ok here is my problem. i have a 87 iroc 305tpi. when i am driving say on the highway the car stays cool at about 140(which is fine for me). but the second i second i drive in the city or i get stuck in traffic its heats up to about 220+(it gets this hot in a matter of 2-3minutes). i really dont want it to run that hot with the summer coming. i would like it to run around 180-200(thats fine).my question is how can i slow the car from getting so hot so fast. any thing would be helpfull.

 

sounds like maybe you have a cooling fan problem,, make sure they are coming on..also, if you dont have an aftermarket fan switch, 220+ is normal operating temp from the factory.
make sure your stat is opening.
make sure your air dam is intact.
make sure there is no debris blocking the radiator
your gauge might also be wrong , or slow in reading temp.
put in a 170* or 180* stat and a hypertech fan switch and you should be good.

 

Check your Coolant/Water mixture. Do a coolant flush and use distilled water and run 50/50. I had the same problem before I flushed it nice.

 

Thanks guys for the quick responces. im going to do a fulsh when i get a chance. i am also thinking about the 200 Jet fan switch which shuts down at 185. do u guys think that will do the trick. any other ideas i might want to try

 

Go with a lower switch then that one IMO. Also, make sure your fans are even turning on... that is what it sounds like. If they are, then flush it out really well. Probably has never been done before anyways... right? Be honest! I hate temp problems...

------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

The reason why your car's temp. is fine at freeway speeds is because at those speeds you are getting a ramming effect. If your car is traveling at say 65mph, then the air is hitting your car at 65mph (not taking into consideration cross winds, vehicle in front of you, etc.). That fast moving air is going through that radiator quickly; so even if your fan motor(electric fan) or fan clutch(regular fan) was shot, the coolant in the radiator will still cool down properly.

 

Sounds like your T-stat is stuck partially open but not fully open. There is no way you should be running at 140* (unless you have a 160* and your guage is off). If your t-stat hasn't been replaced in a few years, that is probably a part of your problem. 140* is too cold for the engine.

As for the 220* max temp in traffic, it is controlled by your fan. You can either install the fan switch as others are suggesting, or if you get into eprom burning, you can change it yourself. I prefer the eprom method. My car runs consistantly from 180*F-190*F regardless of driving condition.