7
73vettecollector
Guest
Just curious to what everyone gets for normal operating temps for oil and coolant. Want to make sure mine is within the norm...
Shack
Shack
Jeb
Well-known member
75 degrees F ambient temp.... small city traffic.
Between 210 and 225 on the coolant and between 200 and 205 on the oil. Oil pressure at 1700 RPM is about 55 pounds.
96,000 miles on a stock L98.
Between 210 and 225 on the coolant and between 200 and 205 on the oil. Oil pressure at 1700 RPM is about 55 pounds.
96,000 miles on a stock L98.
For me it depends, if I am just cruising highway speeds my temps stay very cool. I have a 160 degree Tstat, a chip to turn the fans on earlier, and an oil cooler so my temps on the highway stay around there. If I sit in traffic, or am driving it hard the oil temps will get to 180 or so with the coolant around there.
If you think yours is to high, make sure the Tstat is opening at the proper temperature which is 195 for stock, and make sure nothing like leaves or even a few Mustangs
are in front of the radiator.
If you think yours is to high, make sure the Tstat is opening at the proper temperature which is 195 for stock, and make sure nothing like leaves or even a few Mustangs
are in front of the radiator.- Moderator
- #4
Toms007
Moderator
LT1 here, 75-80 degree ambient temps- Highway coolant 185-190 Oil about the same. Stop and go city driving same ambient temps- Coolant 200-215 (230)* Oil temps maybe a little higher than that.
*Before cleaning radiator
LT1's were designed to run hotter and usually do (my understanding is 230-235 is not unusual or harmful) If you are running warm (hot) and haven't done the radiator removal and cleaning out of the crap that accumulates between the AC condensor/Radiator, you might really be surprised what is there. Our "bottom-breathers" (C4's) are quite notorious for getting packed up with trash between them. I just did this to mine and was amazed at the amount of junk I cleaned out. I even wrote up a procedure to do this. If you want or need to do this and want my write up let me know.
I just noticed you have an L98 if you are running hot probably need to do the radiator cleaning.
*Before cleaning radiator
LT1's were designed to run hotter and usually do (my understanding is 230-235 is not unusual or harmful) If you are running warm (hot) and haven't done the radiator removal and cleaning out of the crap that accumulates between the AC condensor/Radiator, you might really be surprised what is there. Our "bottom-breathers" (C4's) are quite notorious for getting packed up with trash between them. I just did this to mine and was amazed at the amount of junk I cleaned out. I even wrote up a procedure to do this. If you want or need to do this and want my write up let me know.
I just noticed you have an L98 if you are running hot probably need to do the radiator cleaning.
- Thread starter
- #5
L
lbitp37
Guest
Last sunday,52 mile run, 60 mph, 55deg.outside temp, oil @196, Water @ 205,volts 14.3, fuel @ 21mpg.
I uasually look at the readout once or twice an hour, when on a run.
I uasually look at the readout once or twice an hour, when on a run.
- Thread starter
- #6
G
guess1
Guest
Spent 5 fun-filled hrs today in mine coming back from N. GA near Helen to Valdosta, and numbers were: coolant-180-185....oil-190-205.......trans-190-205......voltage: 14.2-14.3........also, a beautiful day for a drive in GA I averaged 23.4 mpg, even with a couple of hard runs up to around 100 mph. I love this car!
P.S. Don't know if the previous owner changed the t-stat from original, but I have not seen it above around 190 yet.
I averaged 23.4 mpg, even with a couple of hard runs up to around 100 mph. I love this car!P.S. Don't know if the previous owner changed the t-stat from original, but I have not seen it above around 190 yet.
Roadster Guy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2004
- Messages
- 261
- Location
- Rolling Hills NE of Toronto
- Corvette
- 1996 Roadster CE/LT4/F45
Today for example with the air temp about 65, I cruised for an hour and a half between 70 and 80 mph. Volts 14.3, coolant 195, oil 206. Don't know why but, my oil is always a little warmer than my coolant and at operating temp my oil moves between 205 and 212 where as my coolant usually hovers around 195 unless I am stuck in crawling summer city trafic and it can pop up to 220 but not higher. Have stock thermostat and clean rad and just had a coolant change/flush.
RG
RG
vader86
Well-known member
Normal for an L98 would be 210-230 for coolant and about 15F hotter for oil.
Optimum would be 200-210oil and 15F cooler for the coolant.
Mine runs at about that range.
Optimum would be 200-210oil and 15F cooler for the coolant.
Mine runs at about that range.
- Thread starter
- #10
T
taegdh
Guest
W/195 thermostat I Run just about 190 to 200 and in traffic it climbs to 220 before the fans kick in.
Oil takes a bit longer to get to temperature then is usually 15 to 25 degrees warmer.
After a bit of observation and measurements, I think there is room to redesign the radiator, adding an set of rows to act as an oil cooler to the unit. That would keep the temps of the oil down the extra amount. But is it worth it? Since oil is changed fairly frequently (3 to 4 months depending upon useage) and antifreeze every other year, I doubt it would be worth the extra money unless I had to replace the radiator.
Since I'm down where I don't have to have the smog test, I'm considering removal of the Air Injector Pump and getting a "clean" set of headders, plus going down to a 165 thermostat. That'll keep it even cooler...
Oil takes a bit longer to get to temperature then is usually 15 to 25 degrees warmer.
After a bit of observation and measurements, I think there is room to redesign the radiator, adding an set of rows to act as an oil cooler to the unit. That would keep the temps of the oil down the extra amount. But is it worth it? Since oil is changed fairly frequently (3 to 4 months depending upon useage) and antifreeze every other year, I doubt it would be worth the extra money unless I had to replace the radiator.
Since I'm down where I don't have to have the smog test, I'm considering removal of the Air Injector Pump and getting a "clean" set of headders, plus going down to a 165 thermostat. That'll keep it even cooler...
- Thread starter
- #11
A
AUSSIEVETTEMAN
Guest
Coolant: 160 degrees cruizin' and 210 max in traffic after 30 minutes.
Oil: 190 degrees cruizin' and 220 odd on the highway.
Oil pressure: Sits on 60 psi after operating temps are initially reached on idle. Up around 80 psi humming @ 1800 rpm (high volume oil pump)
Cheers
Tony
Oil: 190 degrees cruizin' and 220 odd on the highway.
Oil pressure: Sits on 60 psi after operating temps are initially reached on idle. Up around 80 psi humming @ 1800 rpm (high volume oil pump)
Cheers
Tony
- Thread starter
- #12
W
WNH
Guest
160- highway
210- traffic
My oil & water temps normally stay within 10 degrees of each other.
My main fan comes on at 212 degrees [non-stock chip].
210- traffic
My oil & water temps normally stay within 10 degrees of each other.
My main fan comes on at 212 degrees [non-stock chip].
Similar threads
Corvette Forums
Supporting Vendors
Dealers:
