Question about temperature readings on LS1 swap
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 87
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From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Question about temperature readings on LS1 swap Last week my LS1 swapped V8 Miata actually got an aftermarket coolant temperature gauge installed in addition to the worthless factory temperature gauge.
Now that there is a gauge which actually shows real temperature readings it brings up a couple of questions.
For background information my car has an LS1 engine with factory ECU and uses the Flyin Miata aluminum radiator with dual electric fans and an aluminum plate to shroud the radiator flow thru the fans.
It appears to be a workable and well designed system.
The ECU is programmed to have both fans start at 190 degrees F.
Is this reasonable or should they be set to start turning at two different temperatures?
If so, what temperatures are recommended?
Last week while driving in stop and go traffic the temperature gauge climbed to 220 degrees F. with local weather conditions indicating low 80's. After getting home I found that one fan relay had failed so only one fan was working so I replaced that relay.
During normal driving on the highway the car runs right at 200 deg. F. or lower.
Is that temperature reading anything to worry about or should I wait and see what the temperature reading does when the weather conditions get over 100 degrees?
What temperature should be the maximum before pulling over and letting the car cool down if it happens again?
Thanks for any information or insight.
Bruce
__________________
Now that there is a gauge which actually shows real temperature readings it brings up a couple of questions.
For background information my car has an LS1 engine with factory ECU and uses the Flyin Miata aluminum radiator with dual electric fans and an aluminum plate to shroud the radiator flow thru the fans.
It appears to be a workable and well designed system.
The ECU is programmed to have both fans start at 190 degrees F.
Is this reasonable or should they be set to start turning at two different temperatures?
If so, what temperatures are recommended?
Last week while driving in stop and go traffic the temperature gauge climbed to 220 degrees F. with local weather conditions indicating low 80's. After getting home I found that one fan relay had failed so only one fan was working so I replaced that relay.
During normal driving on the highway the car runs right at 200 deg. F. or lower.
Is that temperature reading anything to worry about or should I wait and see what the temperature reading does when the weather conditions get over 100 degrees?
What temperature should be the maximum before pulling over and letting the car cool down if it happens again?
Thanks for any information or insight.
Bruce
__________________
First fan should kick on at whatever temp you have your thermostat opening. second fan should kick about 20 more degrees from the first temp (but I also hear mixed opinions about that). I don't know what kind of pressure/glycol mixture you have, just determine your boiling point and don't let that engine get above that temperature.
IIRC, the stock LS1 thermostat opens at 195*, and has an operating temp of about 200*. So running at 195-200* is about right. Having the fan come on before the thermostat fully opens really isn't going to help much, since there isn't much coolant flowing in front of the fan. Some, but not much. And on a cold day, that will prevent the engine from reaching full operating temp quickly.
Program the fan to come on at 200*, and off at 196-197*. I'v found that having a hysteresis <3 doesn't work well. If you could program it to have the fan off at speeds above about 50mph or so, that would be good, too. Again, Set your hysteresis above 3.
Program the fan to come on at 200*, and off at 196-197*. I'v found that having a hysteresis <3 doesn't work well. If you could program it to have the fan off at speeds above about 50mph or so, that would be good, too. Again, Set your hysteresis above 3.
