Time to solve my ZL1's over heating issue on the track - Page 3 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

sting808 · 07-23-2015, 05:48 AM

No track, but auto-x. I often get stuck in stop-go traffic for long periods. My observations are unscientific and based on factory sensors/gauges. I really like the delco design and performance, but wished there were a lower temp model. Just drove 60 miles tonight and car cruising at 1100-1400 rpm and flat grades in 5th and 6th with AC on hovers around 194-198 with 79* ambient. Similar to OE stat. In traffic earlier today, 88 ambient and stop go, 194-201 w/AC. Oil averages ~220* once warmed up. At night under decel, RPMs at 1500-2200, coolant drops to 185-187. The 174 stat performs a 3-4 degrees cooler than OE on the lower and upper range.

160* stat never goes above 198. Hovers around 190-194 in traffic. With AC, can range from 183 during day or go as low as 176 at night during 1500-2200 rpm ranges on flat to light grades. Oil never goes above ~205-210(based on RS gauges) even in 1 hour stop/go traffic and +90 degree ambient.

With the 160, Auto-X never goes above 198 coolant and ~205-210 oil. Trans oil always stay below 12 o'clock hash mark.(180*?). With the 180* stats, oil was over the halfway mark around 230-240*. Never ran the 180* stats past 1 week and single race.

Last dyno with 160 stat, KB IAT has hit 160-170* on dyno runs, while engine coolant never goes above 200 and quickly cools downs to upper 180s with RPMs ~1600-2200. I've noticed the dual core radiator appears to have greater coolant restrictions than OE and takes more RPM to bring down temps. At idle without AC during the hot days, coolant hovers around 190-194. With AC at idle, it runs around 183-188. Again, very unscientific since I haven't been recording detailed numbers. I do repeat my driving patterns in our terrible traffic and have notice patterns for the last 2 years with the 160 stat. I used the 180 stats for about a week and they were a waste of time. Worse than OE. OE w/1500-2200 RPMs drop temps to 189 quicker. It took higher RPMs to get 180 stat to even 190. Lowest I could get 174 stat was 185 on engine braking in slight down hill grade tonight.

I know this sounds all chaotic... Just got home from visiting out of state visitor that stayed at a hotel on the opposite side of the island so a little tired.

Overall, I like the 160 to keep oil temps around 205-210 and coolant averages in the 190s during parking lot traffic commutes. I don't like the 177-183 evening cruising temps with AC on. That's the downside. Oil stays around 200 at night.

It all started with OE 186 vs motorad/slp 160 that came with KB kit. Pushing 9-10 psi with 15* timing so conservative. Luckily, Hawaii temps don't vary as much with seasons so more consistent year long performance. Traffic still sucks for my partial DD car.

sting808 · 07-23-2015, 06:07 AM

160* motorad/SLP, 174* Lingenfelter, 180* Murrary, 180* Napa, 186* OE

I thought the Napa would perform well based on the large diaphragm, but it appeared to be the worst. I tested the 160* in heated water, not simultaneously with the others. I may setup and jig to hold them while I heat up water to see how quickly the diaphragms open side-by-side, but I've spent too much time and money experimenting. We'll see...

LagunaSecaZL1 · 07-23-2015, 08:16 AM

Great write up. My experience with the lingenfelter 174* T-stat is about the same. My car runs at 185-189* in 60*-100* ambient temps on the highway at 60-75MPH. It never seems to go below 185*.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sting808

No track, but auto-x. I often get stuck in stop-go traffic for long periods. My observations are unscientific and based on factory sensors/gauges. I really like the delco design and performance, but wished there were a lower temp model. Just drove 60 miles tonight and car cruising at 1100-1400 rpm and flat grades in 5th and 6th with AC on hovers around 194-198 with 79* ambient. Similar to OE stat. In traffic earlier today, 88 ambient and stop go, 194-201 w/AC. Oil averages ~220* once warmed up. At night under decel, RPMs at 1500-2200, coolant drops to 185-187. The 174 stat performs a 3-4 degrees cooler than OE on the lower and upper range.

