[sdz06]

I've noticed in traffic my coolant temp getting up around 225 degrees.

Yesterday I let the car idle while in the garage and monitored the coolant temp. The outside temp was about 55 deg. and the coolant temp got up to 226.

With the hood open, I could not hear the fans come on, and feeling the condenser from the front of the air dam, I could not feel air flow across the radiator/condenser.

Is this normal?

I checked the fuses, what else could it be? I suspected this when I drove the car home the first night from the dealer.:-?

 

[MARZ06]

Primary fan turns on around 230 degrees and the secondary (high speed) fan turns on at around 257 degrees (i think). You might want to look into a fan controller. I have a Vinci and with the stock TSAT, I have it set to around 205 degrees. In the summer I run 172 TSAT and set it at 190 degrees. Set up works great and my car rarely sees temps over 205 degrees.

 

[CLICK02]

I've also got the Vinci fan controller but I've got the 178 degree thermostat and the fans are set to come on at app. 188
degrees and with this setup my water temp. has not run over 194
in traffic...this controller is adjustable so that you can set what temp the fans kick on at.

Nick

 

[Ranger]

How to turn on the radiator fans without a "fan controller"

Stock, you can cause both fans to come on simply by

(1) turning in AC in recirc mode and punching the fan to max

OR

(2) turning the defroster to max temp and punching the fan to max

These are the standard methods used in the staging lanes at the drag strip and both methods will bring the water temp down to about 194 degrees.

Ranger

 

[sdz06]

Why do they have the fans set to come on at 230 deg. ?

All my other vehicles that have electric fans come on around 200 deg. Seems like it is hard on the seals, gaskets, etc. etc.:-?

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
Yes, around 230 is the correct temperature that the fans low speed.
Just remember, that this engine differs in so many ways from previous designs, that thermal limitations have changed.
besttoyou, c4c5:z:

 

[Terry S]

sdz06

You are right higher temps are hard (over time) on gaskets, seals, valve seals, piston rings etc. not to mention the loss in horsepower. I have heard no explanation why GM lets the temp. get so high befor thay turn the fans on. I've seen the same thing as you 225 degrees idling with 55 degree outside air temp.

Let me know if you want them I have the factory on & off temps. for the 02 Z06. I can get them for you on Jan. 2 if you want. If I remember the fans come on low speed on befor 220 and go off after an 11 degree drop. I think they go on high speed befor 240 and go off after an 11 degree drop. The fans also can come on based on the AC high side pressure.

For more info check the current thread "160 thermostat" :guiness:

 

[Terry S]

sdZ06

I managed to run out of room again? :-? My hearing is shot & I can't hear the fans running with the engine running. If you are careful to keep away from the serpantine belt you can put your hand on the back side of the fan shroud and slide it down till your fingers are just behind the fan blades on the drivers side and you can feel the air if the fan is on. You might want to try this first with the engine off. If you are not brave or stupid enough to do this you maybe could tape a short piece of string to the top of the fan shroud so it will hang down behind the fan. So far I still have 4 fingers & a thumb on my right hand.

Let me know if you want those specs. :cheers:

c4c5 specialist Can you tell us why GM lets the temp get so high befor the fans come on?:-?

 

[Ranger]

....c4c5 specialist Can you tell us why GM lets the temp get so high befor the fans come on?:-?

It would seem to be the case that Chevy Power Train testing has determined that there are no ill-effects from 230-240 degrees. Chevy pays the warranty bills and would have set lower fan-actuation temps if they were necessary. At 230-240 you'll lose a little horsepower (perhaps 10-25); only an issue if you're racing and then you can easily bring the water temp back down to 194 or so by forcing the fans on using the methods I posted above.

Ranger

 

[sdz06]

originally posted by Ranger:
Stock, you can cause both fans to come on simply by 1) turning in AC in recirc mode and punching the fan to max

OR

(2) turning the defroster to max temp and punching the fan to max

These are the standard methods used in the staging lanes at the drag strip and both methods will bring the water temp down to about 194 degrees.



Tried that, fan(s) still not coming on?



Terry, yes please post or email me with those specs.

 

[AJRZ06]

I believe the reason why the fan and t-stat are set at higher temps are due to make emissions better.

-Anthony

 

[Ranger]

originally posted by Ranger:
Stock, you can cause both fans to come on simply by 1) turning in AC in recirc mode and punching the fan to max

OR

(2) turning the defroster to max temp and punching the fan to max

These are the standard methods used in the staging lanes at the drag strip and both methods will bring the water temp down to about 194 degrees.



Tried that, fan(s) still not coming on? ....

Just to be clear. If you get your water temp to 230, neither method above turns the fans on and the water temp does NOT come down to under 200?

If this is the case, there is definitely a problem I've never experienced. Those approaches work for me 100% of the time.

