Standard operating temp

[scottydl]

I was running errands tonight, with lots of stop and go driving while going in and out of stores and parking lots. At one point the engine temp reached 225 (or whatever the next mark is above 200), which seemed higher then normal. Usually it sits just a tad above 200... it was hot outside today, still in the upper 80's at 9pm. Anything I should be concerned about?

[erw38]

No. Even though it seems abnormal for cars to even be allowd to get that hot it is in fact very normal for the aurora. I was worried about the temp when I first got my car (even thought about changing the thermostat) but after I did some reading on the topic, I have come to the conclusion that it is perfectly normal. These cars need to be moving (usuall at highway speeds) to be at "normal" operating temp. Since these cars have no real grill, air is blown onto the radiator when this car moves. As lond as the temp doesnt sit in the orange are for long, the car should be fine. The fans come on at 237 degrees and will cool the car sufficiently.

To make a long story short, you have no reason to be worried. Just make sure that your radiator (fill through the overflow tank) is full. And remember that your car takes dexcool.

[JimW]

Yea the aluminum engine gets really hot really quickly, but you will notice the temperature drops dramtically once you start driving. All is normal in this case.

[Marc]

On a 105* day while driving in traffic with the A/C on (of
course!), the temperature gauge in my 2001 4.0 stayed
at the normal mark.


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GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!!

[Aurora40]

Hey Marc, our cars aren't quite the same. The classic moves the needle as the temp changes. Ours is sort of filtered out by the PCM. It only moves on larger changes. That's why ours is always at the normal hash. The temp would vary by about 10-15 degrees for sure as the airflow changes and as the thermostat opens and closes and such.

However, I do think the cooling was much improved on our cars. We have a lot more openings for air to come in, and the fans seem to not wait so long to kick in.

235F for the fan to come on, when the thermostat is a 180 degree one is crazy. They should be kicking on at 215 or earlier for that low a thermostat.

[Marc]

Aurora40....What temperature does the 2001/02/03
actually run at on a really hot day? I've been wondering
about this for over 3 years.

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GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!!

[Aurora40]

Hey Marc, you would probably have to get a scan tool or some diagnostic software. That would let you read the real value of the coolant temp. I don't really know what it is, but hopefully it's not too hot!

[erw38]

Is there some way to adjust the temp on the classics to get the fans to come on earlier? Without having to reprogram the computer?

[JimW]

Not unless you rig up a switch to manually control them, I wouldnt do that though. To risky, esp if you forget.

[erw38]

Guess I won't attempt it. I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on to my shoulders.

[Marc]

Aurora40.....I am going to get a professional quality
scan tool within the next few months. There are a
few other specs I want to find out besides normal
temp.


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GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!!