hey guys. i have a 90 firebird with an L03. what is the normal operating temp for this? i ask because it's hanging right around 220. seems high to me. thanx

 

That's about right while in traffic. The fan switch doesn't cut on till about 230*. You could always get a lower stat like a 180* to help some. And a lower fan switch setting. Boy, is it me, or are there a lot of these questions popping up in the last 5 mins.

 

do i need to buy an aftermarket switch or is the temp settin adjustable? if so how?

thanx

 

i odnt think factory switch is adjustable

u can get a switch from summit or someplace like that

or the adjustable one from derale?

i got the 176on-166 off and it worked great

but i think its keeping my car running too cool

so i think im gonna go with an adjustble one

maybe 190 on 175off

oh yeah and the sensor(switch) is located on the pass side head

near the fire wall:lala:

 

be carefull how cool you run these engines, the computer is programmed based on the factory settings. running the engine too cool could cause problems for the computer.

JUST A WORD OF WARNING !!

 

I think that's only a problem if you're running about 160* most of the time.

 

ya I have the 180deg thermo in my car no problems at all. I also have the jet fan switch, you could also change the fan turnon temps though the computer if you have a comp. controlled car.

 

how do u do that?

how do u change the fan comp settings???

i though it had something to do with the sensor and/or relay????

 

Is there any corrolation between engine operating temp at your heater? It seems to me, especially when I'm in traffic, that if I have my heater on the 'vent' setting with the temp switch very low, my engine runs up to 15 or 20* cooler.

Does it have to do with circulating air through the engine compartment or is it just in my head?

James

 

Try replacing the stock 195 degree thermo with a 180 degree one.

My car now runs at about 150 when on the open road, takes alot longer to reach 220 and cools down much faster.....down here in GA. And no problems with the ECM either.

 

Dont bother to reprogram the ecm if adjusting the fan setting is your only goal. Its cheaper and way easyer to run down to checker/advanced auto and grap an adjustable thermostat switch $18 and just run a wire to the + fan. This way you can controll when the fan comes on and if you leave the ecm controlls intact they will be a good back up system. I set my fan with this adjustable relay to come on a 160* and my car still runs on the 1/4 mark with no air dam 180* thermo but its an 82 and flows a bit more air than most 3rdgens.
Theres a tech artical on this at the main page.

 

The heater core is just like a little radiator.If coolant is circulating through it and the fan is on, it'll reduce the temp of the coolant.Once my fan switch failed and I was stuck in traffic, but putting the heater fan on high/vent kept it from boiling until I could get rolling again.
-Rich-