Camaro936

OK i got a 96 z28 when the car is park it dont over heat it dont even pass the half mark. But when once i drive in the highway for about 5mins temp rises more then halfway close to 3/4. car is no antifreeze just water. You think if i replace it with a cloder thermostat and add antifreeze and buy a radit cap will cool down the engine? because i stay in texas and it get' like 105 outside.

<Puck>

Did you by any chance remove the bottom air damn, or maybe hit a bump/curb that ripped it off?

That long piece of plastic under the front bumper is needed to cool the car at highway speeds once the fans turn off. Removing it will do exactly what you are describing.

Mswezey

you definitely need antifreeze! Especially in Texas heat!!

A 160 thermostat isn't going to help much since you're fans are programmed to come on at much higher temps. Plus when driving on the highway your thermostat is already opened.

Now a faulty thermostat could be at fault with the mixture of no antifreeze in the system.

Get antifreeze in it and run it.
Verify the fans come on at the correct temps
Make sure you have the right radiator cap on it

and if you want the extra security replace the t stat along with that.

I'm sure if it's anything else other people will cover it and help you out

shoebox

The first thing you should check is if the air dam is under the front of the car. Also, though water is a good thermal conductor, you don't want to run pure water. Corrosion would be a big issue and the combination of coolant and water helps to raise the boiling point of the mixture.

bw_hunter

As Shoebox suggested, check the air deflector under the car first.

Also as suggested, add some antifreeze. You don't need much to hold off corrosion....maybe 25% at most. Water is the best cooling fluid as it has a much higher heat capacity than anything else you could put in there.

If you like, add a bottle of Water Weter as well. That seems to help by lower the surface tension of the water allowing better 'contact' with the cooling passages...

CstIrnFst

As specified many times, check the air dam under the radiator.

Another possibility that I had to deal with is a clogged radiator. Even though the car cooled well while idling, once I got up to highway speeds the temp would climb slowly (even with the air dam in place). With higher RPM's the water can't move past the clog quick enough to efficiently cool the engine, therefore raising the temp. Once I flushed the system very thoroughly, the temperature is no longer a problem. (I had to replace the radiator about a month later anyways when it developed a crack)

Camaro936

What is this im sorry, This is my first camaro.

bw_hunter

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

It's number 42 in this diagram. It's basically a flat plastic blade that runs across the car . Get down adn look underneath from teh front and you should see it...

Camaro936

yall think it could be that?

Injuneer

Yes. That's why 4 people have already suggested it may be missing, causing the problem. Leave the air dam off, and the faster you go, the hotter the coolant gets. The radiator is a "bottom feeder".... the air dam stops the air flowing under the car, and forces it upward, through the radiator.

shoebox

Instead of questioning the same advice from several people, maybe you should at least make some attempt to take it and report your findings. An air dam is not something you find on only a Camaro.

Camaro936

i just look under the car where the raditior sits at theres nothing on the bottom of it.

Camaro936

can someone post me a picture so that i'll know what im looking and buying for.

dragginS10

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=746623

Injuneer

You can see the factory part under the green bumper cover on this Formula - dark, but visible:

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photo.../DCP04344a.jpg