What temperature is considered overheating? My temperature gauge is far from accurate, but I've been using the Torque Pro app for android to monitor coolant temp, among other things. When I got home from work yesterday, I was at about 213 F. It didn't run that hot all day, just at the end. Most of the day it was 175-195ish.
You're temp readings are normal. Nothing to worry about unless you get in the 250 range. The fan should be on well before then, depending on PCM programming. What thermostat are you running?
What temperature is considered overheating? My temperature gauge is far from accurate, but I've been using the Torque Pro app for android to monitor coolant temp, among other things. When I got home from work yesterday, I was at about 213 F. It didn't run that hot all day, just at the end. Most of the day it was 175-195ish.
213* is warm for the 3800....Was ur trip toward the end in traffic?
I honestly don't know what thermostat I'm running, but I do know that its the one that the parts store gave me . The end of my trip was about 13 miles freeway at about 70-85mph.
What temperature is considered overheating? My temperature gauge is far from accurate, but I've been using the Torque Pro app for android to monitor coolant temp, among other things. When I got home from work yesterday, I was at about 213 F. It didn't run that hot all day, just at the end. Most of the day it was 175-195ish.
I have a digital guage with a sensor in the coolant line. I checked the readings with an IR temp. gun and it was accurate. i also have Torque Pro with a hard-wired OBD2 connection. Torque Pro reads 30-40 degrees higher than the guage (!?) i reported this on the Torque Forum but got NO replies at all; saw at least 1 other post on the same subject with no interest.
I figure that overheating is when the coolant gets hot enough to boil to steam. Steam provides zero cooling. if you look at the back label on your antifreeze jug, I think a 50/50 mix is good to about 250 degrees. I mix mine 60/40 and add Water Wetter, so should be good for 270 maybe more - never would let it get anywhere near that hot though.
Get an IR temp gun at Harbor Freight for $25 and compare actual readings with your Torque Pro ...
[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 08-08-2014).]
By the way, I read (on some forum (?)) about guys changing their thermostats in 3800SC engines to lower coolant temps. The guys were reporting that the stock 195 degree thermostat gave 2-3 mpg BETTER than running 180 or 160.
Maybe someone will chime in on this, but i think the 3800SC ECM will shut down the engine if it gets too hot (?)
[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 08-08-2014).]
I have a digital guage with a sensor in the coolant line. I checked the readings with an IR temp. gun and it was accurate. i also have Torque Pro with a hard-wired OBD2 connection. Torque Pro reads 30-40 degrees higher than the guage (!?) i reported this on the Torque Forum but got NO replies at all; saw at least 1 other post on the same subject with no interest.
I figure that overheating is when the coolant gets hot enough to boil to steam. Steam provides zero cooling. if you look at the back label on your antifreeze jug, I think a 50/50 mix is good to about 250 degrees. I mix mine 60/40 and add Water Wetter, so should be good for 270 maybe more - never would let it get anywhere near that hot though.
Get an IR temp gun at Harbor Freight for $25 and compare actual readings with your Torque Pro ...
I've got an IR Thermometer. Where did you point the laser to get a reading?
Originally posted by PaulJK:By the way, I read (on some forum (?)) about guys changing their thermostats in 3800SC engines to lower coolant temps. The guys were reporting that the stock 195 degree thermostat gave 2-3 mpg BETTER than running 180 or 160.
I think that would be expected. Hotter engine temps increase economy and help reduce emissions (to a point, obviously!). GM started running their engines hot much earlier than a lot of brands, but most cars run "hot" by old car standards these days.
I think that would be expected. Hotter engine temps increase economy and help reduce emissions (to a point, obviously!). GM started running their engines hot much earlier than a lot of brands, but most cars run "hot" by old car standards these days.
I don't know why GM does that. Every Honda I've seen has either 185F or 175F (CRV model) thermostat. And all those cars have very low emisions, some are P-ZEV.
[This message has been edited by cyrus88 (edited 08-12-2014).]
By the way, I read (on some forum (?)) about guys changing their thermostats in 3800SC engines to lower coolant temps. The guys were reporting that the stock 195 degree thermostat gave 2-3 mpg BETTER than running 180 or 160.
Maybe someone will chime in on this, but i think the 3800SC ECM will shut down the engine if it gets too hot (?)
PO of my car had 180 in the car. It smelled a bit rich to me. Mileage sucked and I could not keep the chrome exhaust tips clean. Seeing as my engine is supposed to be stock with the exception of the egr I thought that it would be better with the stock 195. After installing it I noticed it didnt smell so rich, mileage increased and I can keep the chrome tips clean. Temp gage reads like it should.
[This message has been edited by solotwo (edited 08-12-2014).]
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