Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
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Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
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As far as using a pressure cleaner hose to blow crap out of the radiator, be very careful. The fins in these radiators are very thin aluminum and it would be easy to bend them over with a pressure washer. Thanks for the warning about reducing the bypass flow and causing over pressure in the radiator. I plan to proceed carefully. The over pressure problem will only occur at high water pump flow (engine rpm at 7000). At that water pump pressure, the coolant bypass will be opened against its spring pressure. http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...twithwords.jpg What I am trying to reduce is the bypass flow that occurs all the time (even at low pump pressure) because of the notches in the bypass valve disc. I would like to find a ZR-1 that doesn't do what I described and find out what brand thermostat it has. Jim |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
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I think you are seeing two effects. 1. If after a period of spirited driving (increased engine heat load), the temperature is high, you may have a radiator fouling problem. But if the temps are not way high, then the fouling problem is not too severe. 2. The worst cooling capability for my LT5 occurs at light load (5-10% throttle) and low rpm (< 2000 rpm). Because of the notches in the bypass flow valve there is barely sufficient water flowing through the radiator to remove the heat load. At these conditions, even with a perfectly clean radiator and perfect air flow (both fans running) the temperature of the coolant will rise way above the desired temperature. Jim |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
Sal, yes the two relays that you find on the left side of the radiator shroud are the fan relays. It sounds like one of the motors has a bearing issue if it wouldn't turn freely. I'd keep an eye on that one.:thumbsup:
Jim, thanks for your advice. I will have to admit that when I was trying to clean my OE radiator that after a while I gave up on the sand particles....I didn't get them all for sure!:o Oh well, I guess it's time to start shopping for a new radiator as I'm very OCD about the coolant dump & flush & t-stat R&R every two yrs. Perhaps a Marc Haibeck EPROM is in order also. |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
Tom,
I definitely recommend the Haibeck chip for the fan control feature as well as all the other improvements it offers. I wonder if there is a way to use a local radiator shop to dip clean the stock Corvette radiator. I don't know if that can be done to the plastic tank radiators though. Jim |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
Jim,
I replicated and confirmed that my Z with OEM thermostat does the same thing. Sustained 55-60 mph in 6th - 213 Down shift to 5th, temp drops to 202 Sustained 65 in 6th - 208 Ambient temp was around 84. Generally I prefer not lug the motor so I don't get into 6th unless I am running sustained 70 plus. That's probably I was never aware of this. |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
SC
Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I am trying to figure out if the notches in the bypass valve have some other purpose in the overall cooling system operation. Possible reasons for the notches might be: faster engine warm up when starting in cold weather; better responsiveness by the thermostat; improved heater operation with cold engine; temperature stabilization of the entire cooling system; or I don't know what else. Ideas anyone? Jim |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
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I posted about this on the listserv a while back. I believe it is related to the flow capacity of the pump at low rpms. Graham Behan sent me a chart of the flow rating at various rpms, and mentioned it was likely that at those lower rpms, the pump does not flow enough. This is why downshifting helps. |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
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Jim |
Re: Correct engine coolant temperature
I hear what you are saying Jim. I was thinking further about this. I suspect if the pump pumped so little that it all bypassed the radiator, then the car would not cool down when idling. Yet that's not true, at the lowest flow point, the car can still shed heat when the fans turn on at idle.
FYI, while hardly definitive, I had a quick write-up in HotB issue 15 if you want to give it a quick read. :) |
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