160* stat never goes above 198. Hovers around 190-194 in traffic. With AC, can range from 183 during day or go as low as 176 at night during 1500-2200 rpm ranges on flat to light grades. Oil never goes above ~205-210(based on RS gauges) even in 1 hour stop/go traffic and +90 degree ambient.

With the 160, Auto-X never goes above 198 coolant and ~205-210 oil. Trans oil always stay below 12 o'clock hash mark.(180*?). With the 180* stats, oil was over the halfway mark around 230-240*. Never ran the 180* stats past 1 week and single race.

Last dyno with 160 stat, KB IAT has hit 160-170* on dyno runs, while engine coolant never goes above 200 and quickly cools downs to upper 180s with RPMs ~1600-2200. I've noticed the dual core radiator appears to have greater coolant restrictions than OE and takes more RPM to bring down temps. At idle without AC during the hot days, coolant hovers around 190-194. With AC at idle, it runs around 183-188. Again, very unscientific since I haven't been recording detailed numbers. I do repeat my driving patterns in our terrible traffic and have notice patterns for the last 2 years with the 160 stat. I used the 180 stats for about a week and they were a waste of time. Worse than OE. OE w/1500-2200 RPMs drop temps to 189 quicker. It took higher RPMs to get 180 stat to even 190. Lowest I could get 174 stat was 185 on engine braking in slight down hill grade tonight.

I know this sounds all chaotic... Just got home from visiting out of state visitor that stayed at a hotel on the opposite side of the island so a little tired.

Overall, I like the 160 to keep oil temps around 205-210 and coolant averages in the 190s during parking lot traffic commutes. I don't like the 177-183 evening cruising temps with AC on. That's the downside. Oil stays around 200 at night.

It all started with OE 186 vs motorad/slp 160 that came with KB kit. Pushing 9-10 psi with 15* timing so conservative. Luckily, Hawaii temps don't vary as much with seasons so more consistent year long performance. Traffic still sucks for my partial DD car.

LagunaSecaZL1 · 07-26-2015, 12:09 PM

I installed the 160* thermostat. The car now drops to 178* in 6th gear cruising at 65-70MPH. I think the 160* stat will help the car recover at the track but bot nessarily avoid heat soak in laps 4-8. I recommend that anyone in hot climates to install a 160* thermostat. It takes 30 minutes to swap out.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

LagunaSecaZL1 · 07-28-2015, 11:26 PM

I drove home today in stop and go traffic with the 160* stat. It was 100* ambient, and with the A/C on the coolant never went above 189*. The IAT though would creep up to 140* at stoplights.

07-23-2015, 06:07 AM	#30
sting808 Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 930	160* motorad/SLP, 174* Lingenfelter, 180* Murrary, 180* Napa, 186* OE I thought the Napa would perform well based on the large diaphragm, but it appeared to be the worst. I tested the 160* in heated water, not simultaneously with the others. I may setup and jig to hold them while I heat up water to see how quickly the diaphragms open side-by-side, but I've spent too much time and money experimenting. We'll see... Attached Images

07-26-2015, 12:09 PM	#32
LagunaSecaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 95	I installed the 160* thermostat. The car now drops to 178* in 6th gear cruising at 65-70MPH. I think the 160* stat will help the car recover at the track but bot nessarily avoid heat soak in laps 4-8. I recommend that anyone in hot climates to install a 160* thermostat. It takes 30 minutes to swap out. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ Corvette Z06/Z07/M7 (2016) Late Model Racecraft Intercooler reservoir and 160* Thermostat. Sold- 2013 Camaro ZL1 M6 (Black on Black), Detroit Speed Sway bars, DOT 4 Brake Fluid, separate clutch master reservoir, Moroso Catch Can. 2.11 at Thunderhill 100* ambient. Ron Davis Radiator and AFCO Heat Exchanger installed after track day, Roto-Fab CAI. Sold- 2001 Mustang Cobra -Griggs GR40,M5, Torsen T2-R, 4.10, 14" Brembo fronts, high 1:40s at Laguna Seca

