Hey all, Im new here so be nice. Just picked up a 91 Z28, 5.7 everything seems clean no problems except for the cooling system. I just drove it from Seattle to SLC and this is what I saw.
At idle, the car would run right at the 220 mark, sometimes barely creeping up a bit in traffic. On the freeway, it stayed in the same area, unless I started working the motor, ie, going up mountain passes or rallying it over the century mark. In town now it tends to run a bit warm, however, doesnt get into the scary zone unless Im driving it hard.

Heres a few other possible indicators:
1. Smell of antifreeze and gas after running for a while and turning off. No visible leakage.
2. When I left Seattle I did a cursory check of the car and the coolant bottle was empty. I ended up dumping all the existing fluid, flushing and then doing a 50/50 mix.

When I got it home, I checked over what I knew, replaced the thermostat with the OEM, flushed the system again verified my coolant mixture etc..
I noticed that the primary? (left side) fan comes on right about the 210 mark, however the secondary? (right side) fan has never come on.

So Im open to suggestions, I want to keep the vehicle as stock as possible as it is low milage and Im planning on keeping it as a collector and modifying it as little as possible, but I figure it should be able to maintain temp for at least a little while, right??
Thanks in advance for the help!!
--Corey

 

fan 2 should come on with the A/C - sounds like you might be missing the lower airdam. look at the first 4 posts in this forum (sticky's)

 

This is the lower air dam, right?


If so, Ive got that and there are not any obstructions.
Any other ideas??

 

No, that's the front ground effects on the nose.


That's an air dam.

 

hmm... curious, where does it sit? Inside the bumper? Going to have to look, update soon!!

 

look under the car, should be hanging off the lower radiator support.

 

 

Well, it all checks out, air dam inplace, and still heating up...perplexed

 

I just researched a cooling issue with my car and found that the primary fan doesn't come on until around 220. Secondary fan comes on around 240 or when the air is cut on.

 

hmm... well Im going to try a new thermostatic switch to kick the fan on at 185, still seems odd that it would heat up with all that air flowing to it and then maintain temp at idle...
Any ideas on the fuel and antifreeze smell??

 

I read somewhere on these forums that some of the 1991 camaros had a defect in the Fuel tank Filler Tube.. maybe theres pin holes in the filler tube causing the Fuel smell. Or the seam where the filler tube meets the tank might me cracked. Just idea's

 

Im assuming this is the problem:
Make : CHEVROLET Model : CAMARO Year : 1991 Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 94V077000 Recall Date : APR 15, 1994 Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP Potential Number Of Units Affected : 232988 Summary:
THE FUEL FILLER NECK SOLDER JOINT CAN DEVELOP CRACKS OR PIN HOLE LEAKS, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE CRACKS AND HOLES CAN ALLOW FUEL VAPOR AND FUEL LEAKAGE. Consequence:
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: GASOLINE VAPORS AND FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THOSE WHICH EXHIBIT THE CRACKS OR PIN HOLE LEAKS.

Im taking it in for a check up and bringing the list of recalls. If anyone else is interested the link to all is:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...ls/results.cfm

 

Yep thanks one_bad_rover, Thats what i was talkin about
hopefully thats your prob and they fix it for you.
Good luck,
Ray

 

I bet money that your gas cap isn't on straight. I had the same problem with a gas smell. Does it smell more right after a fill up? Can you see road dust attracted to the side of the car below the gas cap? I have to be really careful when putting the cap back on.

 

Gas cap is good, however, I did an indepth look yesterday and found coolant residue around the intake manifold. I also noticed another nice bit today, a pool of coolant on the passenger floor. Great, heater core needs work... I bypassed it for the time being.
Looks like Im going to be doing a heater core, intake gasket and hell, while Im at it I might as well do the head gaskets...
But in the meantime, Im still getting hot. So heres another question... Should the fans come on when the car is off? I would think so, but mine are only operating while the car is actually running... not even accessory will kick them on. Is this normal??
Oh, and how about the "Overheat light", its convieniently burnt out, so Im considering if I have to rip the dash out to replace lights maybe I will just get another dash with a temp gauge thats not overwound. Anyone have one for sale??
Thanks again for all the help!!

 

My fans cut off when the engine is cut off. (Except twice in the 5 months that I have had the car. I would love to know what causes this.)