Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

The car is a 94 Camaro Z28, 6 speed with a 93 transmission it just started doing this gradually. It started to run hotter with the AC on to like 220 or so at 75mph i figured since the car was lowered and had ground effects this was normal so i just didnt use the AC at 75mph. Now its running that hot regulary at say 60mph. The engine has 160k on it. The water pump has probably 40-60k on it. The thermostat about 15k on it and its a 160 thermostat. Normally the engine runs around 180. The engine is NOT over heating. It is NOT loosing coolant.

I unplugged the MAF to make both fans turn on then took each relay out ot listen and make sure both fans were working. They are. There is nothing blocking the radiator. It has lost no coolant. Nothing is mixing with the oil. I dont think its a head gasket. Its not the fans. It's not the radiator as i flushed it a few months ago. I am running the green coolant, not mixed.

I am thinking its the water pump because it gradually got worse. Heat still works, no bubbles in radiator, coolant lines are bled. Any ideas? How hard is it to replace the water pump? I've never done it on an lt1, just my ls1.

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

No one has had their lt1 run hot before?

Z28madmike

check the h20 pump mine just fried and overheated the f@#$ out of my z bad enough to were it warped my heads. it started by going up only ten degrees i thought it was nothing to worry bout but it can turn in to a costly fix if you dont find the cause asap

tspence45

iTrader: (30)

Do you still have the front air dam on the car? I took mine off for a while and it started running a lot hotter, much like you're describing. I put it back on and now it doesn't run over 170*, unless I let it just sit there and idle forever.

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

Yeah i have the air dam but the car is lowered 2 inches and has a ground effects kit so i already know its not getting the airflow it should but its been fine when it was weather 95 plus and now that its more like 50 degrees i am seeing temperature problems.

How much is a water pump for this car? How involved is the install?

jarretthise

iTrader: (9)

what about your thermastat? is it opening up? do you know? if its not that it could be your water pump

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

Thermostat has about 8000 miles on it. It's a 160 thermostate from Autozone. I was wondering if it was working myself. Maybe ill throw a new one in first anyway since id put a new one in with a new water pump.

$O$OE

iTrader: (14)

ALL LT1S RUN HOT.

jarretthise

iTrader: (9)

all lt1s run hot but they shouldnt run that hot when your driving and if you are sitting at a stop light it should only hit 227 or so...then go back down to around 204..when you are driving they should run around 185 or so......

on that thermastat...how to check if its working....take it out, get a thermometer, and a pot then put water in the pot and boil it...stick the thermostat in the boiling water as well as the thermometer, but hold the thermometer..watch for 160 and when it hits it your thermostat should open up... if it doesnt open up then you have a bad thermostat..

sounds like your thermostat not your waterpump though...

jarretthise

iTrader: (9)

if you need a new thermastat in it..go to the dealer and buy one...dont go with that autozone crap!!! its like our optis, only buy what you know will work for teh long run..

$O$OE

iTrader: (14)

get the slp fan switch so u can turn the fans off and on when u want, u can either have fan on or 2...

$O$OE

iTrader: (14)

no not necesarely a dealer thermostat will work great, i haved auto zone parts like a thermostat and they worked great in the pass

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

I've used autozone thermostats even their same 160 degree thermostate in my other lt1 and they work fine. I guess ill jsut get another one. Now that i think about it it does run gradually hotter and hotter. It's not HOT but its HOTTER than it normally runs. It's usually around 180-190 degrees with the 160 themostat. It's been tuned to run with the thermostat.

I pulled the MAF connector off to put it into SES mode where both fans come on and it still gets just as hot. I pulled each fan relay too to make sure both fans were working and they are. It's DEFINALY a coolant flow issued. I know the radiator is clean i just flushed it about 8k ago or so. It got the new thermostat around then too. Theres nothin blocking the raditor. Not alot of bug, no trash or anything up there. It's definately a coolant flow issued though I'll try with the thermostat first.

thanks guys

jarretthise

iTrader: (9)

let us know what happens when you change your thermostat..i particularly dont like autozone stuff...seems like the dealership stuff works better and not only that but i think its better quality

wickedbusa

iTrader: (3)

My LT1 doesn't run hot at all. Then again, I have a massive 4 row Fluidline radiator. Car sits in 100+ degree heat with the AC on and the temp stays at around 170. My fans never turn off and are always on.

JB_97ws6TA

iTrader: (6)

I would look at your thermostat...I have gone through three water pumps on these and they normally let you know when they go out by having an abortion in your driveway...unmistakeable puddle...at least that is what mine did, if you would like some piece of mind the water pump change is no big deal 2 hours max with beer breaks

halucinator

iTrader: (3)

Have you checked to make sure nothing is in front of the condenser? Leaves also like to collect between the condenser and radiator.

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

I'm gonna try to remember to get a new thermostat today and see if that fixes the problem. I havent checked between the condensor and radiator ill do that too.

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

I took apart the radiator from the condesor today and found dried grass clippings EVERYWHERE! I tried to shop vac them out got some of them, tried to blow them out got some more but ther are still alot in there. Next i want to try the hose to see if that will get them out.

BOLO

iTrader: (40)

You know that you can't just use any 160 degree t stat in there right? The right t stat is either the one from GM or Hypertech(#1008).