Engine running at 210 constantly, normal?
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From: Maumelle, Arkansas
Engine running at 210 constantly, normal? Hey, my friend has an SS that runs at a very low temperature, with no aftermarket thermostats or anything, and mine runs at 210 ALWAYS, stand-still traffic or cruising on the freeway, it's always 210, I was just wondering if this was normal or not? Any info is appreciated!
Adam
Adam
your stock guage is basically a "dummy" guage. The temperature sender feeds the computer the correct temp. and your computer tells the guage what to do. Unfortunately, it is not accurate (on purpose) and will register 210 anywhere from 160 to 240. The stock guage will only show you the threshholds of "cold" "normal" and "hot". In some cars, that's about all you get now, just "H", "C" and the middle crosshairs. DOes you friend have an older model Fbody? I believe the 98s and 99s had the "real" temperature guage.
Its true about the gauges but the stock temp setting is 210. Does your buddy have any tunign done or a 160 degree thermostat? If you want it to run cooler just purchase a 160 degree termostat and install it, takes like 10 mins, and your car will run cooler or you could use a hypertech or predator programmer and set your fans to run constantly and reset your temp for a lower temp. Hope that helps!
I'm in the same boat as Adam, I have an 01 Z28 and it sits at 210. I dont want mine to be a "dummy" gauge, i want it to be accurate. Can i just get the temp sensor out of the 98 model? Or will it change the guage when i get the 160 stat and tuning?
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 19
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From: Decatur, Indiana/New Albany, IN
My old LT1 Z28 started to run a little warmer when I did heads/cam. I couldn't figure out it, and this was with a 160 thermo. I checked the very top of the radiator, and sure enough there was a plastic Wal Mart bag that I must have ran over. Anyway, it was up there blocking about 1/4 of the radiator at the top. Just food for thought 
The stock fan settings basically "control" the engine
temp (but not well). The stock 'stat wants to pivot
at 194F (nominally 180 degree rating). But the fans
don't turn on until 224F (dumb). And of course the
gauge is just there to make you think you have one.
It's hard to tune well, when your coolant temp can
swing 30 degrees (making big changes to fuel and
spark). Sensible fan settngs are one of the first
things people do, when they get access to the PCM.
temp (but not well). The stock 'stat wants to pivot
at 194F (nominally 180 degree rating). But the fans
don't turn on until 224F (dumb). And of course the
gauge is just there to make you think you have one.
It's hard to tune well, when your coolant temp can
swing 30 degrees (making big changes to fuel and
spark). Sensible fan settngs are one of the first
things people do, when they get access to the PCM.
If you want to know the accurate temperature get an Autometer Water temp guage and hook it directly into the PS head or under the block. Then you will know where you car is all the time. I don't have an aftermarket thermostat nor did I change the fan setting and my car runs at 190 on the higway and up to 230 stop and go in town. I will doing the fan, switch and thermo soon.
I know for a fact that the stock guage in my Z is crap... It moves to about 205 and just sits there.
Yesterday while in noon rush hour traffic, my autometer water temp guage was at around 225-230. The oil temp was getting high too, around 250 according to my autometer guage.
Yesterday while in noon rush hour traffic, my autometer water temp guage was at around 225-230. The oil temp was getting high too, around 250 according to my autometer guage.
I thought it was just me but my 01' which I have installed a 160 deg Tstat and lowered the fan temps with the HPP3 also shows just below the 210 mark ALL THE TIME. The damn thing never moves.
