Factory radiator and hot weather. - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

secondchance · 07-06-2010

Well. It was 102 degrees driving back home from work today.
Car stayed cool especially when cruising at 50-60 mph. Then I hit stop and go traffic. For a while maintained 210-212. Then, i noticed oil temp creeping up and coolant started to go past 230. I turned the ac off and temp dropped back down. From this point, I turned on and turned off ac as needed to stay around 225 max.
Despite Marc's chip, factory system could not take hot weather and ac. Nonetheless, it was doable...

Kb7tif · 07-06-2010

Arent corvettes fun.

secondchance · 07-06-2010

I hear Ferraries are even funner! I wonder which marque is the funnest...

rkreigh · 07-06-2010

when the heat is added to the ac from the evap core, the factory cooling system just can't handle it. this gets WORSE not better with big thick aftermarket rads as the fans now have an even harder time pulling enough air cfms through the "bottom breather" design

the factory rad although pretty crappy, (end tanks) is remarkably cheap and efficient as long as you are moving

in temps like today's (wow it's HOT) AC on creeping in traffic for sure equal creeping temps on the coolant

here's what you can do

run water wetter and pure water. coolant isn't as efficient

just make sure you run enough watter wetter to keep the coolant chemicals in there to prevent corrosion (sacrificial anode comes in handy there)

cooler thermostat *(I've got a nice spare 165 if you need one)*

fans on full

most importantly of all, clean the crud out of the rad core at this point I'd pull that rad out and just change it. a fresh one is cheap, flows better.

wish I could still get the fluidyne. it had the thinner more efficient cores

my other thought is the dewitts fan kit

if the wazoo boys want to give me a hand with it. we can do some before and after testing!!!fahne

secondchance · 07-06-2010

Hey, Ron,

Irony will have it that this is the radiator out of your 95 - remember?
I agree at some point it seemed engine heat plus additional load due to ac and heat rejection into 102 degree was too much relative to coolant flow and cfm across the core. Turning ac off had an immediate effect in temp drop.
I hear you about Dewitt - fans will have difficulty moving ir through thicker core.
I will try waterwetter. Can I just add to anti-freeze/water mixture or does it have to be straight water?
As for WAZOO research project I will let our fearless leaders to weigh in.
I am just glad that w/o a/c, at least, I won't melt the LT5.

07-06-2010	#1
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,723	Factory radiator and hot weather. Well. It was 102 degrees driving back home from work today. Car stayed cool especially when cruising at 50-60 mph. Then I hit stop and go traffic. For a while maintained 210-212. Then, i noticed oil temp creeping up and coolant started to go past 230. I turned the ac off and temp dropped back down. From this point, I turned on and turned off ac as needed to stay around 225 max. Despite Marc's chip, factory system could not take hot weather and ac. Nonetheless, it was doable...

07-06-2010	#2
Kb7tif Join Date: May 2009 Location: S Nevada Posts: 352	Re: Factory radiator and hot weather. Arent corvettes fun. __________________ 1995 Convertible Supercharged Auto 1974 454 550hp (avatar car) On the blocks- -Scharger install ! 1992-Zr-1 Sold. Watson Headers Ported Plenum, Housings Random tech cats Fidanza Flywheel Chipped, Relocated Mat Woods 165 stat Borlas, Straights 1996 Lt4 Sold 1994 Lt1 Sold 2004 Z06 Sold AKA** Illenema

07-06-2010	#3
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,723	Re: Factory radiator and hot weather. I hear Ferraries are even funner! I wonder which marque is the funnest...

07-06-2010	#4
rkreigh Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alex VA Posts: 1,087	Re: Factory radiator and hot weather. when the heat is added to the ac from the evap core, the factory cooling system just can't handle it. this gets WORSE not better with big thick aftermarket rads as the fans now have an even harder time pulling enough air cfms through the "bottom breather" design the factory rad although pretty crappy, (end tanks) is remarkably cheap and efficient as long as you are moving in temps like today's (wow it's HOT) AC on creeping in traffic for sure equal creeping temps on the coolant here's what you can do run water wetter and pure water. coolant isn't as efficient just make sure you run enough watter wetter to keep the coolant chemicals in there to prevent corrosion (sacrificial anode comes in handy there) cooler thermostat (I've got a nice spare 165 if you need one) fans on full most importantly of all, clean the crud out of the rad core at this point I'd pull that rad out and just change it. a fresh one is cheap, flows better. wish I could still get the fluidyne. it had the thinner more efficient cores my other thought is the dewitts fan kit if the wazoo boys want to give me a hand with it. we can do some before and after testing!!!fahne __________________ 95 390 LPE ZR1 (505 rwhp) LSV = Lingenfelter Super Vette Twin Turbo 2003 Z06 (800 RWHP)

07-06-2010	#5
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,723	Re: Factory radiator and hot weather. Hey, Ron, Irony will have it that this is the radiator out of your 95 - remember? I agree at some point it seemed engine heat plus additional load due to ac and heat rejection into 102 degree was too much relative to coolant flow and cfm across the core. Turning ac off had an immediate effect in temp drop. I hear you about Dewitt - fans will have difficulty moving ir through thicker core. I will try waterwetter. Can I just add to anti-freeze/water mixture or does it have to be straight water? As for WAZOO research project I will let our fearless leaders to weigh in. I am just glad that w/o a/c, at least, I won't melt the LT5.