Over heating Problem

[cizin]

95 Lumina w/ 3100

 

I am having an overheating problem that I can't figure out. I changed my thermostat to a 180* about two weeks ago. The car according to the temp gauge has been reading low and in the FL heat the a/c has been pushing colder air. Today I drove for about an hour on the highway at about 75-80mph. When I got off the highway, the gauge went all the way into the red. The car never felt like it was running hot. When I turned the heat on the temp went down pretty fast. Fluid was changed when I changed the thermostat and was filled properly with no air in the system. I just can't figure out what is going on and how to fix it. Any ideas where to start?

 

Thanks,

C i Z i N

[GP1138]

Did you bleed the system properly? I know these cars have a knack for overheating and raising hell if there's one bit of air in the system.

 

When you got off the highway, were you sitting for awhile?

[Robby1870]

are your fans turning on?

[CuttySup]

Water pump going bad? How many miles? Newer water pump?

[cizin]

OK, as soon as I got off the highway, twice (once going and then coming), I sat at a light and watched the needed go all the way to the red marked 260. I just went out to the car and looked it over and noticed that the coolent resovour was low. Well lower than it was before. I don't think, or hope no, it is the lower intake gasket since that was changed right before I bought the car by my dad's dealership. Where do you think the fluid went or is it possible it just boiled away.

 

I will try to rebleed the system tomorrow after work to make sure.

 

The second fan is not turning on with it just idling in the parking lot. Not sure if I have ever seen that one turn on but I will check to make sure that even works. Is the best way to do this is temporaily wire it to the battery?

 

Water pump... hmm we it is the 3rd one on the car I know that. I would have to look through the mound of paperwork my dad gave me to see how long that one has been on. This brings me to another question, should the hoses be hard when the car is on becasue of the pressure in the system. When the car was hot as hell, I could compress them pretty easy.

 

Thanks for all your help guys.

[Dannymik]

looks like there was air in the system which takes a little time to work itself out. Usually if Valvoline flushes your coolant they tell you to drive the car for a few days and then bring it back to be topped off! Either thats the case or your leaking somewhere within the system...ydo ou smell coolant anywhere?

[cizin]

nope don't smell any coolant... hmmm well I will rebleed tomorrow. I just hate spraying perfectly good coolant all over the ground. Not like you can catch it or anything.

[Dannymik]

hey, at least its cheap and might cure your dilema!

[DaveFromColorado]

how exactly are you bleeding the coolant in your car anyhow?

 

with the T-stat, a recomendation I usually make to EVERYONE changing a T-stat is to drill a 1/8" hole in the thermostat itself and put that hole towards the top of the t-stat housing, this will allow air to pass through so the unit is able to properly function durring the bleeding procedure.

 

--Dave.

[cizin]

As per my manual, using the bleed valves...

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Theres 2 bleed valves that I know of on a 3100

 

one is on the metal t-stat housing (follow the upper rad hose to the engine, theres a screw)

 

The other is a waterpump bleed screw, located above the waterpump

[CuttySup]

Coolant doesn't leak anywhere? :?

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Coolant doesn't leak anywhere? :?

 

Yeah

 

If any sprays out it's such a small amount you can catch it with a rag...