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I just recently purchased a 2007 C6 Z51 / 3LT / A6 Coupe; it has 35,000 miles on the clock and is completely stock, with a stock thermostat. Can anyone advise the approximate temperature at which the cooling fan should turn on? The engine is running at about 210 - 215 degrees according to the dash gauge when fully warm and just idling. To my knowledge, the fan has not engaged since I bought the car.
Many thanks for posting this thread. I did a search, but this obviously did not come up. I'm not too worried, reading about the other owners with "normal" thermostats in their cars. This does make me wonder though if I should switch to a 180 degree stat. . . .
But that did not mean I liked the fact that it would jump up to 225 in traffic , I used my Diablo to set my fans to come on earlier and now I hardly ever see 206 , it runs between 195 and 205 only seeing 205 when sitting in traffic in 90 degree heat
160 is just when the thermostat opens , the heat load will still take it over 200 unless you make changes such as a more efficient radiator or change when the fans come on
I have just been thru this exercise and everyone told me that these temps were normal but because I did not feel comfortable with running these temps I used my Diablo to turn the fans on earlier .... now with the stock thermostat I rarely see temps over 206 and this is only when I am sitting in traffic and it is over 90 degrees outside .... most the time it is running at 198 to 200 and on the open road 195 ....
And this was only bumping the fan percentages just a bit at each temperature point with the top end points still set at 90 percent
160 is just when the thermostat opens , the heat load will still take it over 200 unless you make changes such as a more efficient radiator or change when the fans come on
I have just been thru this exercise and everyone told me that these temps were normal but because I did not feel comfortable with running these temps I used my Diablo to turn the fans on earlier .... now with the stock thermostat I rarely see temps over 206 and this is only when I am sitting in traffic and it is over 90 degrees outside .... most the time it is running at 198 to 200 and on the open road 195 ....
And this was only bumping the fan percentages just a bit at each temperature point with the top end points still set at 90 percent
Dave
I live in the Central Sierras of CA; temps are pretty moderate during the spring and fall; we sometimes get high 90's / low 100's on really hot days. Winter days (no snow) are still cold, so that's why I was figuring on a 180 degree thermostat. If that's not much better than the stock 195, I could go to a 160. Sounds as though I should have the fan temps/speeds revamped, as Dave mentioned.
I live in the Central Sierras of CA; temps are pretty moderate during the spring and fall; we sometimes get high 90's / low 100's on really hot days. Winter days (no snow) are still cold, so that's why I was figuring on a 180 degree thermostat. If that's not much better than the stock 195, I could go to a 160. Sounds as though I should have the fan temps/speeds revamped, as Dave mentioned.
Steve
Stock stat is 186. Your DIC will usually read 10 hotter, due to the location of the sensor in the head.
I have a 160 and have never seen anything below 170 even at steady highway speeds in 30 degrees ambient.
I've also seen 240+ in Phoenix rush (?) hour traffic in the Summer. My fan is set to be full (90%) at 201 degrees.
Stock stat is 186. Your DIC will usually read 10 hotter, due to the location of the sensor in the head.
I have a 160 and have never seen anything below 170 even at steady highway speeds in 30 degrees ambient. I've also seen 240+ in Phoenix rush (?) hour traffic in the Summer. My fan is set to be full (90%) at 201 degrees.
Hard to compensate for this.
The only way to lower your temps in rush hour traffic with that kind of ambient temperature is to install a more efficient radiator and fan combo that moves more air...Dewitt's makes both...I don't have a Dewitt's radiator in my C6, but I do in my 89 Corvette with a 383 stroker motor, which puts out lots of heat.. It use to run up to 228 degrees before , now with the Dewitt's radiator, Dewitt's high speed fan and lowering the temp at which the fan comes on, my 89 very rarely ever goes over 195 degrees.. I have the new fan set to come on at 195 degrees, and go off at 180 degrees. .It usually runs right at 180 degrees anytime it's moving over 30 mph. I'm pretty sure we would see the same kind of results with the C6 Corvette.....WW
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Keep in mind you're engine is working as it was designed to work right now.
Thanks, I understand. That being said, I don't like to change things from stock, factory "settings" without good reason. My thoughts on changing the thermostat are for the hot summer days, relatively short trips with in-town driving, or stop and go traffic.
The only way to lower your temps in rush hour traffic with that kind of ambient temperature is to install a more efficient radiator and fan combo that moves more air...Dewitt's makes both...I don't have a Dewitt's radiator in my C6, but I do in my 89 Corvette with a 383 stroker motor, which puts out lots of heat.. It use to run up to 228 degrees before , now with the Dewitt's radiator, Dewitt's high speed fan and lowering the temp at which the fan comes on, my 89 very rarely ever goes over 195 degrees.. I have the new fan set to come on at 195 degrees, and go off at 180 degrees. .It usually runs right at 180 degrees anytime it's moving over 30 mph. I'm pretty sure we would see the same kind of results with the C6 Corvette.....WW
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Thanks for your post too! I realize that the temps temps I might see with a lower thermostat would only be realized if the fan controller was set to turn the fan on at a lower temp also. For better results, I'd need another radiator and/or fan. From what I've seen, the most change I might realize is about 10 - 12 degrees cooler with a different 'stat and reprogrammed fan.
You say that you are not aware that the fan has ever come on since you got the car...unless you only drive on the highway and never in city stop and go traffic, the car would overheat without the fan coming on. You can see the fan easily with a flashlight...best from the passenger side of the car. If the car is idling and standing still, it will overheat unless the fan runs.
You say that you are not aware that the fan has ever come on since you got the car...unless you only drive on the highway and never in city stop and go traffic, the car would overheat without the fan coming on. You can see the fan easily with a flashlight...best from the passenger side of the car. If the car is idling and standing still, it will overheat unless the fan runs.
That is correct - - I haven't seen the fan run - - until yesterday. I got a mirror and flashlight, took a look at the fan with the operating temp at about 205 degrees. The fan was turning slowly, so it's obviously operating. I have had no overheating issues, though the water temp has gotten as high as 213 to my knowledge (this is with ambient outside air temps of about 55 - 60 degrees). I'll keep my fingers crossed as to the proper fan operation at higher temps. Obviously, if it's not broken, why fix it.
Cooling Fan "Turn-on" Temperature
