2001 Chevy Cavalier Engine cools while driving

JOWN63

MEMBER
2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
86,700 MILES

My 2001 Cavalier engine temperature gets colder the faster you go on cold days. I've tried 3 different thermostats and still the same. On warm days it stays steady 180 deg but on cold days the engine temp will drop less then 100 deg if you get up to 65 mph hour or higher. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 AT 9:12 PM

2 Replies

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

Is it actually cooling off or are you relying on the temp gauge?

Do you have heat from blower? Warm air, cool air?

Thermostat is main regulator device to control temp.

I would replace it with actual OE part.

Also what mix of antifreeze do you have 50/50 is desired amount.
Excessive antifreeze mix (above 70/30) can cause similar problems. Straight coolant is not a good heat conductor, it is actually the water that conducts heat.

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Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 AT 10:36 AM

JOWN63

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you very much for responding. I hooked up a manual heat gauge to make sure it was the engine temp and it is. The heat from the blower is fine untill engine temp cools down then you lose the heat from blower it starts blowing cold air. I have replaced thermostat with OE part and the antifreeze is a 50/50 mix. It's almost like the coolant is bypassing the thermostat somehow. Thanks again.

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Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 AT 10:36 AM