Hi guys I'd just like to know how the cooling system runs when its running normal on a stock l69. I've always had v8s with old school clutch fans. So that is why I dont know if mine is working like it is supposed to. Basicaly the temp climbs steadily. If im on the highway it stays midway on the gauge , as soon as im in normal stop and go the temp climbs within seconds and the fan comes on when it almost touches the red.It cools it to the midway and shuts off. Then the temp climbs again and it starts all over. My daily driver is a saturn, it pretty well works the same way but it really never climbs to the point where the fan comes on unless im stuck in traffic for 15 min or im idling for the same time . I know 4 cylinders dont run as hot as 8s but is it normal for it to climb that quickly that often. Thanks for any help also sorry if this question's already been asked.

 

That's pretty 'normal' I guess. Your guage could be off slightly. Has it ever overheated (as in bubbling in the resevoir, steaming out the hood, etc.?

You could verify your guage readings one day by finding a local shop that has an infrared heat tester, get it to a certain temp, pull in and have them check to see if it's close to the guage reading.

You could swap in a 180F thermostat and cool it down some, but no lower than that - ECM won't understand cooler temps very well (I think stock thermostat is 195F).

And you could replace the fan switch with a lower temp switch that makes the fans come on sooner to help lower the temps before they get so high.

But these cars were designed to run hotter than "what's normal in our heads" - GM did this to get a better emissions rating - hotter temps burn fuel up better. But to us gearheads, hotter temps mean faster engine wear.

 

My HO runs about 220/240 in the summer just crusin' around a/c off.
All factory stock.

 

My rebuilt 350 is bored out to the max. It runs about 240. Way too hot in my opinion. It scares me, but my dads old truck had a 350 bored out as well, and it ran about the same temp.

 

Hey sorry it took so long to check back...got stuck at work. My gauge goes 40,105,125 and then the red starts. Im figuring since its a Canadian car it is in celcius . I just find that it climbs to the 125 very quickly, then the fan comes on cools it to 105 then starts all over again. At speed it seems to stay at 105 on the highway. As soon as im at a light it climbs up. I dont know it just feels hot to me. it isnt boiling over but it does feel very hot.

 

The HOs run that hot for emissions reasons!
Heck my new GM truck runs 200-220 on any summer day.

As long as its not puking coolant on the ground or boiling or
making boiling noises IMO your ok.

 

That is all typical for these Camaros. I don't like it either but you will have to start modding to fix it.

 

thanks for the feedback

 

when my camaro was the stock ho305 ran at like 180-190 never seen over 210 even on the hot days it stayed pretty cool, now that i have a 350 its sees 210 all the time.