2000 ols sil cooling prob? 101 Kmiles

GATOR5220

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2000 ALL OTHER MAKES ALL OTHER MODELS

2000 silhouette van seems to be running hot or I'm going nuts. Had this van since 2001 and never noticed temp gage go higher than 1/4 mark, now at standstill it goes uo past 3/4 mark but not to red. Per your forum and my Haynes manual did the following. Temp at cold 80* hot 210* Upper hose gets hots hot after 4-5 min. Fans don't come on till 200* then it falls back between 1/4 and 1/2 marks. Fans come on with A/C and it stays at 1/4. Can see coolent moving with cap off. Ck'd temp sensor per book ok. Swapped fan relays. Flushed 3 times an refilled 50/50 mix Dex with bleeders open. No sludge or sweet smell at oil filler. No sign of coolent loss. Does this sound normal and just someting I haven't noticed for 5 years or do I need new glasses

Friday, December 29th, 2006 AT 8:30 PM

5 Replies

MATHIASO

MECHANIC
1,209 POSTS

So there is no sign of coolant loss, either no intern or extern leak, No sludge or sweet smell at oil filler.
Mmm!, But Fans don't come on till 200*
A cooling system needs a way to turn the radiator fan on og off as it's needed.
This function is usually performed by a coolant temperature switch. A coolant temperature switch is temperature controlled, so the switch is mounted somewhere in the cooling system where it's directely exposed to the coolant
The switch could be mounted anywhere in the system, check it out in your Haynes manual. That could help you.

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Friday, December 29th, 2006 AT 11:03 PM

SERVICE WRITER

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If the t-stat is 195*, I would think the cooling fan would come of at 210* or so, wouldn't it?

Not trying to pick a fight, just learn somthin :)

I know these are common for intake leaks, but short of a high but ok temp reading it doesn't seem evident.

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Friday, December 29th, 2006 AT 11:11 PM

2CARPRO JACK

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Definitly check the intake closely for leaks. Might be a small enough leak that it dries from engine heat before you see it. Done more intakes on those than I care to talk about. Also that vehicle doesnt have a fan switch per say. The PCM turns it on and off through the coolant sensor reading. Fan at 210 is about right.

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Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 8:43 AM

GATOR5220

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The temp sensor checks ok ohm wise per haynes.
Waiting on Blackstone oil diag kit to send in a sample for analysis for possible water.
What is the feeling on keep using dexcool after 100K
miles or should I have switched to what?

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Saturday, January 6th, 2007 AT 7:57 PM

SERVICE WRITER

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Hi gator5220,
I have had a heck of a time to decide the "right" way to handle the coolant issue. 8) I spent considerable time to try to understand the how and whys. Conflicting results?
Between the engineering, marketing and illusions the answer is difficult.
I would either stay with dex-cool or a long life coolant if it were mine, as it came with it. If you add anything else, it will become the lower common denomenator. If so, stay with that.

Looking forward to what becomes of your situation :)

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Saturday, January 6th, 2007 AT 8:15 PM