Engine Temp
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 16
Likes: 11
From: Dubuque, Iowa
Engine Temp
Ok its in the upper 30's here. I took my C7 out for a long ride and the engine temp doesn't get above 170. It literally gets colder while driving on the highway. Im thinking its the thermostat. Any thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 708
From: Terrell North Carolina
OE thermostat should run around 195 to 205 degrees. These engines are made to run hotter than the old days. When replacing the thermostat be sure the cooling system completely filled and gets all the air out of the system, if air is left in the system, you will have heating issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,392
Likes: 2,127
From: Loveland
What year is your car. The 2014 has a different thermostat than the rest. The 2014 has a different coolant pump, and a different temp spec. There are many sites trying to sell thermostats. Don't get caught up in the BS. The 2014 requires a 207* thermostat and the rest require a 194* stat.
I see now you have a 2016,,,, get the 194* stat.
I see now you have a 2016,,,, get the 194* stat.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,568
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
I watch mine as I drive and the range is always between 176 and 190. I replaced the OEM thermostat twice, and I can't seem to get it to drive warmer than that. Car runs just fine though with these temps.
Dealer said the cut on temp for the fan in 205. They told me not to worry about it.
Dealer said the cut on temp for the fan in 205. They told me not to worry about it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,392
Likes: 2,127
From: Loveland
I watch mine as I drive and the range is always between 176 and 190. I replaced the OEM thermostat twice, and I can't seem to get it to drive warmer than that. Car runs just fine though with these temps.
Dealer said the cut on temp for the fan in 205. They told me not to worry about it.
Dealer said the cut on temp for the fan in 205. They told me not to worry about it.
For coolant temp, that would be way to cold, mine runs at 220* but for oil temp, not as bad, mine is at 200* ish. My ring goes away at about 175* oil temp. The oil temp gauge is difficult to read, each increment is 12.5*, below 200* and 15* above 200*
Last edited by kodpkd; Apr 11, 2025 at 09:07 AM.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,568
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Is that engine temp, coolant temp or oil temp? Is the RPM caution ring gone at those temps?
For coolant temp, that would be way to cold, mine runs at 220* but for oil temp, not as bad, mine is at 200* ish. My ring goes away at about 175* oil temp. The oil temp gauge is difficult to read, each increment is 12.5*, below 200* and 15* above 200*
For coolant temp, that would be way to cold, mine runs at 220* but for oil temp, not as bad, mine is at 200* ish. My ring goes away at about 175* oil temp. The oil temp gauge is difficult to read, each increment is 12.5*, below 200* and 15* above 200*
It completely goes away in touring mode gauge display. I keep it on that regardless of the mode. My favorite display although I keep the car in sport mode for the NPPs.
If I switch the display to sport mode, one yellow bar will pop up around the 177 or so then it quickly disappears once the coolant starts climbing again.
If you switch to touring mode and switch the right side to info, you get all the temps to the exact number. Look it up. A lot more accurate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,392
Likes: 2,127
From: Loveland
I understand. But once the car is warmed up, you should never see the low temp rings again, it should always run above that temp. It could also be the coolant temp sensor, located on the coolant pump. Easy and cheep to replace.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,340
Likes: 1,643
From: North Texas
That's the display I use as well. Much easier to read the temps digitally.
If I may offer a suggestion:
Facts:
Your coolant temp shows to be running around 170*
You've already replaced the thermostat twice.
Your oil temp typically runs 195*.
Thought:
It's unlikely that you are running a 195* oil temp in conjunction with a 170* coolant temp unless you've been on the road for a long time and maybe not even then.
You've already replaced the thermostat twice, apparently without affecting the operational temperature profile of the coolant system.
Conclusion:
Perhaps the problem does not lie with the thermostat.
Suggestion:
Change out the coolant temperature sensor. Based on the facts in place, I suggest this makes more sense that replacing the thermostat yet again.
If I may offer a suggestion:
Facts:
Your coolant temp shows to be running around 170*
You've already replaced the thermostat twice.
Your oil temp typically runs 195*.
Thought:
It's unlikely that you are running a 195* oil temp in conjunction with a 170* coolant temp unless you've been on the road for a long time and maybe not even then.
You've already replaced the thermostat twice, apparently without affecting the operational temperature profile of the coolant system.
Conclusion:
Perhaps the problem does not lie with the thermostat.
Suggestion:
Change out the coolant temperature sensor. Based on the facts in place, I suggest this makes more sense that replacing the thermostat yet again.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,568
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
That's the display I use as well. Much easier to read the temps digitally.
If I may offer a suggestion:
Facts:
Your coolant temp shows to be running around 170*
You've already replaced the thermostat twice.
Your oil temp typically runs 195*.
Thought:
It's unlikely that you are running a 195* oil temp in conjunction with a 170* coolant temp unless you've been on the road for a long time and maybe not even then.
You've already replaced the thermostat twice, apparently without affecting the operational temperature profile of the coolant system.
Conclusion:
Perhaps the problem does not lie with the thermostat.
Suggestion:
Change out the coolant temperature sensor. Based on the facts in place, I suggest this makes more sense that replacing the thermostat yet again.
If I may offer a suggestion:
Facts:
Your coolant temp shows to be running around 170*
You've already replaced the thermostat twice.
Your oil temp typically runs 195*.
Thought:
It's unlikely that you are running a 195* oil temp in conjunction with a 170* coolant temp unless you've been on the road for a long time and maybe not even then.
You've already replaced the thermostat twice, apparently without affecting the operational temperature profile of the coolant system.
Conclusion:
Perhaps the problem does not lie with the thermostat.
Suggestion:
Change out the coolant temperature sensor. Based on the facts in place, I suggest this makes more sense that replacing the thermostat yet again.
I have had Carmax, the Chevy dealer, a Carmax third party programmer, and a tuner look at this thing. I always get the "it's fine. Don't worry about it" No one could explain why it runs about 10 degrees cooler than it should. I thought that maybe the fan was tuned to turn on sooner, but they all confirmed that the fan is set to turn on at 205 as it should.
Car is fine. It has no issues at all but it being my third C7, I am not used to those temp readings. I have learned to let it be though for the past year and a half that I have owned it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,340
Likes: 1,643
From: North Texas
Interesting. I thought I might have had something new for you to try. If the thermostat and sensor are okay and the system is correctly purged of air pockets, there isn't much left other than testing/replacing large chunks of the electronics looking for a bug. At this point I'd just let it go. My belief is that the actual operating temperature is higher than what's being reported based on oil temps. You should be good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 712
I had a 2018 Stingray with a coolant temp that seldom rose above 170. Then one day on the way to work, there was a fatality involving an overturned tractor trailer and all traffic was routed off of Interstate 95. It took 3 hours to go 4 miles. The coolant temp got over 200 that day but not much higher. I was happy.