Is my car running too cool?

86Five-0

Member
May 6, 2003
806
0
16
New Jersey
Last week after drivin home from class I popped the hood and checked the radiator cap. I got a Stant cap(16lbs) with the pressure relief lever. I lifted the lever and noticed no pressure escaping. I removed the cap and dipped my finger in the coolant and it was just lukewarm, not Hot like I expected it to be. Is this normal, I mean it has been very cold out the past few weeks and as far as my cooling system, 1yr old coolant, I got a 180 tstat(less than a yr old) and a Flex fan, the radiator is in good shape and looks like it's been replaced somewhere down the road by previous owner. The car warms up fine and the temp gauge seems to stay below halfway mark(pos stocker gauge). I'm worried about the cap not seeming to release pressure, could it be shot?
 
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Mine is basically the same, but with an electric fan. Tstat is 180* and stock replacement radiator. Recently, while driving over the sierra's in a snow storm on the way to Reno, it wouldn't get hot enough for the heater to be effective. Living in CA, I can live with it because it's normally fairly warm in the winter, with hot summers.

I would suggest going back to the stock 195* tstat (190*-195* is a debate in itself, so I won't go there). The tstat is designed into the system to maintain the engine temp, so it shouldn't open before that temp is reached, and it won't close until cooler. But in very cold weather the radiator can cool to the point that the tstat rarely opens, or the engine just never gets hot enough to open the stat. The stock tstat should not be a problem in summer if the cooling system is in good shape, with everything operating normally.
 
I would agree with that pro50sc if in stop and go traffic, but at normal speeds the flex fan blades are flat and don't blow much air at all. The stock 5.0 clutch fan is one of the best ever designed, and if in proper condition, will flow with of the best electrics and blow away flex fans. Most of us go to electric or flex fans as a weight saving effort, as the stocker weighs in the neighborhood of 12lbs.
 
I got the flex fan because my fan clutch went south and I was on a slim budget. The flex fan definately pulls alot of air especially between idle-2000rpms which is usually where I'm cruising at. Like I said, the only thing bad about it is it's a bit noisy, especially after I ditched my offroad hpipe and flowmasters for the stock h and "turbo" mufflers that came on the car. I kept the stock fan blade just in case and it's in good shape. How much would a heavy duty fan clutch run me? Mind you my car has A/C if that matters. And would any local parts store piece get the job done?
 
You're moving plenty of air with the flex fan, but if you want to swap back to the stock fan do a google search on "Performance Parts, Inc.". They sell a "special service" fan clutch that came standard on the police-package 5.0's. Sorry, not familiar with the price. They are supposedly alot more durable than the stock replacement. I would try going back to the stock tstat first.