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Ls1 overheating.

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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 11:54 AM
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Default Ls1 overheating.

Took my project around the driveway,
radiator fan relay never turned on and it got pretty hot.
where would y’all start looking?
relay?
temp sensor on head?
did the wiring myself, I’m new at this too. It’s a LS swap in a c10.
thanks y’all


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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 03:30 PM
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If it's your first start you most likely have air trapped. Can't really see how your steam lines are plumbed. I've had good luck getting the engine up to temp and then loosening the temp sender just bit so coolant comes out. You may see a bit of a burp when you loosen it. Careful its hot and don't over tighten. The sensor is easy to break off.
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 04:29 PM
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I have the original steam tubes routed into the radiator return hose, no temp gauges, just felt damn hot, steam tube lines too.
I'll try the burp method. thanks.
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 04:58 PM
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Fill the engine through the top radiator hose. Otherwise it will take a LONG time for any coolant to get in the engine because of where the thermostat is located.
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by steve b.
I have the original steam tubes routed into the radiator return hose, no temp gauges, just felt damn hot, steam tube lines too.
I'll try the burp method. thanks.
LS motors run just fine at 210*F. Even its a cheap temporary gauge, use something to make sure fans turn on/off as programmed.

First test the fans by putting power to the connectors. If they fail, diagnose fan assembly. If they work, test the relays and work your way checking each section of wiring.

Did you make this harness yourself or buy a kit?
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 10:43 PM
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speartech harness, filled fluid through top tube, etc. fans run if 12v. applied, have never tested a relay, maybe i wussed out thinking it was too hot? not ready to switch on the fans? I guess look up testing a relay?
Thanks.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 07:04 AM
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Quit guessing at the temp and get a gauge! You don’t have to worry about testing relays and harness til you’re sure you have a problem. You’re not sure you have a problem without a gauge. For $20-$30 or so you can get a dongle that plugs into the diagnostic port and a phone app that it talks to. That will let you access the coolant temps the ecu is seeing. Many of the factory ecu’s allow temps up into the 220F-230F range before fan activation.
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