Temp gauge seemed to be running close to 220

[Zoeaux6]

I test drove an 06' Z06 I am considering, and after stepping on it pretty briefly a few times (because it was rush hour), I noticed that the temp gauge looked to be closer to 220 than I am used to. This car has less than 10k miles, and it ran strong, but I felt like it has been ridden hard. Any help/thoughts?

I am trying to decide whether to save $15k on an 06' over an 08'. Thanks.

[335itoz06]

My 08 Z06 was always reading close to 220 driving in town in traffic(Tucson). After replacing the thermostat I haven't seen the temps as high.

[No Doubt]

It's a little cooler here than it is in Tucson or Phoenix and I see the same coolant temps: 194 -221.

That's city, country, freeway, just normal driving at the speed limits.

It's NORMAL for these cars and is by design, both for emissions and other reasons.

In fact, I can tell you that running them much cooler than normal can actually be detrimental. As you know, the block, heads and pistons are aluminum. Furthermore, the clearances in these engines are much tighter than in years past. These engines need to get up to higher temps for running clerances to nominalize. Thus, to run them cooler than normal, as outlined above, is not a good idea.

Will they make more horsepower when cooler than normal? Certainly, no argument there. But again, the temperature range is by design and for reasons you may not suspect.

[extanker]

Originally Posted by No Doubt

It's a little cooler here than it is in Tucson or Phoenix and I see the same coolant temps: 194 -221.

That's city, country, freeway, just normal driving at the speed limits.

It's NORMAL for these cars and is by design, both for emissions and other reasons.

In fact, I can tell you that running them much cooler than normal can actually be detrimental. As you know, the block, heads and pistons are aluminum. Furthermore, the clearances in these engines are much tighter than in years past. These engines need to get up to higher temps for running clerances to nominalize. Thus, to run them cooler than normal, as outlined above, is not a good idea.

Will they make more horsepower when cooler than normal? Certainly, no argument there. But again, the temperature range is by design and for reasons you may not suspect.

well said and in my opine true. mine ran 203/207 no matter what i did driving wise. i adjusted torque management and fan % and still have stock stat

[6speeder]

Are those temps normal? YES.

Are they optimal for performance? NO

Running the engine a LITTLE cooler (in the 190's) will help performance and won't be detrimental in any way.

[extanker]

Originally Posted by 6speeder

Are those temps normal? YES.

Are they optimal for performance? NO

Running the engine a LITTLE cooler (in the 190's) will help performance and won't be detrimental in any way.

well said

[0706]

Do you think it is worth it to get a 160 t-stat for the track and switch back when highway driving?

[No Doubt]

Do *I* think it's worth it? No.*

As I said, they are designed (engineered) to run within a nominal temp range for purposes other than performance or even emissions. If on the track the coolant temps are TOO HOT, then chances are the car itself is being operated outside of its design intentions.

How hot is too hot? How long can you run at that temp before something untoward occurs? Will it happen on the track, or six months later on 405?

You've probably seen posts like "I was only doing 35 mph when the engine seized." Yeah, perhaps, but how many times prior to that was it taken to redline or even the rev limiter? Then again, maybe it just failed and the guy drove like grandma, but we'll never know.


*I've done about every mod to a C5 Z06 that one can do. My C6 Z? I'm leaving it alone because, IMO...it isn't worth it.

That's a separate debate. Seriously, if the car is SO GOOD stock, then why do people feel they have to mod the hell out of 'em? Don't answer, I know the reason. But seriously, if you have to "improve it", then it must not have been adequate to begin with. How many people mod Enzo's? Not very many!

One of the best cars in the world. Yet some think they can improve it. Well, then it must not have been good enough.

Pretzel logic.

I never claim it's the best. I only improved or changed its shortcomings, and there were plenty. Thus, it wasn't as good as some think. Was it worth it? Nope. Never has been. Never will be. But we still do it.

[Zoeaux6]

I went ahead and bought my 08 Z last weekend. It is absolutely a beast stock. I also think that in some ways it runs better stock. I have heard that the engine is designed for the pushback of the existing exhaust system.

However, I have to ask. If it is not for efficiency or performance, then why do they set the water temp at 200-210ish, or so it seems. Same thing with my 08. Seems to run about that. I plan to take it out to the dragstrip now and again, should I be concerned (your opinion please)? I am not too concerned at this point about a couple of tenths difference in 1/4 times, but am concerned about stressing and damaging the engine. Any other thoughts? Thanks.

[Zoeaux6]

risk to the engine)? Thanks.

[No Doubt]

You're not as likely to harm the engine as you are the clutch, half-shafts or differential. Typically, those are the things that fail on a dragstrip on an otherwise stock car.

Don't shift past redline and you should be ok, but as always there are no guarantees. It's rather uncommon for one of these to engines to pop at a dragstrip, if stock.