LS engine and radiator fans

[Aruba1]

Hello,

I have a 2001 5.3L engine in my truck and a 180 degree thermostat. The truck has two radiator fans and the wiring is setup for air conditioning although I have not installed the a/c yet. The car's radiator Fan 1 won't kick it until the temperature hit 200 degrees (give or take) and since I will be towing a lot, this is nerve wrecking. Is there any way that I can use a manual switch on Fan 2 to turn it on as I please? What is the best way to do this? Thanks

[BR3W CITY]

If you really just want a manual switch, then run the fan 2 lead to a switch in the cab. Otherwise, you can just have the temp limits changed in the tune and engage the primary fan earlier and/or engage the 2nd fan. Fan control 2 doesn't HAVE to be used for the A/C.

[mongocanfly]

My ecm was originally setup for only one fan so I had to have num 2 fan added to it but they set my first fan to come on at 150 and 2nd fan comes on at 170 and i have a 160 thermostat....it will run all day at 160- 170..towing , hot weather, etc..

[Aruba1]

Mongo, what part of alabama are you in? If you are around BHM, who did the tuning?

[BR3W CITY]

Keeping cooling is important, but keep in mind guys that you can actually keep a motor too cool. LS motors are designed to be run hot, hotter than normal for traditional small blocks. While not doing any damage, you aren't gaining anything in terms of performance or engine safety by doing so.

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Keeping cooling is important, but keep in mind guys that you can actually keep a motor too cool. LS motors are designed to be run hot, hotter than normal for traditional small blocks. While not doing any damage, you aren't gaining anything in terms of performance or engine safety by doing so.

Agree....I run 2 -14" fans, with Painless controls . The stat is a 195, the controls wax on @ 205, wax off @ 195. Both fans kick together, & the mill don't ever see over 205 on temps? You don't want to run too cool, on temps....he!!, my 02 Silverado , runs 195-205 on temps longhorn

[homemade87]

Originally Posted by Aruba1

Mongo, what part of alabama are you in? If you are around BHM, who did the tuning?

Aruba , We take ower stuff to a dyno and a tuner at hwy 11 and south Chalkville rd behind the BBQ place in Trussville . Pm me if you want more details .

[Aruba1]

Yeah, thanks all. I would like to see it run between 180-195 and my danger zone being 200 and above. I know some people have reported their LS based engine to run over 220 and being fine but I am somewhat old school, gauge goes over 200 and I am pulling over, lol. Homemade, PM in the works!

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Aruba1

Yeah, thanks all. I would like to see it run between 180-195 and my danger zone being 200 and above. I know some people have reported their LS based engine to run over 220 and being fine but I am somewhat old school, gauge goes over 200 and I am pulling over, lol. Homemade, PM in the works!

The fans in my 2014 Camaro SS (LS3) do not even come on until around 212. The LS engines are designed to run hotter. Making them run to cool will hurt your fuel mileage and it's not good on the engine. Just my $.02.

[mongocanfly]

Aruba1..I am north of cullman, about 60 miles north of you up i65..the guy I got the engine from unlocked the ecm ,and why i dont know but he put a 4.8 tune in it,but the final tune was done by a guy near huntsville and he put the correct tune in it for a 6.0.there are several guys around here local that do ecm tunes now.
As far as how cool mine runs I pulled what I assume is the factory thermo 1. To fill the block with antifreeze 2.to see what temp it was before I ever cranked it and it had a 160 in it..I don't know if it makes a difference but my 6.0 engine came from a escalade with 107000 miles on it so i dont think its been changed,so I left it as it was..i did put a new one in it while i had it out but stayed with the 160..at the parts store they showed a 160 and a 180 for my engine..and its a might warmer here in Alabama summertime than up north so I didn't think it would hurt for it to run cooler.

[Andy4639]

I just got home from looking at new 2015 Silverado's. I've been thinking about trading my 08 Tahoe in on one. My 08 Tahoe is factory stock LTZ nothing has been touched on it with a 5.3 and it runs 210 all day everyday weather I'm towing are just cruising!
Running these motor's at 165 are anything less than 190 is hurting you on MPG!
These motor need to run with in the parameters they where designed for which is 210. As long as you keep the trans temp below 200 you are good to go.
I wouldn't want mine running any less than 190.
Just some info on the new 5.3 that I looked at. They all had electric steering and the water outlets are on the drivers side now so a swap will be much easier as far as hoses. The intakes are car types now also!