Well, long story short, was having major cooling issues after trying everything I could think of.
Thanks to the very helpful guide:
https://www.thirdgen.org/overheating
I realized my car needed an air dam! Never had one on there when I bought it many years ago. Went to the JY and fabbed this up quick and holy hell, it worked.
I am concerned that it may be running too cold now?


Started with this


Jigsaw!





Doesn't budge from this temp on the highway anymore. Only rises during city traffic. I have a 170* stat by the way.

 

 

If you were really wondering shoot the thermostat housing with a IR gun (if you have one or can borrow one).

Looks very close to the revised versions for the firebirds (yours looks like it might have a little more tilt on it).

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/pr...-Cooling).html

If you're running a TPI I recommend you switch back to a 195* thermostat. You need around that to go into closed loop (which improves gas mileage).

 

Seems that closed loop is based on 3 variables, all of which would be met by the 170* thermostat.
https://www.thirdgen.org/open-loop-closed-loop

After some datalogging, the temp stays right around 170* above 40mph.
The extremely low needle just set off some false alarms in my head.
My gauge is high about 10* as best I can tell.

Thanks everyone for the info.

 

hell ill trade you lol my car always runs hot lol i could use that XD

 

Just took a 1500 mile road trip. 95*+ outside temps at 90-100mph.

Fans NEVER once came on to cool the engine. Absolutely solved my heating issues 100%. Fan only comes on if I am sitting still.

Went over a few nasty bumps and never scraped either.

Defiantly recommended!

 

Closed loop should set in well before 190. My stock setting for coolant temp for closed loop enable was 104!

 

I read that the fans don't come on over 35mph. Whether or not it's true, idk. I don't even need them at 25mph with my aluminum rad.

 

My heated O2 sensor closed loop comes in alot earlier too, and my car runs around that middle point, so more or less 180* which is exactly where I want it.

I have a new GM airdam (stock 3rd gen one) and it works perfectly, runs a bit under 180 on the highway and never goes up, even when flooring it on the highway. Only when I am stopped after some "spirited driving" that it heats up to a bit over 180 and the dual fans turn on and bring it down to a bit below the 180 mark.

 

My car enters closed loop about the time I exit my apartment's parking lot. That's on a "cold start" early morning start. (Which lately has been 77°F/96% humidity ambient temps)

I'm up to 180° temperature (same as thermostat) within about 5 blocks.

I don't know how you guys can gauge if your radiator fans are on/off while driving the car. Unless you have a data logger going on your laptop that shows the ECM controlled fan, the fans are silent. At least they are on my car. The only time I hear them is after shutting the car off. You get a few seconds of sound from them winding down.

At 70 mph this time of year, I'm running about 180-185°. Figure 10° warmer with the A/C on.

 

All my lights dim slightly and rpms drop for a split second when the fans kick on.

 

Picked up a 4th gen air dam for $10.00.

Installing tomorrow

 

I don't think you'll be disappointed. I know I sure wasn't!

 

easy - i have indicator lights on my dash that tell me when they're on/off... and i have lit them both up recently when my t-stat stuck closed and i had to get towed home...

 

I have 4th gen dual fans and this as well to help with the cooling.....

 

Ooo that looks nice

 

That is a good looking radiator. What make is it?

 

4th gen airdams really no better then your 3rd gen one. My 4th gen ran hot up until I put a new radiator in it. Generally it stayed up around 210 on freeway after new radiator it cooled like it did when it was new. This wasn't a V8 4th gen either.

 

Thats true. It doesn't matter that you put 3 gen or 4 gen air dam. I replace my old broken one with a new 3 gen one. when i am driving local. it wont go past half until i let it idle for 15-20 mins.
The only things I did on my car is flush coolant, water pump, thermostat 180' & new air dam. Even with AC on i dont have problem of the heat.

 

When you don't have one to begin with, a cheap readily available alternative is better.

 

How many quarts/gallons/litres did u need to put in when you flushed your coolant? And did you use 50/50 mixture?

 

As i remember, it should be 16 Quarts if the whole coolant system complete empty. I am running 30 antifreeze 70 water but going to flush it again and put 50/50 back in