VE SS Getting Hot

[HOLDAN]

I have a 2006 VESS A6 with a 406 stroker and makes 540rwhp.

Recently, I was replacing the water pump and decided to go electric. Since then, and in no way connected to the water pump replacement, I had to replace the radiator thermo fans and motors and the radiator.

Last week, I was towing my ski boat and on the open road it was fine, water temp sitting around 95 degrees. However, when going through towns, she started heating up to over 100. And when I was backing it into the shed at home, it hit 118.

Prior to the water pump change, it has never gone over 100 degrees no matter what I was doing.

Do you think the electric water pump is letting me down or could it be something else.

[IJ.]

EWP's aren't that great at being the only pump in a system, they can work well as a booster but I'd never use one standalone.

Having said that the 95/100 range sounds about right if you have a factory thermostat in it, my 402 runs around those temps with all the additional coolers in front of the radiator.

118c is time to panic though....

[Xterminat]

Hi there,

My brother had a similar problem with his HSV. He ended up putting multiple fans behind the radiator and it normalised the temperature. He actually changed the plastic ones for metal fans and they were bigger in size. I couldn't give you the exact sizes but I can find out if that would be of any assistance.

Cheers Mark

[HOLDAN]

EWP's aren't that great at being the only pump in a system, they can work well as a booster but I'd never use one standalone.

Having said that the 95/100 range sounds about right if you have a factory thermostat in it, my 402 runs around those temps with all the additional coolers in front of the radiator.

118c is time to panic though....

Not sure about the thermostat. Would changing it improve (lower) the operating temps?

Don't worry, I was panicking when she hit 118. Lucky I was just reversing the boat into the shed.

Mmmm - so should I go back to the mechanical pump?

[IJ.]

Not sure about the thermostat. Would changing it improve (lower) the operating temps?

Don't worry, I was panicking when she hit 118. Lucky I was just reversing the boat into the shed.

Mmmm - so should I go back to the mechanical pump?

I would and then if you have room run something like a DC EWP as a Booster to fill in any holes, The T Stat change just seems to delay any issues, as I said mine seems to find an equilibrium of 95ish cruise and 100 in traffic, I tried a lower T Stat and all it did was take longer to hit it's happy place.

If you had a lot of overhead in the cooling system a lower T Stat would allow it to run cooler but in my VZ that just isn't the case.

Being a bit old school I totally freaked out the first time I drove this thing in traffic and it went above 100c

[macca_779]

Yet more evidence electric water pumps are not that great

[IJ.]

Yet more evidence electric water pumps are not that great

Only ever used them as Boosters Macca, just to cover the lack of flow at idle and cavitation at high rpm, I think the MBTF is very low, far too short a life to rely on one for daily use, be interesting to see how much more current Dan's is pulling now it's slowing down..

[HOLDAN]

I would and then if you have room run something like a DC EWP as a Booster to fill in any holes, The T Stat change just seems to delay any issues, as I said mine seems to find an equilibrium of 95ish cruise and 100 in traffic, I tried a lower T Stat and all it did was take longer to hit it's happy place.

If you had a lot of overhead in the cooling system a lower T Stat would allow it to run cooler but in my VZ that just isn't the case.

Being a bit old school I totally freaked out the first time I drove this thing in traffic and it went above 100c

Pardon my ignorance but what is "overhead in the cooling system"?

Would an OEM replacement water pump suffice, or should I get something with more flow etc?

[IJ.]

Pardon my ignorance but what is "overhead in the cooling system"?

Would an OEM replacement water pump suffice, or should I get something with more flow etc?

"Overhead" as in a HUGE high efficiency radiator that can easily cope with the heat your engine is producing, i.e. running a 6 cyl engine with a V8 cooling system in the old days

Don't really know of anyone making a "better" mechanical pump but have read lots of horror stories about non genuine ones..

<edit> Quick search shows Edelbrock make one they claim is 12% better flow at low rpm..

[HOLDAN]

"Overhead" as in a HUGE high efficiency radiator that can easily cope with the heat your engine is producing, i.e. running a 6 cyl engine with a V8 cooling system in the old days

Don't really know of anyone making a "better" mechanical pump but have read lots of horror stories about non genuine ones..

<edit> Quick search shows Edelbrock make one they claim is 12% better flow at low rpm..

OK that makes sense. I just put a new radiator in it. Asked if I needed a bigger one and the consensus was no. I never had any problems at all until the change to electric. We put another camshaft in at the same time and made another 70rwhp. Not sure if that's what pushed it beyond the oem limits.
Stewart make one too:
http://www.stewartcomponents.net/Mer...y_Code=ChevyS4

[IJ.]

Not seeing an LS one's on Stewarts page??

[HOLDAN]

Not seeing an LS one's on Stewarts page??

Oh OK - I din't look that closely.

[IJ.]

Oh OK - I din't look that closely.

LOL so you can have an Edelbrock one or an.. Edelbrock one

Getting a little pricey once you add in a Pulley for it, VPW stock them.

If anyone else knows of alternatives please jump in as it's something I'd like to address as well.

[HOLDAN]

LOL so you can have an Edelbrock one or an.. Edelbrock one

Getting a little pricey once you add in a Pulley for it, VPW stock them.

If anyone else knows of alternatives please jump in as it's something I'd like to address as well.

Yes indeed - Edelbrock it is.

I was talking with my mechanic last night. He said my issue sounds like a thermofan issue. I had a fan replaced recently by Holden - it could be spinning the opposite direction. I will check that when I get home next Monday.

[IJ.]

Yes indeed - Edelbrock it is.

I was talking with my mechanic last night. He said my issue sounds like a thermofan issue. I had a fan replaced recently by Holden - it could be spinning the opposite direction. I will check that when I get home next Monday.

I'd imagine a Holden supplied Fan would have the correct connector on it and just plug in... if not it's an easy fix