Donohue96M6Z28

mine will move around from the qtr mark.. all the way to before the red,and move around the top half of the temp gauge, anyone elses temp do this? one day my car got REALLY HOT and wouldnt go down, and i changed the thermostat and now it doesnt go as hot as it did, but it still gets pretty damn hot what do you guys think? this is my 3rd lt1 and they have all seemed to run pretty hot

TA2PLAY

Mine never runs above 180*, even with the AC on in 100* heat. Electric waterpumps, 160* stats and a good tune are great for texas summers. All of my stock F-bodies have ran between 190-210 on hot days.

Donohue96M6Z28

mmm so will a 160 stat get it to run cooler for sure? and if i do put a160 in, dont i need to change something??

luckyou03

I run 180º stat, I usually stay around 200º

fredmr39

I don't trust the gauges at all anyway..

EDIT: for full benefits purchase a manual fan switch (I can sell you one...check out page 9 in cardomain site in sig, same one I have installed) OR a tune

TA2PLAY

A decent mail order tune is the way to go unless you've got some heavy mods such as a h/c/i. They'll program your fans to come on with the 160 and tune out lots of annoying little things for around 80 bucks. Pcmforless.com and madz28 are both reputable mail order tuners.

Donohue96M6Z28

how much, and is it hard to installl?

guionM

I'm stunned that everyone is telling you to change your guage. Sure it MIGHT be the guage but you live in a hot area, and I think I can give you somthing you can actually use before you race out and buy a guage that isn't going to solve the problem.

Assuming your guage is working (very likely), and you've already replaced the thermostat (which you said you've done), and the overflow tube between the radiator and the overflow bottle isn't obstructed, there is another extremely likely culprit.

That 100,000 antifreeze most modern cars (especially GM) use absolutely, POSITIVELY can not be allowed to boil for any sustained period because it turns to sludge and begins blocking your cooling passages and parts of your radiator. Even the smallest air pocket in the system after you change your coolant is enough to get the process going.

If your coolant was ever low in the system, it's a good chance that's the problem.

Take it to a shop and have them flush your system. Throughly.

True, you could do it yourself and save a few bucks. However, it doesn't cost alot to take it to the local service center, the people you take it to are experts at doing this, and you won't be doing it again for a very long time unless you drive 100,000 miles in no time.

Do this, and I suspect it will solve the problem assuming the guage and thermostat is good. I once had that problem as well, and so did my sister in Arizona in her 3800 Camaro.

91 Camaro RS

I doubt it's your gauge, you can try and get a cooler running stat. I need to get one for my car, my V6 runs at 220 average. Like guionM said, I live in a hot area so it will run hotter than it usually does and the same with you.

Donohue96M6Z28

ya idoubt its the gauge to, and everyone isnt telling me its the gauge, one person mentioned the gauge, but i might try the coolant flush, sounds like a good idea, i appreciate it guionm

2cub49

Check to make sure you still have the front rad support air dam that channels air up through the cooling system.
Mine got torn off and the car would heat up to 3/4 on the guage.
It's absolutely nessesary for the cooling system to work properly.
It's only about 30.00 from the dealer.
Now my car doesn't go over 1/4 on the guage.

Zack

mine hovers around the 1st mark when moving, then moves towards the half mark when sitting.

stock stat
madz28 tune obd1 conversion

jchevy

If you are runnign a stock thermostat and fan setting this is normal. Hence the reason all three of your LT1's have done it.

If you want to get the car to run cooler get a 160* T-stat and have the fans reprogrammed to come on earlier. The fan setting will make the biggest difference. You can actually just get your fan settings changed and it will slove your problem as long as the rest of your cooling system is healthy.

Like mentioned before. Look and make sure your a dam is still on, and also make sure no plastic bags or any other trash got sucked up and is blocking the radiator. Its also important to have the right mix of antifreez/water. To much antifreez and the car will run hot. It doesnt transfer the heat as well as water does.

With a 160* tstat and 110+ degree weather hottest i have seen my car is 205* on the scanner. This is around 180 on the dash gauge.

JPSartre12

Mine runs around 190-200 on a hot day while cruising and cools to ~184 at idle. With the A/C on high, it'll hit 215,

NVetro

Mine never goes about 170-180. I run a 160 t-stat, and a tune to complement the t-stat. I also have manual fans, but i never use them becuase the tune turns them on when I usually would want to.