engine tempperture way to HI why? what can i do about it?

[boonie]

i just purchased a 94 CA auto, love it!
i am having a problem with engine temperture, some times when in stop + go traffic it gets as hot as 260 deg, most times while driving on the freeway it hovers between the 220-240 degrees. is this normal op temp for a C4 vette? if not what can i do about it?
would putting in a lower temp thermostate help out? how can i make the radiator fans cut on earlier? which anti freeze should i use?
thanks boonie

 

[rrhayden]

I had a similar problem. The corvette has a problem colecting trash between the radiator and ac condensor. Check toi see if the face is covered, in my case I had an inch of grass paper and plastic all over the front. I cleaned it and all is fine. There are a number of threads here that give detailed help.

 

[tyrel]

260 is not normal. Try this link:

http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/readerstips/larsstuff/this_tech_paper_will_discuss_sim3.htm

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

I forget the exact numbers but the stock set up the fans both kick in around 225ish degrees. Since you have a 200 degree t-stat the temp should drop.

As others have said, there seems to be something wrong? Bad radiator, radiator covered in trash so you don't get air flow ??

Just mt $.02 as I did not stay in a Holiday Inn last night

 

[dwm]

260

260 degrees isnt that way to hot, Ive seen mine go as high as 235 & still no fan, Would it be safe to run it to 240 just to see if it would come on? I was always told anything over 220 was no good

 

[gregc11514]

I just finished the cooling system mods to my 89 Vette oday. Wow! what a difference I now cruise at 186 degrees on a hot 90 degree humid day with the ac on. Was always around 208 -215 under same circumstances Heres what I did (fairly easy)

1.Took out radiator and cleaned debris away from the front and between the rad and the condenser

2. Put in a low temp cooling fan sensor (from Mid America) takes about 1 minute to do.

3. Put in a 185 degree thermostat

4.Flushed and reversed flushed the rad while it was out

5. flushed the engine

Now its running nice and cool.... I also put on low restricition mufflers(Monza). I dont know if they help lower the engine temp... But they each have 2 exhaust outlets where the factory had one outlet and one dummy on each muffler. I imagine they carry more heat away from the motor.:cool

This is my baby

 

[handstjg]

160 T-Stat Convert

I just added an aux fan, low temp sensor, wired both fans to come on with the new sensor, and changed the t-stat to 160 degrees. I was hesitant about the 160-degree stat but now I am a convert. Without the AC running (outside temp at 110 degrees) the running temps were 174 to 176 on a 2-hour cruise. Half way through the cruise the boss lady (wimp) wanted the top up and the AC on. The temp at 80 mph never got above 184. While in stop and go traffic it got as high as 204 but quickly dropped when we started moving. I was worried that the 160 t-stat wouldn't leave the coolant in the radiator long enough to cool down, wrong, it worked just fine. Thanks for all of the great posts on this and other issues.

 

[Edmond]

i just purchased a 94 CA auto, love it!
i am having a problem with engine temperture, some times when in stop + go traffic it gets as hot as 260 deg, most times while driving on the freeway it hovers between the 220-240 degrees. is this normal op temp for a C4 vette? if not what can i do about it?
would putting in a lower temp thermostate help out? how can i make the radiator fans cut on earlier? which anti freeze should i use?
thanks boonie

I would clean out the debris and do a coolant flush. That should be a significant improvement. Water Wetter will also lower the temperature of the coolant. I think that starting in 94', you had to have the CPU reprogrammed for the fans. I think it's called LT1 edit? I know for the L98's, it was a computer chip that you could change out. My fans come on at 200 and I've never seen temperatures higher than 204 since I changed the chip out.

I've heard good things about Dexcool and I'm going to make the switch to Dexcool next week. As for brand, IMO, they all come from the same factory so there can't be much of a difference.

 

[Rodney Gold]

The temp of any car is only too high if it starts losing or puking water. Generally HOT= more power
However If I had to see 260 degrees , I would be worried and would check that the temp gauge is accurate or the thermostat working- look at your oil pressure , does it drop substantially at that temp
High temperatures will break down the oil which is really the problem.
Running hot at constant speed could mean a lean problem or a timing problem or a blocked radiator or something else
Running the car too cool is as bad as too hot , you lose power and often the fuel does not atomise or burn properly and washes the cylinder bores and mixes with the oil.
If you have more power at cold temps , then the mixture is not set right for normal running as there is a set stochiometric ratio where the engine is at its best.