Question I did an engine swap from a 5.3 to a 6.0 chevy engine and noticed my engine runs hotter under the hood but keeps at normal operating temp

Pradz Kindmeadows

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Mar 21, 2016
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Check your thermostat on your 6.0L if its hotter unit also I think you'll be needing a bigger radiator and bigger electric fan since your just swapping the engine but not the components which are from the 5.3L unit. Since your fitting a bigger(displacement) engine better relocate the batters and others away from the engine bay w/c also free up some space w/c will help bleed hot air. Also add an oil cooler with the right the thermostat.
 

mihen

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Oct 11, 2017
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Operating tempt is different than ambient temp. Your thermostat will keep your coolant at 195F. If its running cold it will close until the operating temp is higher. With a larger engine it will displace more heat to ambient air. Still I would do what other people said, look for a wiring short.
 

jwcrellin

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You could add an electric fan to the front of your radiator, that would drop the coolant temps a bit. But as others mentioned, smoking battery means electrical problems not so much engine heat.

There is a mod that ppl with big stereos do called the big 3 upgrade. Basically beefing up the starter, ground and alternator wires to 4AWG.
 

mymutter

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Dec 23, 2014
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You could add an electric fan to the front of your radiator, that would drop the coolant temps a bit. But as others mentioned, smoking battery means electrical problems not so much engine heat.

There is a mod that ppl with big stereos do called the big 3 upgrade. Basically beefing up the starter, ground and alternator wires to 4AWG.

The big 3 has nothing to do with a wire to the starter and it will do nothing for the OP. (and for clarification, it's 4AWG or larger (usually 1/0) from the Battery ground to Chassis, Chassis to engine block, and + off the Alternator to the battery + wire.

He has an electrical short. The difference in heat output between a 5.3 and 6.0 is negligible. Physically, they are the same size. If the battery is smoking, he has a short. Check the motor mounts as stated above.