Coolant Temp

[wescarver]

Went for ride Sunday and traffic stopped on interstate due to wreck ahead. My '85 normally reads 195-199 degrees 70 mph. At idle for extended time reached 232 degrees. Any thoughts. After shutting down waiting for traffic to start, ride back uneventful and temp normal. Any suggestions or is this normal.

 

[Ripp 73]

Well, I know that for the LT1 engine that is pretty normal. Lack of cool outside air going into the radiator doesn't help much. So I am guessing that the L-98 engine is close to the same. You should have heard your secondary fan kick on. All in all, sounds normal to me. If you had left the car running the temp probably would have come down some on its own.

And by the way, welcome to the Corvette Action Center. Lots of good information around here.

 

[wescarver]

Thanks for advice. New and first time owner of a wonderful 85 model. Just learning its quirks.

 

[tigmaned]

when was the last time you took the top rad cover off and removed all the leaves and other gunk stock between the rad and condesor?? maybe time for a new rad cap and T-stat too. stock prom chip tells the cooling fan to come on almost to late?? so you could go with a custom burn prom chip like i did and my fans come on at 205, but i have a new rad, cap and T-stat and cleaned all the stuff out so i never go over 180.

 

[wescarver]

when was the last time you took the top rad cover off and removed all the leaves and other gunk stock between the rad and condesor?? maybe time for a new rad cap and T-stat too. stock prom chip tells the cooling fan to come on almost to late?? so you could go with a custom burn prom chip like i did and my fans come on at 205, but i have a new rad, cap and T-stat and cleaned all the stuff out so i never go over 180.

Thanks for reply.

 

[tigmaned]

i didn't notice earlier but this is in the for sale section, you would get more help in the tech section.

 

[vetteboy86]

Yeah, I think our moderator will move this to the tech section so that we can bet more responses. He is at work now, but I will shoot him a PM so when he gets home in an hour or so he can slide it over. If only I had the power.... Craig

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah, I think our moderator will move this to the tech section so that we can bet more responses. He is at work now, but I will shoot him a PM so when he gets home in an hour or so he can slide it over. If only I had the power.... Craig

Sorry guys I have been having computer problems... I went from 2 comps, down to one, then to nothing...and for some reason I can't move threads on my brothers comp, his internet browser is goofy. I have moved it to the technical section to get more views, and responses.

 

[tyrel]

232° seems a bit high to me. It's not overheating yet, but it's getting there, IMHO it shouldn't be running this hot. You can always pull the radiator and clean it, lots of junk gets stuck between the condenser and the radiator, and also the radiator fins get clogged with dirt and junk over time, so if it's never been cleaned now's the time to do it, like tigmaned said.

 

[lagasvd]

I have a 86 convertible that does almost the exact same thing, I consider it normal for now. Like previously stated your secondary fan should have kicked on and lowered temperature and you need to ensure your radiator is clean especially between the A/C condenser and radiator. These years corvettes tend to get a lot of leaves and papers stuck in there. Here's a sight that will help in cleaning the radiator. http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/readerstips/larsstuff/this_tech_paper_will_discuss_sim3.htm

 

[vetteboy86]

Just breezing through it here quickly at work, that looks like a decent write up. Makes everything sound easy.

 

[1995 RedVette]

In situations like that, I just turn the a/c on. The computer kicks on the electric fans to deal with the extra heat coming from the a/c condensor directly in front of the rad. I even do this if it is cold outside, I just move the temp adjuster to warm, that way I stay comfortable and the car never gets over 210. By the way, this works on the L98 and LT1 C4 cars.

Brett

 

[paulmeisterpk]

I have an 85 vette and I hit 232 degrees once in a while while sitting in traffic. I consider it normal, even idling, once it hits 232, it seems to start going back down towards 220 after the fan kicks on for a while. I dont think I've ever seen over 234 even on the hottest days.

 

[douglas foster]

father & son

remember, clean out the front of your raditor,you won't believe what you'll find!