Topic: Coolant temp ?

[tazz]

Here's the scoop my cars coolant has always run 193-199 90% of the time when the ambient temp is below 100* and Above 100* ambient temp the coolant temp usually runs 203-208.  After the body shop had to replace my AC condenser and Radiator  due to a truck backing into the front end of my car the coolant will slowly creep up to the 203-208 range and it's below 100* ambient outside temp and going 75mph will hit 216* and it was 93* outside the other day.  While this is still within operating temp specs what can I do to get my car to run in the 193-199 range again?  My thinking is that they may have done a mix different than a 50/50 like a 40/60 or 70/30 but not sure and they can't tell me exactly what mixture they put in.  Am i correct that from the factory it comes with a 50/ 50 mix?   Also which mix ACTUALLY WICKS the heat from the radiator better a 40/60 50/50  or 70/30?  Im not asking which will protect to a lower Freeze or Boiling point BUT which WILL ACTUALLY COOL MY ENGINE MORE EFFECTIVELY AS BEFORE?
Thanks

[GXP Jim]

Sounds like your thermostat could be sticking to me. Thats what mine did before I replaced it.

[RedLine Ronnie]

Are you sure that your fan is working properly? Also, I wonder if you have air in the system. This is a big problem with our systems.
You may need to bleed the system.

[tazz]

Had my T-stat replaced 6 mos ago and yes the fan is working properly. 
If it was air would it have worked out by now 2 1/2 mos?
Of course GM won't do a damn thing since it's still within specs and will not do anything until it sets a CEL.  The tech and Shop MGR both said really you want the car to run 215-220 for optimum economy and really were that engine should run NOT 193-199.  I said I like to run cooler for performance reasons and protection against knock.  They said the ECM will pull timing to prevent and I said I know but that will decrease preformance.  Said not much we can do at this point.

[crisco]

Since I picked my GXP up a couple of weeks ago my temps have been running between 198-210 it avg. out around 203 or so...I have been driving it every day. In traffic or while driving...the temps have the same.Does this sound right? Just wondering.

[tazz]

The system for some reason is NOT as efficient as it was before but I'm not sure why?  Since the radiator was replaced with a oem stock radiator I don't see it being the issue and why I suspect it's the coolant to water ratio.  If I remember correctly water actually has the ability to disperse heat quicker than a coolant water mix BUT the coolant lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point thus protecting your vehicle better than water alone.  With this thinking  is it possible that they used a 70/30 instead of a 50/50 mix and that difference in mix ratio is what is causing the cooling efficiency change?

[Critterman]

Burp it first, run it some more and see if that takes care of the issue.  Burping procedures are here on the board.

[snaponbob]

Tazz, too much anti-freeze is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, anti-freeze is a lousy conductor of heat, and expands when hot. Want to kill a water pump? Run 100% antifreeze. Poof.

If you do not have air in the system, you are right to suspect the coolant. Go to a parts store and buy a hydrometer. Test the coolant yourself. IIRC, a proper 50/50 should be good for about 30-35 degrees below zero. If it comes in around 0-10 degrees below zero, dump a couple quarts of coolant and add water, run the car for a bit, and check it again. If the fan was inop, you would have a CEL the first time the engine got to 210-220. (Been there, seen that.)

[elff]

My normal operating temp is 194 F.
When I thrash it, it will go up to 199, but rebounds quickly to 194.  I can't ever recall seeing it break 200 F.

Be careful adding water to the Dex Cool.  Some people have run into sludge issues if the water is not distilled.

[Sol Asylum]

Actually Elff might be on to something, is the coolant Dex cool or traditional antifreeze?  I have seen where changing from one to the other has resulted in different operating temps.

[timlange3]

Tazz, mine too use to be 197-199 all the time, hot or cold outside.  I had the system flushed this January and hit 218 a couple times.  I did the burp process and got some air out, lowered the lever in the tank by 1/4".  I still run 191-208, so I think I still have air although I did try to burp it a couple weeks ago with no change.

[crisco]

So what should the normal temp be?

[tazz]

Tazz, too much anti-freeze is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, anti-freeze is a lousy conductor of heat, and expands when hot. Want to kill a water pump? Run 100% antifreeze. Poof.

