Hey guys..

So lately I’ve noticed my car running a tad hotter than usual.. It would generally float in the 190 area at running temp. But as of lately, it runs around 190 while driving, but sometimes climbs past 210 if sitting for a little while. It hasn’t been particularly hot lately, and I rarely ever even use the AC. Is this a basic thing I should just get looked at, or is there a simple thing I can look at myself? I’ve never really dealt with cooling before aside from changing a thermostat on my old Accord. lol.

Thanks!!

 

ive been having similair problems ever since i changed my spark plugs run around like you said 190 but with my ac on and with it off running around will be 194+ sometimes 210 or 220+ if im driving slow but if i kick the ac on it drops down. idk what the cause is and was gonna make a thread but you beat me to it

 

Not a problem.

LE5 and L61 will get up to 220, 225 all the time, it is normal.

LSJ rarely gets that high, usually no higher than 195ish

LNF stays right around 200

W/e you do people with with VVT(LE5 LNF) do NOT PUT IN A COLDER T-STAT

Coolant needs to get up to about 185 before camphasing takes effect.

 

Um my LSJ gets up to 220 sometimes where did you get that info at ?

 

Really?



We have had a few threads and usually the LSJ guys say their car runs really cool.

They have a 180 t-stat in them as opposed to the 195 in all the others.

Hmph...spiffy, learn something new everyday

 

i am not saying your wrong just saying that mine gets that hot

 

My LSJ runs 180-182ish as long as I'm moving. But it did bump up a degree or two after my first oil change. I remember it running a steady 180 for the first couple thousand miles.

 

Mine runs at about 180 and if im at a dead stop for a few minutes i see 200-215

 

This is why some manufacturers (*cough* Ford *cough*) put nearly-useless temp gauges in their cars; the gauge has a numb dead zone that points exactly at the middle of the range as long as the temp is anywhere in the expected operating range of the vehicle. They got tired of people coming for service (or warranty claims) every time there was a tiny fluctuation in the gauge.

Your car is normal. Its summer, and its going to get hot if you're in traffic or making a lot of stops. Get out on the highway and it'll go back down.

 

Two good and true points

 

Coolio. Just wanted to make sure! Thanks!

Also, is a tranny cooler a good idea for my car? I do alot of city driving and there''s lot's of hills around us, so the tranny gets used alot..

 

Normal coolant temp range for the LSJ moving is between 180 - 190.

Normal coolant temp range for the 2.2 and 2.4 while moving is about 190+.

You have to remember that when the outside tempurature goes up that your coolant tempurature is going to go up a little bit as well.

It is normal for all cobalts to hit up to 230 degrees when idling. The fans don't kick on low speed until 223 degrees and don't kick onto high speed until 230 degrees. The reason the car stays around 190 with A/C on is that the fans kick on when the A/C is on based upon how much pressure the A/C system has.

Also, if you change out your spark plugs and put in colder plugs your coolant tempurates will be HOTTER not COLDER. Colder spark plugs decrease combustion chamber tempuratures by transferring more heat into the coolant.

 

I get over 200 a lot if in heavy traffic, even if moving. Too many stop lights!

 

Well, if you don't get to 35 or 40 mph the car isn't going to cool very fast. Plus, if you can't stay at those speeds sustained for a mile or two the coolant temps won't drop much.

 

In the LSJs, the fans come on at 225, and the temperature drops almost immediately. Unless you're seeing temps above that, or the temperature is pegging 225 and staying there, you're just fine.

 

I already stated that the fans come on at low speed at 223 and high speed at 230. The problem is if it is 95 degrees outside and you are in stop and go traffic by the time the fans kick on at 223 they don't have time or enough ariflow to cool the coolant before it hits 230 so then the fans kick into high. It is perfectly normal to see 230 in the cobalt - any of them. If you see anything 235 - 240 then you have a problem but unless you see above 235 - 240 I wouldn't sweat it at all. Also to keep in mind, anytime you go above 10 mph the fans shut off, so if it is 95 degrees outside and you are sopping then getting up to 10 or 15 then stopping again the fans are turning off then having to turn on again when the tempurature gets above the threshold. So it is possilbe that you could hit 230 and the fans kick on high and cool to about 220 then you start moving, get up to 15 or 20 then brake again and sit for a minute or more... well when you braked the coolant was at 218 but fans are now off, so when you hit 223 the fans kick on again... in low speed... then coolant hit s 230 and fans kick to high and you finally see the car tempuratures dropping. Also, once the fans kick on while you are sitting they will not kick off. The fans will kick back to low speed at I think 210 then they will continue to run at low speed until you start moving again or if the coolant tempuratures get up to 230 again.

 

mine had got to 225 last night. and it smelt like something was burning. why is that. it wasnt hot, i was just cruising. at red lights it would be at 187 but then just start to rise. at one light it went from 189 all the way to 215. why?

 

For some reason these things get pissed sometimes.. Mine did that for awhile and it is now fine.. I did nothing.. haha

 

because there is no air moving thru the radiator.