Jimbo3087

Well, i'll start off my saying that my car is a 84 with no mods what so ever.. I was in traffic today and noticed that my coolant temp was 283F and the little red bar was lit up. The oil was up to about 280, when I started to drive the coolant went back down to 243-247.. Is this normal? There wasnt any smoke or anything.. Thanks for your help...

pappy.72

Is your water pump working anymore or is your thermostat blocked? Those temps are way too high. You are looking at damaging something at those levels.

BADDUCK

Do not drive it at those temps .....period.

Jimbo3087

Is there a easy way of testing the water pump?

bolowbc

Also be sure to replace hoses. I blew a head gasket not because of a water pump failure, but because one of the hoses got plugged up!

383vett

Is your fan running when the motor is hot. Water pumps usually don't just stop working. They will leak but the impellers don't fall off. Could be a fan issue.

Jimbo3087

Thanks guys for your help.. After refilling the radiator and running the motor with close observation, I found that the radiator had back pressure draining into the reservior tank... Changed the thermostat and poof Magic... The car is running at a steady 235F... I appreciate the help anyways....

wro87

I hope that the thermostat you used had the extra hole in it just incase it should ever fail again. Some of the stats you buy do not come with it. Infact that last stat we just put in our c3 did not come with the by pass hole so we drilled one in to be on the safe side.

Good Luck and many more years/miles of motoring wro87

Jimbo3087

I don't know if it had a hole but i was confused with the degree rating... I pulled the one off my car and it said 195 on the bottom... But they asked if I wanted the 160 or 195.. I got the 195 hoping it was the right one...

Pwnage1337

195 is stock temperature

CAJUN C4

Sounds like a Fan Problem. Bad Relay or Temp. Switch.84's fan is not controlled by the ECM. It has a contact closure switch located on the right bank cyl. head by #6 Plug.

Jimbo3087

No my fan runs just fine.. It was just the thermo... That would be the only reasonable reason as to the coolant back flowing from the radiator.. Which cause the motor to over heat and then cool down... Seemed like everytime I stopped the car would heat up fast.. Hints the thermo getting stuck.. Thanks for everyones input. You guys have saved my @$$ numerous times... This Vette sure isn't my pick-em-truck