Michael A

I am getting closer to purchasing a C7 (perhaps 2018). I was considering a base model non-Z51 1LT to keep the cost down. I do like to run hard in the canyons, and thought I might try out an HPDE day.

I couldn't find anyone who had overheating issues with the non-Z51 on the track, but to my surprise I found a number of people who had overheating issues with the Z-51, including engine coolant, engine oil, and manual transmission oil.

Then I found this disturbing article on Edmunds.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: Overheating on a Mountain Road

I found lots of overheating threads. I tried to filter out those where it appeared something broke, and just take into account those that overheated by pushing the car hard. Here is an example.

Z51, M7 overheating on track

Here are guys replacing side vents, radiators, coolers due to overheating.

C7 Z51 7spd overheating

Of course, we have heard all about the Z06 and A8 overheating issues (not planning on getting either), but that's another story.

I've been a long time Corvette owner, but as a backup, I am also considering a Camaro SS. I went on the Camaro 6 forum as a comparison, and could only find one person who had their 6th Gen Camaro overheat, and that was in a parking lot on a February day, so obviously there was some failure there.

It doesn't seem like the Corvette cooling system/hot weather testing is adequate. I have to admit my tolerance for overheating cars is not very high. I worked in the industry.

Michael

Foosh

That's nonsense. You can find the same type of reviews on the internet for just about every model for every problem, but overheating is very rare.

owc6

If this is happening, it is to a very small percentage of owners.

Don't take a few cases of anything too seriously as a major concern on an forum, and perhaps even less on a site that takes what people say on a forum as fact.

Michael A

We know your view on forum reports.

"My view is that the forum is a great resource, and the frequent problem reports on internet car forums don't cause me any concern. Most reports are either not credible, or are not problems at all. "

Maybe some others can provide their input. Thank you.

Michael

Foosh

Particularly the part in bold.

I read a lot of problem reports around here that I don't find credible, but one thing I don't read hardly ever around here are overheating reports, except perhaps on Z06s.

Michael A

I don't, but I am seeing more than just a few.

As a counterbalance, maybe we can hear from some people who have gone to the track in hot weather, and it has been fine.

Thank you.

Michael

Foosh

Ask anyone who has been to Spring Mountain, myself included.

PanjabiMC

It actually happened to me last week. I have a 2014 Z51 M7 and my car overheated 3 weeks ago. Thought I was just low on coolant but then last week it overheated again. So I took it to the dealership and they had to replace the radiator, coolant, and transmission fluid. I'm hoping this never happens again, but yes I have seen z51s overheat before.

Foosh

Yes, parts do fail from time to time, on every make and model.

Michael A

That's a good idea. I should call over there, and see if they will tell me what their experience has been and if they do anything to prep the cars for hot weather.

I did read one post on here where an instructor said the instructors can get the cars to overheat, but most of the students don't push the cars enough to overheat.

Michael

Foosh

A lot of performance cars can be overheated on the track. I don't think the C7 Z51 is any more prone to that than any other.

There's no question that the Z06 did have an issue, which I believe they think they've addressed.

theplatinumog

I started track driving this year in my m7 z51. I have already done 9 events this year! Careful, you might get hooked like me.

I cringe when I watch my older PDR videos. I am brutal to the car. 5 red lines per lap at Laguna seca. Stabbing the brakes way way to hard.

I have had 0 over heating issues. However, I have done 2 sets of pads and rotors. This is 100% driver error. But if you are new to it like I was... Try to learn from others mistakes, be nice to your brakes. It's all about the brake release and being smooth.

Anyways the drive train has been bullet proof thus far.

JerryU

It gets a lot hotter in SC than CA and my engine coolant was never excessively hot in 3 summers.

The OP should get the Z51 as it has the suspension package needed for agressive driving and a standrad trans cooler. The base car does NOT include a standard trans cooler or a dif cooler.

Michael A

lol Since when? We have deserts here you know. I was in Death Valley a couple summers ago, and it was officially 129 at the Ranger Station. With the hot asphalt, and hot currents, I saw 140 on the outside temp gauge.

Michael

JerryU

^^^^
Hmm! Michael, didn't think anyone did canyon carving in Death Valley!

Frankly you need to do more reading if you really drive aggressively and would even consider the base car (as stated in your original post!) Granted when I bought my Z51 the option was only $2800 but it came with:

1) Stiffer springs than the base car;
2) 45 mm vs 36 mm shocks in base car;
3) Stiffer front and a rear sway bar the base car doesn't have;
4) An eDif not simple positraction as in on the base car (it has a ~3000 psi hydraulic pump that actives many times per second the auto trans type clutches on each side of the dif using computer control);
5) Large brakes with high performance pads;
6) Larger wheels/tires (unless you wait until Fall and get a 2018);
7) An air liquid heat exchanger behind the left rear fender cooling my standard trans (the base car with standard trans does not have one);
8) An air liquid heat exchanger behind the right rear fender cooling the dif (no cooling for the base car dif);
9) A dry sump (in case you really drive at a high "g" force around those canyon curves)

Suggest you might stop drinking Starbucks Lattes to save up money for the Z51 option!

PS: If you really drive aggressively in Death Valley save up for a Humvee!

itaylorm

Drove mine through hot weather in Nevada for 12 hours around a week ago with outside temperatures in the 80s and didn't have any issues at all. At Spring Mountain I was pushing the Z51 provided and no problems.

thill444

I would consider the following:
For 2017 Z51's Chevy made the following change for M7 Z51 cars
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-release.html

So consider a 2017, and if not, you may be able to add the 2017 auxiliary cooler for a previous gen car.

I think overheating is a valid concern but I would consider a few things:
- It depends a lot on the driver, the conditions (temperature+humidity) and the track itself
- There are lots of aftermarket parts for the Corvette's out there when it comes to cooling so if you can replicate some of the issues above then you could likely address them aftermarket.

I also think the people who tend to buy Z51's, Z06's, GS, etc will tend to track the car more, and much more aggressively than say a base owner. So you are going to find more reports of overheating. I don't many track focused buyers would even consider a base.

Hope this helps. I just bought my 2016 Z51 recently and have not tracked it yet, but I did take it out the other day for some extended backroad carving and really pushed the car (temps were in the 70's though) with zero heat issues. Will be tracking it in May.

felkebg

My 2015 A8 overheats on the track and they fixed the problem with more cooling parts in 2016 but even though our Tadge answers promised we would get a retrofit solution I can't fix my problem without voiding my warranty at this time. It is well known that many C7s on a track can experience problems with overheating. On a street scenario it is usually not a problem. Use this forum when deciding what you are going to buy.

mdiiulio

I ran my non-Z51 M7 in the Malibu canyons for my first two years of ownership. I pushed it hard, especially on my favorite, Latigo Canyon. Anyway, your first linked story is from Edmunds. They are generally car guys, sure, but that one day that they took the car out in the twisties they left the damn aero plate holder on the front of the car. It even says in the manual to remove it before doing any spirited driving (<-not a direct quote). So of course they overheated in in the canyons on a hot day, they were starving the radiator! Anyway, get whichever you want, you'll be absolutely fine. The Z51 option will just give you more room to play with (in Death Valley)

dfettero

I had 300 A8 paddle shifted HPDE miles last summer at Summit Point, WV and Dominion Raceway (VA). NEVER came close to overheating any temps.