Overheating?

[CXS]

Quick version - I was waiting 30 minutes to pick someone up yesterday with 95° temps outside so I had the A/C on and it started blowing warm air. My ScanGauge showed the engine and tranny about 220°.

Any suggestions of why this happened? Where do I start troubleshooting?

It's been fine all day today.

TIA!

 

[gm350reratliff]

220 isn't really that hot. The fan just wasn't pulling enough air at idle. I'd check your fan clutch to be safe though.

 

[fourwd1]

See if it happens again, and if it does increase the idle rpms for a few minutes and see if it gets cold again.

 

[sluggercz]

What's your mileage and have you replaced your timing belt or water pump?

 

[CXS]

220 isn't really that hot. The fan just wasn't pulling enough air at idle. I'd check your fan clutch to be safe though.

A couple questions: What is too hot? Why wouldn't the fan doing it's job? My first suspect was the fan clutch but I read comments in other threads about a relay and other things that could be the problem.

See if it happens again, and if it does increase the idle rpms for a few minutes and see if it gets cold again.

It was fine when I got moving again. I've never had a vehicle that got that hot sitting still.

What's your mileage and have you replaced your timing belt or water pump?

My mileage is about 150K and the timing belt was enlaced on schedule but not the water pump. There are no indications the water pump is failing though.

 

[sluggercz]

[MENTION=60018]CXS[/MENTION] Around 230-240 is getting up there for oil temp, you're probably fine at 220.

It seems like an airflow issue, which could be simply because of the design of the front fascia or perhaps to the fan performing inadequately. If you are dead set on trying to lower the temperature I'd clean off the radiator and transmission cooler real well, inspect the fan and see if there's any way to improve air flow in the front and maybe even figure out a way to let more heat escape from the engine bay(hood vents perhaps?)

Or you could just not stop moving forward(like a shark).

 

[Grom]

This is an easy check/fix (if this is the actual issue). Try to "burp" the cooling system by opening the radiator cup (while the engine is cold), filling up the radiator to the top and letting the engine run for 10-15 minutes (enough to warm up and the thermostat to kick open for a few cycles). Good luck.
If there's an air pocket, it will "gulp" some fluid and you may need to refill the radiator.
If not, then that was not the cause of the overheating.

Also, optimally, don't mix and match coolant fluids. I would use OEM fluid if that's what's inside the system already.

BTW, where was the needle of the OEM temperature gauge at 220F?