Question: cooling fan question here.

[vettegirl7]

Thank you Hib Halverson!!!!

"Vettegirl7", your coolant temperatures are normal.

Good luck with your '89.

 

[vetteoz]

sometimes up to 210 or 220, is that normal?

The radiator fan doesn't turn on until 228F

 

[muddywaters]

I just bought my 1989 vette a week ago and the temp runs about 185 to 197 while driving and then when i am setting still it will go up to 200 and sometimes up to 210 or 220, is that normal? Please help cuz i have no idea, I just got it and this is my first vette and I love it and I want it to run right! THanks in advance!

Also check for crap in between radiator and condenser, I bought a squeaky clean 1988 coupe about ten years ago and going over it I found that area half filled with leaves, lottery tickets, cig wrappers and feathers....looked like a vacuum cleaner bag that needed to be emptied.

 

[FForward]

Vernh.....I have an '89 and did what your thinking of doing......I tied both relays together and used a lower temp switch....both fans come on at the same time now...works real good for me.....no problems and easy to wire it up....Bill

 

[Baldie88]

I had a long talk with Gordon Killebrew, widely considered the expert on C4s, and he said as long as your fans are running at the proper temps, everything is fine. I agree I hate seeing the temp go up over 200*. Sitting in parades my fans routinely come on and when they do the temps do go down so I just kind of turn a blind eye to the temp gauge. I did however do what muddywaters said and cleaned between the condenser and radiator and was amazed at all the junk stuck between them. I had less than 50K miles at the time.

The temps you are seeing are right in line with what I have on my 88.

Ron
"Baldie88"

 

[Hib Halverson]

I had a long talk with Gordon Killebrew, widely considered the expert on C4s, and he said as long as your fans are running at the proper temps, everything is fine. I agree I hate seeing the temp go up over 200*. Sitting in parades my fans routinely come on and when they do the temps do go down so I just kind of turn a blind eye to the temp gauge. I did however do what muddywaters said and cleaned between the condenser and radiator and was amazed at all the junk stuck between them. I had less than 50K miles at the time.

The temps you are seeing are right in line with what I have on my 88.

Ron
"Baldie88"

I'm surprised the "expert on C4s" didn't add that the stock C4 cooling system is not capable of keeping the ECT from going over 200°F...even if you ran the fans all the time.

 

[birdman11]

I'm surprised the "expert on C4s" didn't add that the stock C4 cooling system is not capable of keeping the ECT from going over 200°F...even if you ran the fans all the time.

Yes, as another member already stated, the cooling fan doesn't come on until 226 degrees. These TPI motors are made to run hot. In the old days you could just pop in a cooler thermostat,but on a computer controlled vehicle, the fan on/off temps are controlled by the ECM (prom chip). If you want to run a cooler thermostat (recommended) then you will need a chip that has the proper fan temp programmed into it. I recommend a 180 thermostat. That is generally what these cars like.