And of course, at this time of year, simply driving the car at speed will bring the water temp down to 194 or so.

So I'm puzzled. :-?

Ranger

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
228 is the standard temp where the low speed fans turn on.
Due to impeller design of the fan blades themselves, the fans are very quiet on the low speed. So much that you probably will not hear them over the running engine.
Next, if you would like to test them, simply light a match in front of the lower air dam, blow it out, and watch the smoke being drawn upinto the condenser/radiator assembly.
If you dont get above 230-235 while idling, you know that your fans are working correctly.
Also, as far as gasket wear and temperatures, consider the following. As designs have changed, your head gaskets, which are graphite composition. This, in conjunction with the aluminum heads, block, and oil pan, provide equal expansion rates between components. This equal expansions rates provide less stress on the redesigned gaskets, which have actually provided better reliability than the LT1 LT4 class of engines that had aluminum heads, with a cast iron block.
And also, please remember that you have coolant loss protection, where as the engine will change the way it runs, if you overheat the vehicle, so that alot less damage will occur.
You would see, COOLANT OVER TEMP being displayed. Along with ENGINE PROTECTION REDUCE ENGINE RPM.
Also, if you have electrical problems with the fans, or the relays, you will set diagnostic trouble codes.
Honestly, I dont think that you have a problem. You will see these messages if there is a problem.
Please enjoy your car, besttoyou, c4c5:z:

 

[ZO6/Les]

If you don't mind me asking where did you get the Vinci fan controller - and do you have a URL for them? I plan on going with a lower temp. stat as well and was curious on your selection of a 178 vs. say a 160 (which is what I run in my F-Body).

TIA

Les

I've also got the Vinci fan controller but I've got the 178 degree thermostat and the fans are set to come on at app. 188
degrees and with this setup my water temp. has not run over 194
in traffic...this controller is adjustable so that you can set what temp the fans kick on at.

Nick

 

[Ranger]

...where did you get the Vinci fan controller - and do you have a URL for them? I plan on going with a lower temp. stat as well and was curious on your selection of a 178 vs. say a 160....

Here is a link that answers your questions and provides some insight into 160 vs 178 degree thermostats on C5s that are street driven.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=152654

http://www.vincihiperformance.com/

http://www.vincihiperformance.com/products.htm

Ranger

 

[Terry S]

sdz06
The following are the fan operation specs for a 2002 Z06.
The fans will come on low speed as follows:
1. Anytime the air-conditioning is on including defrost. 2. Engine temp. above 219. 3. AC head pressure above 219 psi (off at 150 psi.) 4. With engine off & engine temp. above 284.
The fans will come on high speed as follows:
5. Engine temp. above 228. 6. AC head pressure above 225 psi (off at 180 psi.
For #s 2,4,& 5 the fan speed activated will turn off after an 11 degree drop. At 256 degrees check gages will be displayed & the chime will sound.
The factory thermostat is 195 degree. But if you go to Mr. Goodwrench for a new one the part # has changed and he will hand you a 212 degree thermostat for an $18.50 retail price.
Anthony said he thinks the thermostat & fan on temps are so high to reduce emissions. I think he is right about the thermostat. But high fan settings do not keep the engine temp up they only attempt to cool it. If you are going fast enough to put enough cool air through the radiator the temp will stay about that of the thermostat & you will never get hot enough to turn on the factory fan settings. see next post

 

[Terry S]

Oops ran out of room again.:-?
Just remember you can put in a lower temp. thermostat but if you do not turn the fans on earlier than stock settings you are NOT going to be able to keep the temp down below factory fan temp settings unless you are driving fast enough to put enough air through the radiator. Which most of us can't always do.

I'll be rolling up my sleeves as soon as my Vinci controler gets here. I do not need to work to fast though it's 15 degrees outside.
:cheers:

 

[ZO6/Les]

Thanks - placed an order.

Les

Here is a link that answers your questions and provides some insight into 160 vs 178 degree thermostats on C5s that are street driven.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=152654

http://www.vincihiperformance.com/

http://www.vincihiperformance.com/products.htm

Ranger

 

[sdz06]

Thanks everyone, I'll stop worrying and buy the Vinci unit if I want the extra HP.

Terry, let us know how the install of that Vinci unit and tstat goes.

 

[GroundFighter]

Re: How to turn on the radiator fans without a "fan controller"

Stock, you can cause both fans to come on simply by

(1) turning in AC in recirc mode and punching the fan to max

OR

(2) turning the defroster to max temp and punching the fan to max

These are the standard methods used in the staging lanes at the drag strip and both methods will bring the water temp down to about 194 degrees.

Ranger

Thanks for the tips, I have a question. If you punch AC in recirc mode do you turn it all off before you launch, so that your compressor is not running?