My 6.0 LS swap runs 210-215 degrees at highway speed despite an upgraded radiator and electric fan. How do I get the cooling temps down?
Running hot at highway speed (rather than in traffic) suggests the fan isn't the main problem — moving air is doing most of the work at speed.
Where Speedway says to look next:
- The tune: a lean air/fuel mixture makes cylinders run hotter, and ignition timing that's too far advanced or too retarded also adds heat. Speedway notes improper timing or air/fuel can make an engine run hot even with a properly sized cooling system.
- Water pump: a worn or low-flow pump may not move enough coolant for the power.
- Air in the system: make sure the steam line is plumbed and the system is purged.
- Airflow path at speed: a shroud can restrict ram air at speed — performance shrouds use bypass flaps that open at speed for this reason. Also check that air is actually getting to the radiator (openings, fins, debris).
- Radiator capacity: more rows help with real power, but add thickness and restriction.
Confidence: medium — sources disagree or are limited; check the sources below.
Community discussion
Related questions
- Best LS swap radiator
- LS steam vent: do I need it?
- My LS is overheating — what should I check first?
- Can I cool an LS swap with a stock-style radiator instead of an expensive LS conversion radiator?
- How should electric fans be wired with a Terminator X / LS swap ECU?
- What hose sizes and routing tips simplify LS radiator plumbing?
Sources
- Does a Fan Shroud Make a Difference? — Speedway Motors
- Mythbusting: 1 Row vs 2 Row vs 3 Row Radiator Cores Explained — Speedway Motors
- Fix An Overheating Race Engine | Beyond The Cooling System — Speedway Motors