Motor running hot, Should I lower my fan temps??

[Carter189]

I have an 03 Corvette with an LS3 crate motor in it, and Im having some overheating issues. It very well may just be an issue with waterpump, thermostats, radiator, etc. but I just wanted to make sure the fans are set to a reasonable temps. Im in Florida and I autocross the car hard, but the temps got up to mid-230s yesterday with just a normal cruise down the road. fans temp.PNG

[gtstorey]

Not a fan settings issue.

[edcmat-l1]

Is the radiator original? Do you have the lower lip in place? All the radiator shrouding stock? C5s have issues any time there's a change to the radiator shrouding, etc. I have one in the shop now some idiot took the shroud off completely to put some big dumb intake tube on it. It runs about 235 in the heat off the day.

Are both fans coming on? Although that shouldn't be the problem if it's running hot going down the road.

[Alvin]

Yep, Make sure all the air dams and shrouding are critical for these things.

If its sandy where you live the radiator might be clogged.

No fan can keep up with even 25mph going down the road. if its too hot at cruise the fans can't save it.

[Carter189]

To preface all this, the car is new to me, and Ive been trying to figure out gremlins since I got it...

It has a trackspec aluminum radiator in it, the lower plastic lip was removed for a splitter (which is not currently installed)
I believe the radiator shrouding is stock
Yes, Both fans seem to be working correctly.

I am going to try and get rid of some cheap possibilities for issues first (new thermostat, flush coolant system, etc and go down the line until I figure it out)

My previous car (an 02 Z06) had a dewitt radiator and I barely hit 220 degrees even when running back to back drivers on 100 degree days

[edcmat-l1]

To preface all this, the car is new to me, and Ive been trying to figure out gremlins since I got it...

It has a trackspec aluminum radiator in it, the lower plastic lip was removed for a splitter (which is not currently installed)
I believe the radiator shrouding is stock
Yes, Both fans seem to be working correctly.

I am going to try and get rid of some cheap possibilities for issues first (new thermostat, flush coolant system, etc and go down the line until I figure it out)

My previous car (an 02 Z06) had a dewitt radiator and I barely hit 220 degrees even when running back to back drivers on 100 degree days

Don't do anything. Stop right now and order a new (used) lip off Ebay. That's the whole reason it gets hot at cruise speed. There's nothing to divert the air into the radiator opening. That little lip is your problem if it's missing.

[Alvin]

Some of my road race customers run no air dam, splitter, and converted to front feed like a C6 z06. It's possible but copy someone whose figured it out already.

[bk2life]

That's the whole reason it gets hot at cruise speed.

X2... same for the 3rd gen camaros, you remove that youll have cooling issues
Gm was trying all sorts of stuff back then
Gotta have ALL the parts on or youll have issues

[Carter189]

What should I do if I plan on installing a splitter back on the front??

[bk2life]

What should I do if I plan on installing a splitter back on the front??

fab something to force the air into the rad

[edcmat-l1]

Cut the front license plate recess out. You can do the fog light inserts as well. There are screen kits for them on Ebay. You'll need to make some ducting. Or just put the lip back on it and be done.

Yes the 3rd and 4th gen F bodies were the same way. Pull that lip off and you can't keep them from running hot driving down the road.