Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine Temperature? Can this be right?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 1, 2007 | 12:11 PM
  #1  
kirtondog23's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Default Engine Temperature? Can this be right?

Now that I can actually drive my truck I am really enjoying it! Night and day from that tired and old stock TBI350! Also having an overdrive gear on the highway doesn't hurt either. btw I swaped in the 6.0 LQ4 with a 4l80e.

Anyhow. Now that you know that I am happy and pleased. I had to put a couple of adapters on the engine to try to get my temp gauge to work. (I understand that the 2004 trucks did not have a temp gauge just an idiot light) correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, the highest wanter temp I have seen so far from 20 minutes on the highway with some city driving is 111. I am thinking that has to be way low and my adapters are not reading this right. My understanding is the stock thermostat is something like 195 or thereabouts. Has anyone else sen this or experienced it? What have you guys done to get correct temp reads? My sensor thingy is on the passanger side, rear, bottom side of the block.

Thanks
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2007 | 12:37 PM
  #2  
bczee's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,670
Likes: 6
From: Concord, CA
Default

What gauge are you using ? does it match up with the sender ? also, what thermostat do you have in?
Yeah.. most stat are about 195 and PCM turns on the fans at about 223 or so. My seems to run about 185-195 and about 200 in traffic (I have my fans come on about then) and have a 180 stat.

Did u use teflon tape on the sender ?.. that can cause incorrect readings sometime due to bad grounding.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2007 | 02:13 PM
  #3  
kirtondog23's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Default

The guage is a Dakota Digital unit that worked with my TBI set up. The T-stat should be a stocker and there are like three adapter "thingys" all connected together coming out of the block. My mechanic said I needed them to get a temp read to the guage, but maybe don't need them? Or I have one to many? I will try to find out more about the adapters. The adapters don't have any tape on them and the whole thing sticks out of my block like a magic wand or something. as for as a match up with sender my guess is I don't have a match?

Thanks
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2007 | 03:33 PM
  #4  
bczee's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,670
Likes: 6
From: Concord, CA
Default

Not to trash Dakota.. but a lot of people have trouble with Dakota not alway getting accurate reading. My buddies 57 has problems with the Tach, Speed and Temp.

I would try and get a single adapter or a sender that doesn't need a adapter. Equus is a manufactor that markets adapters, look into them. Also check with Dakota to see if they have the correct sender now for the 12mm threads that would thread into the side of the head now. As many are now producting them or have a single adapter. (autometer, S&W etc..)

got any picture of what the magic wand looks like ?
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2007 | 04:53 PM
  #5  
kirtondog23's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Default

I wish I could but my wife took the camera out of town. The guage worked well with the old set up. but who knows. I'll see if they have a 12mm adaptor. and look into the other options you presented. Thanks for the assistance and hopefully this thing will start working.
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2007 | 12:02 AM
  #6  
eagleuh1's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Dover Arkansas
Default

If the sender is sticking way out of the block, its' probably not in the real hot flow area inside the head. Its probably sitting in a deadheaded area of coolant thats not getting up to normal coolant temperature. I'd try and get rid of the extra adapters and get the sender farther into the head. Picks are real helpful.( said by someone that hasn't posted any)
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2007 | 12:18 PM
  #7  
RE AND CHERYL's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 0
From: Dover DE
Default

If you have several adaptors together, there's a good chance there is an air pocket in there keeping the coolant from the sensor. Try pulling the sensor till coolant leaks out then screw it back in. Even then the reading you get is probably effected by the sensor being out of the coolant passage.

Re'
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 08:46 PM
  #8  
ewingr's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 618
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by bczee
... most stat are about 195 and PCM turns on the fans at about 223 or so.
INteresting. Fans don't even come on until 223?

What temp can this engine go to before damage?

I just got mine started, and have only run it a few minutes. It got up to 195, and the fans didn't come on. I was worried that maybe I had them wired wrong.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 11, 2007 | 01:42 PM
  #9  
ewingr's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 618
Likes: 3
Default

No one has any feedback on my above question?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:56 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE