Will cooling be an issue?

[AirdaleC7]

I'm not very familiar with mid-engine cars, but I am concerned about cooling being an issue with the C8. My C7 gets very warm sitting in traffic -- in fact the "Transmission Overheat" warning light has come on twice whilst bumper to bumper on I-95 for an hour or so. (Both times the dealer's tech couldn't find any issues). I know Chevy offers extra colling with the Z51 package, but that may be above my budget. Anyway, I'm hoping one of you all who knows a thing or two can help educate me.

[Milliwatt Rob]

No one here can offer any real world experience, as nobody has taken delivery of a car. But you are correct that one of the advantages of Z51 is more robust cooling.

it is concerns like yours that are among the many reasons why I am not an early adapter, and prefer to wait and hear the reports of those among the first wave of new owners.

[John]

Like very OEM, GM has known for many years that cooling a ME is more difficult than an FE. They have tested the hell out of the C8 for specifically that parameter, and running several cars at Nurburgring roughly a month ago in +100 degree temperatures was one more excellent test — as is their “secret” facility in Yuma, AZ where they routinely test under even hotter temps.

GM changed the Corvette design parameters from 86 degree ambient to 100 degrees starting with the C7 ZR1.

Personally, I have no concerns.

[Fasttoys]

I have owned many ME from different brands, my Lotus Evora S would get hot and my friend tracked his hard and never had an issue. My R8 gauge never moved from the middle I thought it was broken & I live in hot Texas.

My thoughts, I am happy the engine is N/A motor and not supercharged or turbo which will create more heat. The good news with the engine behind you, you just don’t feel the heat in the cabin or by the center tunnel like you do in a FE car. The exhaust and headers will be very close to the motor, I am sure they have done extreme heat testing of the system. The reason the C8 has large side vents is for cooling, I think the Z versions will be larger but the car won’t be much wider than the Z51 base car, just not needed in a ME architecture.

[electroVette]

GM changed the Corvette design parameters from 86 degree ambient to 100 degrees starting with the C7 ZR1.

Thanks, good info. That should avoid another ZO6 limp mode debacle.

[gthal]

After the C7, I can't imagine GM doesn't get cooling under control in the C8. They tested the cars, knew the ME cooling issues and I'm confident have addressed it. However, only time will truly tell...

[Phil1098]

I did read that the big vents down both sides of the rear window is to vent heat while the car is at a standstill with little to no airflow moving through it. The fact that you have had overheating issues in the past, I too would have concern, but they can't afford to lay an egg with this car, I'm betting it will be fine.

[AirdaleC7]

Thank you all for your insights. I have been feeling like Chevrolet's engineers have addressed the problem and designed around it, but everyone's comments are much appreciated. Onward and upward...

[Milliwatt Rob]

I have owned many ME from different brands, my Lotus Evora S would get hot and my friend tracked his hard and never had an issue. My R8 gauge never moved from the middle I thought it was broken & I live in hot Texas.

I had a 2009 Volkswagen where the temperature gauge always pointed at the middle, and once the engine was warmed, never moved. But I had a Scangauge II plugged into the OBD and could read the water temperature separately on a digital gauge. I found that the VW analog gauge was programmed with an enormous dead zone. It pointed at the middle when the digital gauge was reading anywhere from 160F to 225F. It was a "feel good gauge", not a precise instrument.

[meyerweb]

I had a 2009 Volkswagen where the temperature gauge always pointed at the middle, and once the engine was warmed, never moved. But I had a Scangauge II plugged into the OBD and could read the water temperature separately on a digital gauge. I found that the VW analog gauge was programmed with an enormous dead zone. It pointed at the middle when the digital gauge was reading anywhere from 160F to 225F. It was a "feel good gauge", not a precise instrument.

That's true of a lot of modern cars. The gauge shows the engine "warmed up" long before it really is, and then just sits there unless the engine is overheating. Fortunately, the Corvette has always shown meaningful temp data.

[Klinn]

It was a "feel good gauge", not a precise instrument.

I've got the same thing in my FR-S. It's effectively an idiot light in the shape of a gauge.

[Phil1098]

I've got the same thing in my FR-S. It's effectively an idiot light in the shape of a gauge.

I think mine is worse, I think the oil pressure gauge is like this in my Mustang.

[WillRockwell]

GM had some ME experience in the 80's. The Fiero GT had a 3.8 liter V6 behind the driver. I owned one, and despite other issues, it never overheated.

[Phil1098]

Just one other thought that may help is the amount of coolant in the hoses/lines from the front radiators all the way back to the engine. No easy way to calculate it, but I suspect 7-8 feet worth of multiple hoses could add a fair amount of coolant volume to the system. Just a thought.