winter for the coolant temp to drop a few more degrees with maybe the engine oil keeping below 220.

So the 180 does not provide the drop I was looking for.

Each stat had a fan program change.

I wanted to see coolant at 188 and engine oil at 215, or within a few degrees.

All this if from recollection and the 180 stat never ran with the long tubs or intake change. But I do not expect this to have much influence. Maybe a little on engine oil temps but not significant.

The 160 is just about perfect during the Summer but to cool for the Winter. Took forever for the engine oil to get over 205.

This was at 65 mph on flat roadway after 20 miles of driving. Runningnaround 1700 rpm.

Use as you may.

 

Mike, if you can make it, come to RMP July 26th with the upgrades. I just installed my own upgrade (Z07 radiator); let's see how these setups will perform!

 

I guess the ambient air temperature certainly affects the engine, but the thermostat really doesn't affect that. I'm trying to figure out why the environment affects how the engine runs, related to the thermostat. The thermostat and the cooling system regulate the temperature, so what difference does the environment make? That is the whole point of the temperature control system, to get a consistent temperature regardless of the environment.

I would have to know more about the reasons why Chevy chose the temperature range that they chose before I started changing it.

 

Gas Guzzlers Tax, not performance or longevity

 

There is a difference between the operating temps that GM says are best and the cooling system capacity that allows you to keep the car within those specs. The cooling system is designed for driving on the street and highway not for long wide open throttle periods like you see during road race events or driving schools. Stock C5s will maintain those temps very well anywhere in the US but when they get on a road course coolant temps go to 230 degrees at speed and oil temps will go over 300 degrees. I saw 319 Oil Temps on my 03Z when I first got it. Just by adding a Ron Davis Racing Radiator with an internal Engine Oil Cooler I dropped the coolant temps at speed from 230 to 200 and the oil temp from 319 to 230.

Never changed the thermostat as all it does is set a minimum temperature.

Bill