Coolant Temperature
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 7
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From: SAN DIEGO CA
Coolant Temperature
The needle on my coolant temp gauge is at 220 during driving. No matter if hot or cold outside (well, I'm in San Diego so it isn't extreme --- 50-90 degrees is normal range throughout the year). The point is...shouldn't the coolant temp be below 220? This is a 2014 Z51.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Atlanta GA
My C7 runs at 190 crusing down the hwy and rarely goes over 200 except in extreme traffic , I live in Atlanta so it's hot most of the year . Sounds like you have a stuck thermostat
Dave
Dave
Last edited by Dcasole; Nov 14, 2018 at 07:35 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,851
Likes: 1,861
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
Normal. The "mechanical" analog gauge on 2014's stays at 220 once the car is warmed up unless it overheats. Not really accurate, does not indicate actual temperature.
(I believe this has been corrected 2015+ model years)
Look at tour mode / perf data for accurate digital temp or sport / track analog gauges / pocket gauges.
Ron (2014 M7 Z51)
(I believe this has been corrected 2015+ model years)
Look at tour mode / perf data for accurate digital temp or sport / track analog gauges / pocket gauges.
Ron (2014 M7 Z51)
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
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From: Margate, FL
Apparently 220 on the analog is normal... because that display is wrong. The digital readout shows the real temp which should run about 20-40 degrees cooler. The engine is warmed up and at proper operating temperature at around 170 which causes the yellow / orange warning zone on the tach display to disappear.
More info here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-tech-performance/4205428-water-temp-high.html
More info here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-tech-performance/4205428-water-temp-high.html
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Normal. The "mechanical" analog gauge on 2014's stays at 220 once the car is warmed up unless it overheats. Not really accurate, does not indicate actual temperature.
(I believe this has been corrected 2015+ model years)
Look at tour mode / perf data for accurate digital temp or sport / track analog gauges / pocket gauges.
Ron (2014 M7 Z51)
(I believe this has been corrected 2015+ model years)
Look at tour mode / perf data for accurate digital temp or sport / track analog gauges / pocket gauges.
Ron (2014 M7 Z51)
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,767
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From: San Diego CA
I am dealing with this issue now on my 2014. My vehicle overheated and the analog gauge actually climbed above 220. The dealer found a leaking water pump and replaced it. Now the digital temps are running upwards of 230-240 and the analog gauge stays at 220. The Corvette mechanic said the digital gauges are not accurate because they use a computer algorithm from various places in the engine while the analog gauge is a hard wired sensor.
I don't actually believe this is true but not much I can do about it.
I don't actually believe this is true but not much I can do about it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
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From: Margate, FL
What I have observed so far: 1) the analog and digital temps do not match, 2) when the digital hits 170 the yellow/orange warning in the tach goes away, 3) the digital gauge fluctuates slightly with conditions (as expected) while the analog gauge parks itself at 220 and doesn't budge. #2 tells me the other systems in the car are reacting to the same data the digital gauge is displaying. I guess this could be further confirmed by idling the car and checking when the fan kicks on.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Margate, FL
Just for the record Dash Command OBD-II data mirrors the digital readout exactly (no surprise there). While the analog gauge might be connected directly to the sensor its calibration is clearly off.
Also it appears operating temp starts 165 not 170 as that is when the yellow/orange warning went away during my observation last night. I think I picked up the 170 from the recommended engine temp for checking the oil level in the dry sump.
Also it appears operating temp starts 165 not 170 as that is when the yellow/orange warning went away during my observation last night. I think I picked up the 170 from the recommended engine temp for checking the oil level in the dry sump.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
From: California
I am dealing with this issue now on my 2014. My vehicle overheated and the analog gauge actually climbed above 220. The dealer found a leaking water pump and replaced it. Now the digital temps are running upwards of 230-240 and the analog gauge stays at 220. The Corvette mechanic said the digital gauges are not accurate because they use a computer algorithm from various places in the engine while the analog gauge is a hard wired sensor.
I don't actually believe this is true but not much I can do about it.
I don't actually believe this is true but not much I can do about it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 1,017
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
I was searching for some issues people have had with coolant temps, since i’m curious about mine is well. I have a 2016 non z51, but it’s always about 160 degrees. Even after some spirited driving, it’ll get to about 180 and then come back down to about 160.... the warning lines on the tach even come back. I bought the car used with 30k miles on it, so I guess someone could have put an aftermarket thermostat in it???
Good luck but I would swap to the OE thermostat or pull the one installed anyway to check for failure or have a mechanic check it if not a DIY kind.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Just for the record Dash Command OBD-II data mirrors the digital readout exactly (no surprise there). While the analog gauge might be connected directly to the sensor its calibration is clearly off.
Also it appears operating temp starts 165 not 170 as that is when the yellow/orange warning went away during my observation last night. I think I picked up the 170 from the recommended engine temp for checking the oil level in the dry sump.
Also it appears operating temp starts 165 not 170 as that is when the yellow/orange warning went away during my observation last night. I think I picked up the 170 from the recommended engine temp for checking the oil level in the dry sump.
My yellow/orange warning arc goes away when the coolant and oil hit about 130'F, way too low for me to trust the arc.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
When I was wondering about the coolant temperatures, it took some scrutiny to decide what the analog gauge was actually saying. You couldn't just glance at it and know the number, just a general "it's ok" or "it's getting kinda hot"; so I would use the supplemental readout in the TV screen to make sure I was understanding correctly. Now that I've learned, I can get accurate numbers at a glance, but there shouldn't be a learning curve with an analog gauge.
There are some ways where the C6 instrumentation was actually better.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Margate, FL
If this is labeled wrong then someone please correct me.
The tick marks seem to change spacing after 220 so I believe the scale changes there
Now if the needle is pointing at 200 (which is the REAL temp), then the 220 label belongs to next tick mark above (where I have 230). Problem is when numbered that way the top and bottom ends of the scale at not 100 and 260
huh? what? This has given me fits since I first used Touring Mode and saw the digital readout. For such an important gauge it should be labeled as clearly as possible. There is no such confusion with the speed-o or fuel level.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Good work!
I've used my microscope (j/k) on the gauge and come up with the same numbers as you put in yellow.
Just to make it more confusing, the graduations on the oil temperature pocket gauge seem to use different spacing.
I've used my microscope (j/k) on the gauge and come up with the same numbers as you put in yellow.
Just to make it more confusing, the graduations on the oil temperature pocket gauge seem to use different spacing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 1,017
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
Maybe I missed it or it doesn't apply except for GS/Z06s (mine is '16 Z). Can't you go to the performance setting just below Info & above Audio using the switch on right side of steering wheel then scroll to Performance. There oil/water/oil pressure shows up in real digital numbers. Tire air pressure just shows O.K.
Last edited by madrob2020; Nov 21, 2018 at 10:15 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2015
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Maybe I missed it or it doesn't apply except for GS/Z06s (mine is '16 Z). Can't you go to the performance setting just below Info & above Audio using the switch on right side of steering wheel then scroll to Performance. There oil/water/oil pressure shows up in real digital numbers. Tire air pressure just shows O.K.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
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From: Margate, FL
That is the problem - the digital and analog show different values on the 2014 cars.
Digital = 190 (avgerage, it moves +/- 10)
Analog = 220 (rock solid, doesn’t budge)
Per Auto Zone the stock t-stat is 207 degrees which aligns pretty well with the digital fluctuations.
Digital = 190 (avgerage, it moves +/- 10)
Analog = 220 (rock solid, doesn’t budge)
Per Auto Zone the stock t-stat is 207 degrees which aligns pretty well with the digital fluctuations.