If you do not have air in the system, you are right to suspect the coolant. Go to a parts store and buy a hydrometer. Test the coolant yourself. IIRC, a proper 50/50 should be good for about 30-35 degrees below zero. If it comes in around 0-10 degrees below zero, dump a couple quarts of coolant and add water, run the car for a bit, and check it again. If the fan was inop, you would have a CEL the first time the engine got to 210-220. (Been there, seen that.)

Yup It's higher than 50/50 and probably closer to 70/30 but it's hard to say since the it maxed out the Prestone gauge.

[Carbon Sky]

Yup It's higher than 50/50 and probably closer to 70/30 but it's hard to say since the it maxed out the Prestone gauge.

Interesting.  I used to have a few close buddies that are now professional auto mechanics.  And they've told me that at times, when doing a coolant change, they only use unmixed, and standard procedure is to premix with distilled before pouring in.  But when no convenient container was available to premix, they will pour in an entire bottle gallon/4L ish, and then top up with distilled, and more often than not, was less than the coolant itself, somewhere around 4L of coolant to 3L of water.  They figured better to err towards a little more coolant to guarantee anti-freeze ratings.  But this is in Toronto.  Perhaps they tend to err towards a little more water in warmer climes when freezing conditions are rare at best.

[snaponbob]

" maxed out the Prestone gauge."

Please explain that? Did you buy a Prestone brand hyrdometer? What reading did you get?

[tazz]

Yes it was a prestone coolant gauge and the floater was past the max of 263 temp for 15psi cap.

[snaponbob]

tazz, look at the freeze level. It should be 30-40 degrees below zero.

[tazz]

The gauge has freeze point on one side and boiling point on the other side.
Still shows past the area for measurement so the concentration of coolant to water is higher than it should be.
The dealer service dept is like you might be on to something there???  I know what are you going to do about it......Nothing it's OK you can never have too much coolant vs water it protects better.   Really??? I guess that's why your service deptmants SUCKS I had to diagnose the issue and now you say there is not a problem.

[Carbon Sky]

The gauge has freeze point on one side and boiling point on the other side.
Still shows past the area for measurement so the concentration of coolant to water is higher than it should be.
The dealer service dept is like you might be on to something there???  I know what are you going to do about it......Nothing it's OK you can never have too much coolant vs water it protects better.   Really??? I guess that's why your service deptmants SUCKS I had to diagnose the issue and now you say there is not a problem.

Like I said, it's standard operation it seems.  They always err on the side of heavy on the coolant.  Seems like your dealership is particularly lazy.  Honestly, this is partially why only I work on my car.  But if you still want to deal with the dealership, I suggest you escalate your issue with GM customer service.  Been there, done that . . . suddenly everything will be different at the dealership . . . trust me. 

[tazz]

Is the Petcock on the passenger side radiator?

[cbr6]

anyone have their gxp do this? Coolant goes to 203-208 f when I run heater at full hot and blower on high. Any other time temp is 190-196f. thanks

[tazz]

Been there, done that . . . suddenly everything will be different at the dealership . . . trust me. 

Not at this Dealership they really don't give a Rats Ass but next dealer is 60 miles from me. 
Last time had a Service writer tell me I had too much time on my hands and I had no idea what I was talking about when I asked him if GM has a fix for the squeaky sway bar bushings when cold and showed him a easy fix from this site.   Funny the work order says Replace front sway bar bushing per GM bulletin so I must have been right.  I  called GM CS and a area supervisor called and I said I would like an Apology from the Service writer and she said that can be arranged not a problem.   The Service writer did a follow up call but Never offered an Apology until I Said where's my Apology? for telling me I had too much time on my hands and I had no idea what I was talking about the sway bar bushing.  I don't know anything about an Apology never mentioned it to me but Sorry if you took it the wrong way and then did at that point offer an Apology.

[tazz]

anyone have their gxp do this? Coolant goes to 203-208 f when I run heater at full hot and blower on high. Any other time temp is 190-196f. thanks

Yes Mine does the same and Ive alway found that strange.

[snaponbob]

anyone have their gxp do this? Coolant goes to 203-208 f when I run heater at full hot and blower on high. Any other time temp is 190-196f. thanks

I have noticed bigger fluctuations when the heater is on. Never worried about it.

[tazz]

Drained and added about 1/2 Gallon of distilled water and everything seems to be running normal temps and the gauge reads correctly now at -34/265F* which is 50/50.