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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 07:57 AM
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Default 220 Normal?

My C7 is always running at 220 degrees. Check w/dealer. Was told 220 is normal and that the fans don't turn on until 228 degrees. Is this normal?

Thank You
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:06 AM
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Yes. I had the same question when I first got my C7.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:08 AM
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Originally Posted by SRQStingray
Yes. I had the same question when I first got my C7.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by SRQStingray
Yes. I had the same question when I first got my C7.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by SRQStingray
Yes. I had the same question when I first got my C7.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:30 AM
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That's the way it is programmed. Better emissions at hotter temps. Aluminum block and heads means you can manage cooling and run hotter without hot spots.

Also why many people put in colder thermostats and reprogram the fans to come on in the 190s.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 09:42 AM
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Seems high. Heat equals less HP, not good. My cammed Z with 160 t-stat runs in the 180's, that is 40 degrees less!
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 09:55 AM
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As mentioned.... yes... normal. Designed that way for emissions and efficiency. You can put in a lower temp t-state to get coolant circulating through the radiator sooner, but it won't change the max temps reached. To change that you'd have to turn the fans on earlier. Not sure on the C7, but on the earlier cars the fans shut off over 30 mph anyway.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 12:43 PM
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DON'T MESS WITH YOUR COOLING SYSTEM!

I used to be the Division Manager for a company that manufactured and packaged automotive coolants. Engines, specifically aluminum engines, are designed to run at certain operating temperatures. There are heat transfer characteristics that are designed and built into each car's cooling system, messing with them can seriously damage your car. Go by what the manufacturer says for your cooling system.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 12:45 PM
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Can't wait to see what kind of temps are reported once the weather turns hot
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Scooter NYY
DON'T MESS WITH YOUR COOLING SYSTEM!

I used to be the Division Manager for a company that manufactured and packaged automotive coolants. Engines, specifically aluminum engines, are designed to run at certain operating temperatures. There are heat transfer characteristics that are designed and built into each car's cooling system, messing with them can seriously damage your car. Go by what the manufacturer says for your cooling system.
What a crock... most of us who race these cars put 160 degree t-stats in them to get coolant circulating earlier and put larger dual row radiators in them. Capacity is increased keeping the car cooler in extreme temps.

That said, I see no reason to modify a street C7.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 01:46 PM
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This is the oil temperature? Most production engines are designed to run right around the boiling point of water. This takes into consideration the oil used and its viscosity at this design temperature. So 220 sounds about right.


Cheers.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 01:49 PM
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Yes.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by travisnd
What a crock... most of us who race these cars put 160 degree t-stats in them to get coolant circulating earlier and put larger dual row radiators in them. Capacity is increased keeping the car cooler in extreme temps.

That said, I see no reason to modify a street C7.
Hey, all I am saying is based upon my experience with automotive coolants, you should go by the manufacturer's recommendations. If you want to alter your system that is up to you since you sound like you have experience in that area, but don't tell the average guy on the street that it is OK to modify their cooling system. Engine rebuilds/replacements are not cheap.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by KenHorse
Can't wait to see what kind of temps are reported once the weather turns hot
Well, if there is enough radiator capacity and airflow through it I expect around 220

Seriously I expect there will be higher spikes under strenuous conditions but the thermostat is doing what is intended even though it is holding the temperature higher than what many of us were used to seeing.

Of course GM could also do what Ford did on its pickups for years and use an idiot light that masquerades as a gauge. Any temp between not-quite-frozen and superheated steam would register right in the middle of the gauge and it never moved and the oil pressure gauge was the same. I took one of my friends fishing one day and he was convinced my truck had a problem because both the temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge moved around under changing conditions.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 02:25 PM
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LOL I had a late 90s Mustang years ago... I agree, they never moved.
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 02:30 PM
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I wonder if we will see this change for summer? My Corvettes in the past always ran hottest in spring and fall when the temperatures outside didn't warrant the AC or heat. Once summer rolled in though the fans would always run and keep it in line right around 200
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by vetteLT193
I wonder if we will see this change for summer? My Corvettes in the past always ran hottest in spring and fall when the temperatures outside didn't warrant the AC or heat. Once summer rolled in though the fans would always run and keep it in line right around 200
I always used to run AC during warmer weather if I was in stop-and-go traffic because I knew that forces the fan(s) on full time.

We'll see how things go with the C7 but as I've got the "HD cooling", we'll see if that really helps
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 05:19 PM
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There's few other issues that creep up when adjusting the temps. On your own.

Yes, you need a lower thermostat & either custom programming of the ECM or a piggyback unit the reads the coolant temp. from the ECM & supplies power to the fan at lower temps.

I can't specifically recall what the ODB II codes were but with the DI engine when the temps. ride consistently at a lower temp. The ECM will eventually come out of closed loop mode until it reaches a threshold temp. I'm sure that threshold it's not 220°F but it'd be close to it. You might get away with 5-10° colder but much more than that we'd need custom programming all that way around & too many of these tuners are just prevent proper operation or blocking an emissions test with their tuning. It needs programmed comprehensively, so it will past all drive cycle tests & adjusted ranges are an okay condition.

All things considered & with the volume of C7's being produced we'll have no shortage of vendors producing anything they can think of for our cars, both good & bad. Right now & for about the next year I'm just gonna sit & wait for the aftermarket to fill up with stuff for the C7 & maybe next spring, I'll go shopping.

Thinking out loud...


Wormwood
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 06:43 PM
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220* is the norm. Our competition radiator will be out later this month for testing. Keep an eye out!
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