overheating - engine problems

[tomekbrek]

Hello.

I have alero 3,4 '01 and i have that problem

engine temperature when is hot outside works among 1/2 and 3/4 on my cluster, but not boil, temperature on OBD is from 197 to 208F i checked it via OBD and professional thermometer in coolant tank, the difference between sensor and tank was 1,5F

I have that problem only in city in traffic jams, on h-way i drove even 100m/h through 150 miles non stop and temperature was ideal in 1/2

i replaced:

water pump, thermostat, temperature sensor, radiator, belt and pulley tensioner, fans works properly
A/C pump is new too with condenser.

i replaced cluster too and is the same

and.

i have not oil in liquid and vice versa, liquid level is in the same level no missing etc.

do you know what it is? alero has 160k miles but engine and trans works smooth

i had 8th aleros in my life, and that problem i have first time....

Regards from Poland
Tomek

[Nate's Alero]

sounds like you have a clog somewhere

[tomekbrek]

yes, i thought about it too, but it should be in heads, or engine block.
I think that my next step will be - take off heads and check inside, i ordered needed parts

[Nate's Alero]

no, just remove the LIM for now, i had goop in my heads when i did my LIM change, i just scraped it out... and then ran clear water through the heads, with a shopvac on the other side so no water got into the engine block

[tomekbrek]

what it is LIM?

[CactusWill]

Lower intake manifold.


I wouldn't go doing anything crazy just yet tho, why not just do a coolant flush to start and see if that helps. Add a container of distilled white vinegar, that is a mild cleanser, and drive with that for a day or two, then drain the system and put in new coolant.

[tomekbrek]

Originally Posted by CactusWill

Lower intake manifold.


I wouldn't go doing anything crazy just yet tho, why not just do a coolant flush to start and see if that helps. Add a container of distilled white vinegar, that is a mild cleanser, and drive with that for a day or two, then drain the system and put in new coolant.

i added one bottle of cleaner liquid (prestone flush liquid) and drove with it one month and... nothing

[CactusWill]

So you're saying that you've already replaced with new coolant after that?

[Redog]

Welcome to the site, sorry to hear about the problem

No that stuff doesn't work by just adding it to the coolant tank.

You want to do a postive flush. Some places do negative flushes which basicly means they flush water thru in the reverse order of coolant flow. This is very bad becasue the gaskets are not designed to have coolant flowing that way.

IDK if an Alero's engine can be flushed with a garden hose like the older cast iron V8's could be. Maybe somebody on here can verify that, but I do know you don't wanna get too excited with flushing, you don't wanna damage anything, mainly the heater core.

It does sound like a clog, try a flush. BTW what color is your antifreeze? You cannot mix the pink and green anti-freezes. You probably already knew that, but I just like to get it out there because it's a big problem if you do mix them

[tomekbrek]

I changed it many times, maybe i have two or even three coolant liquids,

First i changed liquid, then thermostat, next pump, and i remember that first was pink, and last time i had green....

OK, is any way to let out whole liquid? to last tear?

[Nate's Alero]

Originally Posted by tomekbrek

I changed it many times, maybe i have two or even three coolant liquids,

First i changed liquid, then thermostat, next pump, and i remember that first was pink, and last time i had green....

OK, is any way to let out whole liquid? to last tear?

its damn near impossible to drain the heater core,


ok,
drain rad, fill with hose water and rad flush

drive 10 miles,

repeat 4 times,

fill with water and vinegar,

drive 10 miles

drain

fill with

75% coolant 25% water (get unmixed and only add 1/3rd water to 2/3rd's of unmixed coolant, fill up, bleed, add a substance called "water wetter" and drive, check coolant level, add if necessary....

done. that's what i had to do, its time consuming, but it means my ho runs very cool now.... also 180* thermo

[tomekbrek]

ok, i will do that, maybe i should replace LIM gaskets before?

[[ion] C2]

197-208 in traffic jams is NORMAL

Hell I see those temperatures most of the time, I need to rip out my A/C condenser since it's reducing the efficiency of my radiator (the intercooler is blocking some good airflow, so I need to ditch the condenser to restore that airflow).

Originally Posted by Redog

You cannot mix the pink and green anti-freezes. You probably already knew that, but I just like to get it out there because it's a big problem if you do mix them

w00t I mixed Dex-Cool and green and a bottle of water wetter supercoolant all together last week. The green you can use is Prestone All Makes/All Models, for ANY color antifreeze.

[Nate's Alero]

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

197-208 in traffic jams is NORMAL

215 in traffic is normal.... even 3/4 to H is normal, make sure the fans work though

[Cliff8928]

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

w00t I mixed Dex-Cool and green and a bottle of water wetter supercoolant all together last week. The green you can use is Prestone All Makes/All Models, for ANY color antifreeze.

Man, That has to look nasty.

Originally Posted by tomekbrek

Hello.

I have alero 3,4 '01 and i have that problem

engine temperature when is hot outside works among 1/2 and 3/4 on my cluster, but not boil, temperature on OBD is from 197 to 208F i checked it via OBD and professional thermometer in coolant tank, the difference between sensor and tank was 1,5F

I have that problem only in city in traffic jams, on h-way i drove even 100m/h through 150 miles non stop and temperature was ideal in 1/2

Yeah, and I wouldn't worry about 208°F

Heck, the fans don't even come on until 223°F (low) or 230°F (high)

I've even had the fans come on in my Ecotec driving in toronto traffic.

[[ion] C2]

LOL yes it does. Orange + green + pink.

[worknprog.99]

Originally Posted by tomekbrek

Hello.

I have alero 3,4 '01 and i have that problem

engine temperature when is hot outside works among 1/2 and 3/4 on my cluster, but not boil, temperature on OBD is from 197 to 208F i checked it via OBD and professional thermometer in coolant tank, the difference between sensor and tank was 1,5F

I have that problem only in city in traffic jams, on h-way i drove even 100m/h through 150 miles non stop and temperature was ideal in 1/2

i replaced:

water pump, thermostat, temperature sensor, radiator, belt and pulley tensioner, fans works properly
A/C pump is new too with condenser.

i replaced cluster too and is the same

and.

i have not oil in liquid and vice versa, liquid level is in the same level no missing etc.

do you know what it is? alero has 160k miles but engine and trans works smooth

i had 8th aleros in my life, and that problem i have first time....

Regards from Poland
Tomek

hook it to a cpu mine is the same way turns out it doesnt over heat at all the gauge is just wrong... normal running temp is 210 - 230 .... i replaced everything also before i did this and now its not a worry anymore... the gauge would read 3/4 but the cpu said 209

[tomekbrek]

hmmmm, i had 8 aleros, my neighbor has too right now, i never had 3/4, a little above 1/2 yes, but more... never....

maybe it is normal in this type i never had more then 208, i drove 3 days with OBD on board

[worknprog.99]

lol... anything from 205- 230 is normal on the 3400

[tomekbrek]

ups... i only spent my money... but i have all parts new
i am used to - 1/2 on cluster, all cars i've ever had 1/2 nothing more.

OK, engine gasket set will wait in case of emergency