My 92 Vette operates at @ 186 F on the highway. If I get in stop and go traffic it would rise to 229 F (and it may rise even more) but I got on the highway again and temp dropped back to 186 F. How hot is too hot??? Don't want to damage engine. Thanks

My '85 runs 235 on a hot day with the A/C on...all day. That's not too hot for these cars at all. They are designed to run that hot, for emissions purposes. If it gets to 250, you may have a problem.

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

my 90 stays at about 195. only time it goes above that is if i let idle. just to be on the safe side i would check that the airways are clear of any leaves or debris.

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the dynamic duo

c3vr life member #97

Checked for debris. Everything looks clean. At highway speed it stays at 186 to 188 F. If I sit in traffic for a little while it starts to climb. Have not got a temp warning or anything. At what temp would it trigger a temp warning light?

245

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

My '86 does the same thing.  Talked to my local 'vette and he said it is totally normal so I wouldn't worry too much.

yes it runs that hot to meet EPA emissions for that vehicle. your electric fan should kick on somewhere around 228-230....it DOES take some getting used to seeing the guage climb that high when in traffic but it IS designed to function that way.

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....Jeff

Thanks for the feedback guys! I do love that car!  

My '89 used to run around 190 degrees at highway speeds then jump to 225-230 during long stops or very hot days. I came across 2 articles that addressed this behavior and I performed both to my car. The result is the temp rarely goes over 215 even if it sits idling for 20 minutes. The 2 things I did were

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My 94 seems to run hot in traffic, but my tec says its still normal and not to worry about it, but I still do. GPS parts makes a fan controller that turns the cooling fan on at lower temp. I plan on trying it.

Corvette Central catalog has a "low temp" fan turn on sensor kit for $39.00. I placed an order for one....I hope I can install it with out  to much trouble.. It is made to turn on both fans at 195 and off at 180.... I have a '94  and the high temp that I know it is made to hold just makes me uncomfortable

Let us know how the fan works and if it is difficult to install. My '88 runs at 185-195 on the interstate and 225-230 in traffic and sometimes that concerns me but eveyone says don't be unless it goes to 245-250. Please advise

My 94 runs at almost exactley the same temps as yours...Like I posted earler it just makes me uncomfortable seeing that temp gage climb into the 220 230 range.. That's why I ordered the kit...I also find myself turning on the AC just to get the one fan to kick on

Replaced the road trash damaged center air dam section and it lowered the crusing temp by about 15 degrees. The Z-51 design is a little taller than the standard one.  

From what im seeing all the info is correct the c4(bottom feeders) do run at a higher temp over your tipical car.My chevrolet truck runs at 195 when my convertible vette ran 230 i got very concern and immediatly called the corvette guy around here and he said that 230 is ok but not much more.then i took it to him and he showed me a way to wire it where both fans come on at around 220 and off at 190 and gave me the reason why as to have both fans instead of one sooo now i drive with confidence even in 98 degree heat.there are alot of experienced people that will help on this forum and thank god for that!!!

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Ok. Would this fix also apply to the '95? Where on the flange are the holes drilled? Can you post a pic or drawing?

Thanks,
Larry

You can wire the fans to come on by running wires from the relay grounds to switches mounted   in the knee bolster.  If you use two switches you can operate either or both of the fans to come on whenever you like and the factory switches on will work normally.  If you are interested send me an e-mail and will specifically tell you how to do this.  Have done this on my '90 and it runs cool.  You need to buy 30 feet of 16 gauge wire & 2 toggle switches.

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My old 87 had the hots, too, but we found that my fans were smashed and both the radiator and condenser needed replacement, because of the road kill, birds, prarie dogs, leaves, and car parts that were sucked up by the dam and bent the fins on the radiator and filled the space between the rad and condenser.  After replacing the fans and R+C, it works fine, a thousand dollar thank you later.  It now runs about 190-95 in cool weather (mornings) and 200-115 in hot weather (every afternoon), and goes up to 230-35 sitting in traffic.  Must be OK, cuz I'm still getting 23 mpg on my commute and 27-28 on highway trips.  Not bad for a V8 with 195,000 miles!

Also, here's my secret solution for not having to do all that again:  went to Home Depot and bought the curved metal screens that go on house rain-gutters.  Put a couple screws in the corners, and put zip-ties all around to hold it in.  Now the dam still sucks, the rad's cool, the road kill debris bounces off, and the screens cost a couple dollars and look pretty neat, if I say so myself.  

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my 85 hot rod has a 160 t-stat with 3 - 1/8 holes in the outer flange and a 170 sensor   (summit raceing)  & I havnt seen 200 in years now my black 85 stocker runs @ 195 & up the 1/8 inch holes help to purge the air from the system it really dosent add any more cooling capacity  the fan sensor is in the left head and there are all ranges available ( it is no good in cold weather if you need heat )