just picked up a 1995 z28 convertible, w/8k original miles - temperature was about a 1/4 on the gauge at speed, and creeps up to just over 1/2 when slower/in traffic etc - is this type of fluctuation normal? I think the fan is working fine - it doesn't overhead - just moves around more than other cars I have had - I already change the thermostat for another stock one when I changed out the hoses as a preventive measure - just thought I'd pass this one by the forum and get reactions

thanks!

ps - recently the svc engine soon light came on, which triggered the fans on all the time - during that, the car never went over 1/4 on the temp gauge no matter how hard I drove it - since then, I had the code read at a dealer, who fixed the smog pump under a recall, light went out after that, and the temp started doing this fluctuating thing again - it was doing it before the SES light started going on - it is not overheating, just curious since I have never seen a car's temp gauge move around this much

 

Normal for the LT1. On the open road, the temp guage will stay to the left of the half way mark. In slow traffic, or at a stop, the temp will go up, probably close to the third hash mark. When the fans come on, the temp will come back down.

 

i have a 95z and mine does the same thing. always has and always will if u keep it stock... personally i believe its because how far back the motor is in the dash that when its sitting still its keeping all that heat around it but yea bro your good.. as long as the gauge doesnt keep going up past the 3rd tick mark your running normal

 

Thanks guys! Good to know.

 

Thanks for this old thread. I just picked up the same car. Was wondering the same thing. Temp tends to stay between the half and 3rd tick on the gauge. Good to know that's normal.

 

The stock programming turns the fans on (fan #1 - 93/early 94; or both on low late-94-97) at 226*F, and fan #2 (or both on high late-94-97) at 235*F. The engine is designed to operate at the mid-point of the gauge, to give a good balance of emissions and fuel mileage.

If you change the thermostat, be sure you get the one specifically for the "reverse cooled" LT1. You can't use a Gen 1 SBC thermostat.

http://shbox.com/1/tstat.jpg