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Engine Temp Whats Normal?

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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 07:15 PM
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Default Engine Temp Whats Normal?

Guys need a little help what the normal temp for the fans to turn on.

John (Speartech) i think you said 205 for the first, i seen my temp hit 210 and NO second fan what should the normal action be? seems kind of HOT?

I have a LS2 in a 66 Nova so i am trying to get everything sorted out on my transplant.

Steve
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 07:37 PM
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i hear the stock gauges suck. Mine is always right under the 210 mark. Although i have seen it go up to 210 before
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 07:42 PM
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With a LS1 and a 180 T-Stat:

Fan 1: On: 211 Off: 204
Fan 2: On: 219 Off: 212

Thats just personal preference. My car runs normally ~196F. I run with the 'newer theory' that higher coolant temps of 195-205F is optimal.

Again, people get pretty passionate over this subject. Just letting you know that some people run higher ECT's. I find IAT's rule engine performance to a far greater degree.

Good luck.

..WeathermanShawn..
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Old Mar 23, 2009 | 11:26 AM
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The reason for cooler ECT in the days of old was due to the coolant passing through the intake manifold, so you would need to run cooler ECT temps to keep heat saturation down to prevent the IATs from skyrocketing. With the new intakes, heat soak is not an issue as coolant does not flow through it. ECT temps in the 220 range are stock and not outrageous. Most street cars I set up to run above 190 degrees.
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 09:33 PM
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As a suggestion, write down your coolant temperature after driving on the freeway in cruise for 10 minutes. Then set Fan 1 on at +5* above that value, and off at +3*. Fan 2 on at +8* and off at +5*.
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Billf6531
As a suggestion, write down your coolant temperature after driving on the freeway in cruise for 10 minutes. Then set Fan 1 on at +5* above that value, and off at +3*. Fan 2 on at +8* and off at +5*.
Best suggestion I have heard yet.

..WeathermanShawn..
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 11:40 AM
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In a conversion setup I would eliminate PCM
controlled fans altogether, run them stand-
alone off a core mounted thermostat at a
temp somewhere below your engine coolant
thermostat crackpoint. There are clunky looking
kits (Hayden, I think) or just use relays and
a snap-action thermostat (Selco, is one brand)
with a secondary circuit to kick on when A/C
is enabled.
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