Normal Coolant Temp

[sid447]

Question for those,

that have the VT/VX-type dash that can bring up the extra info mode (i.e. press "mode" & "up" button together on trip control whilst turning on ignition. Then page through pressing "mode" eight times to get engine coolant temp;

What is your normal operating range? ..(i.e. high and low of what you are getting and also what it may settle at) ...both in traffic and say at steady cruise on the highway/motorway?

- Sid447 -

[comm_SS_V8]

Sorry for the delay mate, but tonight was the first time in a week I'd taken the VT out.

I recorded 96 Degrees Centrigade plus or minus 1 degree on my way to work this evening.

Driving was normal A+B road speeds through cold wet & raining weather.

She had new oil (Comma 5w-40) and a filter approx 400 miles ago.

I don't have spots fitted so am left with holes. I have thought about directing airflow over the sump from the driver side spot light hole. I'd also direct more cold air from the passenger side spot light hole towards the CAI intake.

I have seen somebody modify the steel sump guard and replaced the centre of it with steel mesh which reduced the oil temp quite considerably because of the improved air flow over the sump.

Hope it helps.



>> Edited by comm_SS_V8 on Tuesday 25th October 00:35

[sid447]

comm_SS_V8 said:

Sorry for the delay mate, but tonight was the first time in a week I'd taken the VT out. I recorded 96 Degrees Centrigade plus or minus 1 degree on my way to work this evening. Driving was normal A+B road speeds through cold wet & raining weather. She had new oil (Comma 5w-40) and a filter approx 400 miles ago. I don't have spots fitted so am left with holes. I have thought about directing airflow over the sump from the driver side spot light hole. I'd also direct more cold air from the passenger side spot light hole towards the CAI intake. I have seen somebody modify the steel sump guard and replaced the centre of it with steel mesh which reduced the oil temp quite considerably because of the improved air flow over the sump. Hope it helps.

Yes it does help,

Thanks. I just want some idea of what the engine coolant operating temps are in that climate.
The coolant temps here are anywhere between 92 and 103C during the summer (though they are about 5C lower since fitting an external oil cooler with 1/2 litre capacity remote mounted filter).
I'd still like to get the car to run at a steady-ish 85-90C rergardless of outside air temps if I can as it's best for power (though not for emissions) so am considering a bigger radiator.

The sump-plate mod you're referring to was done by 'Drew Soulby. (He used to have the original HoldenLS1com.au site and had a lot of good tech-info there. It's closed down now).

Yours sounds like it's running fairly warm. I'm around 88-95C in these outside temps at present (22C-37C).
Fitting an engine oil cooler helps a lot. (Oil cooler adaptor and pipes from the 6.0 Litre truck LQ4/LQ9 Gen 3 V8 can be used along with a stand-alone cooler).
Knowing what the conditions are like in the UK I'd cut a hole in the bumper (as in M3 CSL) right in front of where the "snake" pipe is, for cold-air feed.

- Steve -

[comm_SS_V8]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll look in to it.

[raggyman]

Not sure where i saw it, might have been on justcommodores but a guy had a drainage pipe come from down the bottom up into the air intake. Apparently it improved things.

Well, I am back to normal operating temperatures I think, running at around 92-103 degrees. After a little scare the other day where I got a hot warning on the dash. There was water in the radiator overflow, but possibly not enough.