Coolant Temp reduced - easy method

Naus · 12-03-2012, 12:38 PM

So i've had my LNF sky for about 3 months now. It's always bothered me how hot the coolant temp is compared to my LNF cobalt.

So my Sky LNF ranges from (210-220 degrees) even during these cold months- while my cobalt LNF is (170-180 degrees) this is a huge difference for having the same engine. From what i've been reading 210-220 is fairly normal for a sky to be this hot.

This weekend i finally had some spare time, i seafoamed the sky (68k miles) with an unbelievable amount of smoke- it clouded up my entire neighborhood. After that i changed the plugs and put in new engine oil.

Rather than putting the plastic engine cover and felt pad back on the engine i left it off to have easier access to the plugs (cobalt LNF does not have this at all)

My new coolant temp ranges (195-205 degrees) i haven't seen my coolant go over 205 yet when it typically always does. It's my assumption that the engine cover acts as insulation and prevents engine heat from dissipating to the air which in turn creates extra stress on the coolant. It's either the engine cover, or the cleaner engine (from the seafoam) which is reducing my temperatures. My best guess is the engine cover which is great because it serves little purpose- if its making your engine run hotter only causing extra stress on the engine, why not remove it?

40rty · 12-03-2012, 12:43 PM

Agreed, I removed mine as well because I owned a Cobalt SS/TC and saw that they don't come with an engine cover so I took mine and how about that, engine runs cooler. Another small easy mod that further drops temps is opening up the fake vents on the sky. From that alone I saw a drop of 5*. Now I typically run from 188-203 at most.

SkyVue2 · 12-03-2012, 02:15 PM

By all means remove the plastic cover if you want.
Have had it off for about 4 years now with no ill effects.
Favorite engine temp seems to be 194*, fairly constant with that.

|V3nom| · 12-03-2012, 03:38 PM

sounds like you guys either live in a very hot place or somethings not quite right. i live in louisiana where its in the 70s today lol. so yeah it doesnt get very cold here compared to up north and ive never seen my temps get above 199 unless i go wot then i think it didnt go past 208. this is with the stock engine cover and stock everything else in place.

im hoping yall dont have any serious issues but like i said im completely stock with no heating issues.

**lllfly** · 12-03-2012, 05:33 PM

Engine cover on. NEVER over 198f.
OAT. 10- 105f never over 198f.
Is there air in the system?

LLLFLY

buzzardt · 12-03-2012, 05:45 PM

I have seen 208 but it was summer and 112 outside. It's 83 today.. Winter is coming. The engine cover is still on . But if you have gotten air in your system then it will get hotter.

MidniteBlues · 12-03-2012, 05:46 PM

Can I assume ya'll just talkin about the R/L?

GASNGO · 12-03-2012, 05:58 PM

08 RL, no engine cover, 194/197 is the norm.

Jerry

yolo

40rty · 12-03-2012, 06:28 PM

Looks much better without the engine cover. There is enough plastic BS in this car.

carnut122 · 12-03-2012, 08:45 PM

So, how much louder is it with the cover off?

Rob the Elder · 12-03-2012, 08:57 PM

The engine cover is for cosmetic and acoustic purposes

The normal temp is anywhere from 195 to 215. If you turn on the heater, it goes up 3 to 4 degrees

The max temp appears to be 260 at which time shutting down is a good idea

Fans on LS3s do not come on till 228

No two temp senders read identically. They are physical devices made by the low bidder. They are somewhere between 2 and 5 % accurate at a guess. They are also not linear in their response so at best they are a good indicator of what the temp probably was some seconds ago.

Mechanical wear is reduced at temps above 200 as are emissions. The cars are designed by the power train engineers to run at about 200

Running them at 180 is not in the direction of goodness in my opinion

Gordon shamway · 12-03-2012, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Engine cover on. NEVER over 198f.
OAT. 10- 105f never over 198f.
Is there air in the system?

LLLFLY

If all LFN have same problem, Probably, GM has offered the recall about the engine cover.
I guess your temp has another reason. Babble, thermostat etc.
Mine condition was same you but now mine keep 189-191 range after replace thermostat.
you should check inlet radiator hose when normal operation coolant temp.

09SkyGuy · 12-03-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob the Elder

If you turn on the heater, it goes up 3 to 4 degrees

YES!!! Why is that?! In every other (water cooled) car ever built, doesn't turning on the heat pull air through the heater core and subsequently alleviate pent up heat in the system, which REDUCES coolant temp.
How come ours gets HOTTER?

Rob the Elder · 12-03-2012, 11:55 PM

The only answer I have seen is the ECM turns up the heat to deliver more warm air to the convertible passengers

Ruination · 12-04-2012, 03:20 PM

Something doesn't seem right.. there shouldn't be THAT much heat dissipating from the top of the engine that the cover would make a big difference in coolant temps (as opposed to maybe oil?)

I was perplexed by the temps, even before my car started leaking.. After new water pump and thermostat I watched it a good while.. It likes 194-196 usually.. It very rarely ever peaks 200 compared to before at 204-210 in the same temps. They flushed the coolant and obviously removed air when it was getting all that done so I'm sure that has something to do with it.