07-28-2015, 11:26 PM	#33
LagunaSecaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 95	I drove home today in stop and go traffic with the 160* stat. It was 100* ambient, and with the A/C on the coolant never went above 189. The IAT though would creep up to 140 at stoplights. __________________ Corvette Z06/Z07/M7 (2016) Late Model Racecraft Intercooler reservoir and 160* Thermostat. Sold- 2013 Camaro ZL1 M6 (Black on Black), Detroit Speed Sway bars, DOT 4 Brake Fluid, separate clutch master reservoir, Moroso Catch Can. 2.11 at Thunderhill 100* ambient. Ron Davis Radiator and AFCO Heat Exchanger installed after track day, Roto-Fab CAI. Sold- 2001 Mustang Cobra -Griggs GR40,M5, Torsen T2-R, 4.10, 14" Brembo fronts, high 1:40s at Laguna Seca

07-23-2015, 05:48 AM	#29
sting808 Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 930	No track, but auto-x. I often get stuck in stop-go traffic for long periods. My observations are unscientific and based on factory sensors/gauges. I really like the delco design and performance, but wished there were a lower temp model. Just drove 60 miles tonight and car cruising at 1100-1400 rpm and flat grades in 5th and 6th with AC on hovers around 194-198 with 79* ambient. Similar to OE stat. In traffic earlier today, 88 ambient and stop go, 194-201 w/AC. Oil averages ~220* once warmed up. At night under decel, RPMs at 1500-2200, coolant drops to 185-187. The 174 stat performs a 3-4 degrees cooler than OE on the lower and upper range. 160* stat never goes above 198. Hovers around 190-194 in traffic. With AC, can range from 183 during day or go as low as 176 at night during 1500-2200 rpm ranges on flat to light grades. Oil never goes above ~205-210(based on RS gauges) even in 1 hour stop/go traffic and +90 degree ambient. With the 160, Auto-X never goes above 198 coolant and ~205-210 oil. Trans oil always stay below 12 o'clock hash mark.(180?). With the 180 stats, oil was over the halfway mark around 230-240. Never ran the 180 stats past 1 week and single race. Last dyno with 160 stat, KB IAT has hit 160-170* on dyno runs, while engine coolant never goes above 200 and quickly cools downs to upper 180s with RPMs ~1600-2200. I've noticed the dual core radiator appears to have greater coolant restrictions than OE and takes more RPM to bring down temps. At idle without AC during the hot days, coolant hovers around 190-194. With AC at idle, it runs around 183-188. Again, very unscientific since I haven't been recording detailed numbers. I do repeat my driving patterns in our terrible traffic and have notice patterns for the last 2 years with the 160 stat. I used the 180 stats for about a week and they were a waste of time. Worse than OE. OE w/1500-2200 RPMs drop temps to 189 quicker. It took higher RPMs to get 180 stat to even 190. Lowest I could get 174 stat was 185 on engine braking in slight down hill grade tonight. I know this sounds all chaotic... Just got home from visiting out of state visitor that stayed at a hotel on the opposite side of the island so a little tired. Overall, I like the 160 to keep oil temps around 205-210 and coolant averages in the 190s during parking lot traffic commutes. I don't like the 177-183 evening cruising temps with AC on. That's the downside. Oil stays around 200 at night. It all started with OE 186 vs motorad/slp 160 that came with KB kit. Pushing 9-10 psi with 15* timing so conservative. Luckily, Hawaii temps don't vary as much with seasons so more consistent year long performance. Traffic still sucks for my partial DD car.