LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Average Temp for LT1 engine?

Old Aug 17, 2007 | 11:52 PM
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Default Average Temp for LT1 engine?

I dont know but this seems too high for me, i installed a mechanical gauage and it reads 215 degrees when i'm driving and then when i'm at a stoplight it goes up to 235. I have a 180 stat in there, thinking of getting a 160. Any ideas why it runs hot? or is this engine normally run hot? I have the air defletor on the car also
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 12:15 AM
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its normaly that hot, stock engine fan turn on at 235 degree's
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 12:19 AM
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yeah, that's pretty normal. You can get a fan switch or tune that will lower the temp.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 01:35 AM
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Wont the fan stay on when you remove the EGR? I have allways had my fan constant on my 3rd gens, how will the 4th do?
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 04:16 AM
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mine sits @ 170* all the time....
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 06:42 AM
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Originally Posted by ZONES89RS
Wont the fan stay on when you remove the EGR? I have allways had my fan constant on my 3rd gens, how will the 4th do?

Only if whatever you do throws a code, like unplug the EGR Solenoid. Otherwise, no, I don't believe it should.

BUT You could do that to turnt he SES on and then, have the fans always on. It's not the best since it as said, runs them all the time and quickens their death.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Black94Z28
I dont know but this seems too high for me, i installed a mechanical gauage and it reads 215 degrees when i'm driving and then when i'm at a stoplight it goes up to 235. I have a 180 stat in there, thinking of getting a 160. Any ideas why it runs hot? or is this engine normally run hot? I have the air defletor on the car also
Bottom line, they came from the factory setup to run that temp but it does feel more responsive and like theres a bit more power if you keep it colder. You can get a manual fan switch or have your car tuned so that the fans come on earlier like say 185-195'ish.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 11:07 AM
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I am getting my fans to come on at like 160is-175ish.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by blk97z28
I am getting my fans to come on at like 160is-175ish.
Kind of a waste to have your fans come on at that temp when you have a 180* stat like you mentioned above. Now if you get the 160* one, that would work out fine.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 05:54 PM
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ok, good to hear, i was freaking out, i had overheating problems with my thirdgen, didnt want to have them again. So a 160 stat, a fan switch or a tune would help. I want the engine under 200 ideally.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 06:15 PM
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The OP has a 180 stat I do not. So hyperzone would it be ok since I have stock stat, can i get it tuned for 160-175ish?
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 06:16 PM
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I want car to run about 170ish all day long. I live in Nebraska so i don't drive it much, only summer time.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 06:21 PM
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I normally run around 160 when I'm running on the highway....and heavy traffic (Stop and go) I run 210ish...nvr over that normally. Of course, I have a 160 Thermo
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 02:31 AM
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If you don't want to pay 50+ dollars right now you could always run a wire to the fans/fuse panel to turn the fans on manually when you need them to come on(such as when it gets close to 200*) just put a switch inline as well as a fuse in case you have a problem....fuses have kept me from burning up my cars' plenty of times
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 07:24 AM
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The fans only cool down the radiator.... you thermostat is what will regulate the engine temperature (just making sure we're on the same page here). You should set your fans to come on around the temperature that your thermostat is going to open. Otherwise its kind of a waster as I said above. example: if you have a 180* stat and fans come on at 160*, you fans will be running CONSTANTLY once the engine gets up to temp. I'm not sure if its a huge concern but, it just overworks the fans so, they will likely not last you as long and just the fact they're running with no effect until the stat opens. I like to set mine 5 & 10 degrees above my stat since I have two fans and they are setup to turn on in sequence. So, basically if my one fan cant cool it down and the temp keeps climbing to 10* over what I want, it kicks on the second fan.
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Black94Z28
I dont know but this seems too high for me, i installed a mechanical gauage and it reads 215 degrees when i'm driving and then when i'm at a stoplight it goes up to 235. I have a 180 stat in there, thinking of getting a 160. Any ideas why it runs hot? or is this engine normally run hot? I have the air defletor on the car also
I would be pleased if mine would run 215.
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by hyperzone
The fans only cool down the radiator.... you thermostat is what will regulate the engine temperature (just making sure we're on the same page here). You should set your fans to come on around the temperature that your thermostat is going to open. Otherwise its kind of a waster as I said above. example: if you have a 180* stat and fans come on at 160*, you fans will be running CONSTANTLY once the engine gets up to temp. I'm not sure if its a huge concern but, it just overworks the fans so, they will likely not last you as long and just the fact they're running with no effect until the stat opens. I like to set mine 5 & 10 degrees above my stat since I have two fans and they are setup to turn on in sequence. So, basically if my one fan cant cool it down and the temp keeps climbing to 10* over what I want, it kicks on the second fan.

How did you set up your fans to come on? like the above poster or did you do something different. Its raining today, so this sounds like a rainy day project
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 11:00 PM
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LT1edit software... And there are others. Basically altering the computer tune to whatever temp I want. I'm only familiar with LT1edit so I cant speak for tunercats or whatever else is out there for tuning. you could also get a mail order tune or just put in a manual fan switch. The manual fan switch is the cheapest way to go and is a simple rainy day mod.

Oh, and you guys shouldn't believe your gauges... First of all, those stock gauges are just not dead on. Secondly, there are two temp sensors in two different locations on these cars. One in the DS head which runs the gauge and the other is in the waterpump which is the one that the computer uses/goes by. All those dash gauges are close when I check them against AutoTap but not dead on. When It looks like I'm turning 2000rpm on my tach, I'm actually turning 1800-1850.

Last edited by hyperzone; Aug 19, 2007 at 11:08 PM.
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