I have a 95z 6 spd,when running down the highway ,temp is fine,180 or so,but in town i can watch the temp gauge climb.I have checked and water pump and thermo are fine and know leaks any where,it will puke fluid once in a while though ,there is no performance loss at all and no missing in the engine.any ideas ?...I do know the previous owner blew the head gaskets and oil did get in the anti freeze, they didnt change the over flow tank which is mixed heavily with oil,looks as if they did change rad though,could rad be blocked internally?

 

Your engine should run closer to 210 when it hits NOT. If it is not hitting 210ish then you are not getting the best performance you can be getting. If your temp gauge runs over 210 then you may have an issue.

Massey

 

do you still have the air deflector that pushes air to the radiator?

 

The LT1 does run on the warm side. Mine runs like yours. On the highway a little above the first line on the gauge. Stop and go, it goes to a shade over 200. Your aux fan should kick on then and keep it just over 200. If the coolant if full, fans work and you are out of the red, you are good. If you have old oil in the coolant, flush it out good and put fresh coolant in it. You are like me. My Jeep Grand Cherokee never gets close to the half way point on the temp gauge.

 

best thing to do is get 160 degree thermostat...like $20. This is super easy to install yourself. Also, get a programmer, manual fan switch, or custom tune to turn your fans on as well. (manual fan switch is the cheapest solution, but not automatic like a tune or programmer).

this will make your thermostat open at 160 degrees, not 200, and your fans will kick on sooner to keep you engine cool.

this will be the difference of about 25 degrees...which will give you more power too.

My car typically will not run hotter than about 170 degrees. stock it would run between 190-215.

 

my book calls for a 180 thermostat for a 93 lt1. i run between 180 and 200. never see it go past the center mark. make sure the fans are coming on. flush the radiator, motor and heater core and change the thermostat. could also pull the steam line return hose at the radiator and make sure your getting flow threw it.