Temperture gauge

Tiny
IDRIVEATITLIEST
  • MEMBER
  • BUICK RENDEZVOUS
2002 Buick Rendezvous with 81,000 miles. This question has bugged me from the beginning. The temperture while driving is not up to where normal is when you are sitting idle. The dealer has replaced the thermostat twice but it still does the same thing. I took the thermostat and put it on the stove in water (with a temp gauge in the water) and it worked perfect. Opened at 195 exactly, so I know it's not the thermostat. In the summer time the temperture runs normal, but in the winter when its below 50 degrees it does not run hot enough, except when you stop at a red light. I get 4 miles a gallon better mileage in the summer than in the winter time. Hard to believe, but I have checked it a number of times. I went to the dealership and drove a brand new one and it does the same thing. Buick does not know or they will not tell me why? Do you have any ideas? I think the computer thinks that it is running cold and therefore it sends a signal to increase the gas mixture. Thanks, Mack
Tuesday, December 12th, 2006 AT 2:14 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
XOWEY
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
Hello and welcome! :)
I work at a Buick dealer and work on a LOT of Rendezvous. Yours is not running warm enough? Has the dealer driven the vehicle with a scan tool installed and read [u:1ae6651b02]actual[/u:1ae6651b02] temperature?

Let's leave the gas mileage issue alone at first till we determine that your engine is running at the right temperature. :Wink:

winter blends of gasoline can affect mileage depending what state you live in, blends can vary greatly. What area of the country are you located in?
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Tuesday, December 12th, 2006 AT 9:57 PM
Tiny
XOWEY
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Have you had any engine work done, such as head gaskets or intake gaskets?
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Tuesday, December 12th, 2006 AT 10:00 PM
Tiny
XOWEY
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Are you using the fuel mileage calculator in your vehicle to determine the mileage? I have an 07 Rendezvous.I just checked mine. 20.4 MPG
what does yours say? :
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Tuesday, December 12th, 2006 AT 10:04 PM
Tiny
IDRIVEATITLIEST
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Thanks for responding. The dealer put a scan on and drove it. The temp ran 195 while idling and between 170 and 180 while driving down the road. In the summertime I have got as high as 28 mpg but in the wintertime I might get 22 or 23 according to how cold the air temp is. Yes, I just had the intake gaskets put on. $800.00 bucks. Since you work at a dealership I figure you know all about the dex-cool problems. Drive a new one and you will see what I'm talking about. Thanks, Mack
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Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 AT 5:49 AM
Tiny
XOWEY
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
I know what you mean about DEX-COOL.?

The dex - cool is only part of it though.

If you are wiling to experiment, you can try drilling a small ( 3/16") hole in the top of the thermostat and see if that changes the fluctuation
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Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 AT 10:10 PM
Tiny
IDRIVEATITLIEST
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You are right, but I still don't understand how the temp can go up while sitting still and down while driving. You can actually see the gauge go up and down. Drive one and you will see. Thanks
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Thursday, December 14th, 2006 AT 8:19 AM

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