Question on Engine Temp - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

chesnut · 08-06-2023

Question - what is normal engine temp behavior in Texas summer weather 100 degree plus temperature?

My 1992 runs cool - 180 or less at highway speeds. During in city driving in the Texas summer heat 100 plus temps, the temp gauge will get close to the danger zone.

Same if weather cooler and driving hard like on a road course such as NCM Motorsports track.

Replaced both fan relays.

Car has never overheated.

Appreciate y'all's help. Thanks,

Gary
....

Dynomite · 08-06-2023

Post 7 - Thermostats, Fans, Water Pump, and Radiators

Chuck Banks · 08-06-2023

I?m not in Texas, but frequently see 95* here in Prescott AZ @ 5200? elevation. City traffic with AC running engine temp will rise to about 221* before fans must kick in and bring temp down to about 207. Mountain driving shows the same high temp before slowly coming back down. I?ve never seen a temp above 223* so nowhere near the shaded zone on the analog gauge. I?m at 101500 miles with original radiator, but have thought about pulling it to see if debris has built up between the condenser and radiator.

Chuck

Mikey · 08-06-2023

Make sure your water level is full. My car has a leak in the recovery tank and I know water is low when I start seeing temps on the rise.

WARP TEN · 08-09-2023

I believe that when Marc Haibeck does a chip for a ZR-1 he sets the fans to turn on at 205 degrees. --Bob

chesnut · 08-09-2023

Dynomite,

GRRRREAT read - appreciate the link(s). Many thanks,

Gary
....

Young1 · 08-09-2023

Yes make sure black tank is full and white tank a 1/2 inch above line. Replace radiator cap if it is 30 years old. After a plenum pull recently I filled it and then noticed temps higher than normal. It was down 2-3 pints.

Yes you must pull radiator every 50,000 miles to clean it. Here in FL sand jams in the fins from following other cars too closely. It is surprising how much it scoops up.

Hobbes · 08-09-2023

I don?t remember the exact numbers, but last year I was pegging the temp gauge during the Houston heat of June/July. I ended up pulling the radiator for a good cleaning, put in Marc?s thermostat & chip, flushed the entire coolant system, and refilled with green coolant. Both the analog and digital temp gauge have been solid in the safe zone since then, even with long drives in 100+ degree heat.

08-06-2023	#1
chesnut Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 114	Question on Engine Temp Question - what is normal engine temp behavior in Texas summer weather 100 degree plus temperature? My 1992 runs cool - 180 or less at highway speeds. During in city driving in the Texas summer heat 100 plus temps, the temp gauge will get close to the danger zone. Same if weather cooler and driving hard like on a road course such as NCM Motorsports track. Replaced both fan relays. Car has never overheated. Appreciate y'all's help. Thanks, Gary ....

08-06-2023	#2
Dynomite Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Dakota/California Posts: 3,789	Re: Question on Engine Temp Post 7 - Thermostats, Fans, Water Pump, and Radiators __________________ Left Clickable links -Solutions- LT5 Modifications/Rebuild Tricks Low Mileage ZR-1 Restoration 1990 Corvette (L98) Modifications LT5 Eliminated Systems LT5 Added Systems LT5/ZR-1 Fluids 1995 LT5 SPECIFIC TOP END REBUILD TRICKS

08-06-2023	#3
Chuck Banks Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 11	Re: Question on Engine Temp I?m not in Texas, but frequently see 95* here in Prescott AZ @ 5200? elevation. City traffic with AC running engine temp will rise to about 221* before fans must kick in and bring temp down to about 207. Mountain driving shows the same high temp before slowly coming back down. I?ve never seen a temp above 223* so nowhere near the shaded zone on the analog gauge. I?m at 101500 miles with original radiator, but have thought about pulling it to see if debris has built up between the condenser and radiator. Chuck

08-06-2023	#4
Mikey Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 305	Re: Question on Engine Temp Make sure your water level is full. My car has a leak in the recovery tank and I know water is low when I start seeing temps on the rise.

08-09-2023	#5
WARP TEN Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Bluff, IL Posts: 2,046	Re: Question on Engine Temp I believe that when Marc Haibeck does a chip for a ZR-1 he sets the fans to turn on at 205 degrees. --Bob __________________ 2016 Long Beach Red Z06 #10281 "POPS Z" 1995 Polo Green #409 "WARP TEN"--Haibeck 350/510 package, 4.10s, Hurst, Stock Exhaust with QTP Cutouts --Sold but still running strong 1993 Quasar Blue #161 "HIL KING" --Sold but still running strong, now with more than 120,000 miles 1967 Marlboro Maroon/Saddle Corvette Coupe 300 hp/4-spd --Sold a long time ago ZR-1 Net Registry Founding Member #95 NCM Lifetime Member Favorite Quote--Attributed to Mickey Thompson: "Too Much Horsepower is Almost Enough"

08-09-2023	#6
chesnut Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 114	Re: Question on Engine Temp Dynomite, GRRRREAT read - appreciate the link(s). Many thanks, Gary ....

08-09-2023	#7
Young1 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 880	Re: Question on Engine Temp Yes make sure black tank is full and white tank a 1/2 inch above line. Replace radiator cap if it is 30 years old. After a plenum pull recently I filled it and then noticed temps higher than normal. It was down 2-3 pints. Yes you must pull radiator every 50,000 miles to clean it. Here in FL sand jams in the fins from following other cars too closely. It is surprising how much it scoops up. __________________ Steve Young 1991 ZR-1 Quasar Blue Metallic/Black #729 Second Owner 1991 ZR-1 Dark Red Metallic/Black #2040 SOLD 1990 ZR-1 Dark Red Metallic/Saddle #1670 SOLD Double your happiness.....complain half as much.

08-09-2023	#8
Hobbes Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 22	Re: Question on Engine Temp I don?t remember the exact numbers, but last year I was pegging the temp gauge during the Houston heat of June/July. I ended up pulling the radiator for a good cleaning, put in Marc?s thermostat & chip, flushed the entire coolant system, and refilled with green coolant. Both the analog and digital temp gauge have been solid in the safe zone since then, even with long drives in 100+ degree heat. __________________ 1991 ZR-1 Dark Red Metallic/Black #1648 Stainless Works headers, OBX cat-back, Haibeck chip, Haibeck 170 degree thermostat, throttle body coolant bypass, led headlights & fog lights, Etoile 455 3-piece wheels. 1973 Stingray Black/Black #421. ZZ4 with Holley Sniper EFI, Tremec TKO-600 5 speed, 3-row aluminum radiator, 18? Foose legend wheels, + lots more.