LS1 Overheating due to Tune?

[randyeng77]

I've blown 2 LS1 motors this last summer road racing a 2000 Camaro stock LS1 that overheated to 240F+.
Examined the tune, the AFR modifers had been set to 80 at higher rpm's (3000+), equals an AFR of ~11.7 (pig rich), with advanced timing.
Would this cause the motor to overheat after about 10-15 mins of racing hard?
Thanks.

[Ben Charles]

Sounds like your coolant system isn’t up to par

[randyeng77]

Custom radiator box with 16” electric fan. Usually runs at 210-220F, but was a hot October day on the plains in Colorado. 90F with track temp of 115F. Just wondering if the tune that was in the car with hot track conditions cause the higher motor temps.
Granted I should have pulled up to save the motor, but I was leading the race. What’s a guy to do?
TIA.

[gtstorey]

Depending on what blown means, it might have blown first and that caused overheating.

[5FDP]

Needs bigger radiator and more fans if the temps are still getting too hot.

[randyeng77]

Appears to have spun a bearing as cylinders 5&6 were damaged. Not sure if the heat caused that but it was running at 245F.
Thanks for the thoughts.

[aaronc7]

is this coolant temp or oil temp? if 240 coolant, then likely oil was much hotter, unless you have oil cooler?

if you cooked the oil, bearing damage wouldn't be too surprising.

doesn't seem like it was tune related, but not nearly enough info in the original post for anyone to really say. Post the file if you can.

[smokeshow]

Stuff like 'custom radiator box' makes me raise an eyebrow. But in general...the toon can't do much, especially relative to stock settings. They're about as resistant to overheating as you can get. Either upgraded cooling system or derate....those are your options.

[jsf55]

Check the electric fan actual pulls air through the rad, sometimes pushers are fitted behind the radiator and cause this problem as it hit's the higher temps

[edcmat-l1]

Does the car still have the wicker bill underneath? The lip that hangs down? If you pull them off these cars they run hot. That's the only means of getting air up into the radiator.

[GHuggins]

Does the car still have the wicker bill underneath? The lip that hangs down? If you pull them off these cars they run hot. That's the only means of getting air up into the radiator.

This is exactly what I was thinking. The ol' chin spoiler that everybody likes to yank off that's especially designed to pull air through the radiator at high speeds.

Sure a tune can be setup to pull timing and derate to help, but if you keep ignoring the temp gauge screaming at you, then not much is going to help. Oil brand and weight will have as much to contribute as the tune can. Rich fuel will actually help to keep things cool, but timing needs to come out with heat.

[edcmat-l1]

Biggest thing for 4th gen F bodies if you want to road race them is you need the Improved Racing oil pan baffle and you need a good oil cooler.

[SiriusC1024]

Also, crossover/steam vents not clogged or deleted? Could have air pockets.

[Alvin]

I've blown 2 LS1 motors this last summer road racing a 2000 Camaro stock LS1 that overheated to 240F+.
Examined the tune, the AFR modifers had been set to 80 at higher rpm's (3000+), equals an AFR of ~11.7 (pig rich), with advanced timing.
Would this cause the motor to overheat after about 10-15 mins of racing hard?
Thanks.

are these stock LS1's? or strokers etc?

I'm betting a oil cooler would help tremendously.

All my road race customers have oil coolers. We made a bolt in kit for the C5's that knocked like 40 degrees off our test car.