Overheating

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

Many different things can cause an engine to overheat. The first thing I suggest is to make sure the coolant if full. The reservoir is low, wait until the engine is fully cooled off before removing the cap to replace the coolant. The reservoir is under the hood on the passenger side front of the engine compartment. See attached picture.

Now for the tricky part. The vehicle had GM Dexcool coolant when it was new. It is orange in color. If that is what is still in the vehicle, do not mix any other type of coolant with it. Use only Dexcool. If the coolant has been totally drained and a different type of coolant was used, you can use that type. Just remember. Dexcool can only be used with Dexcool.

Take a look at the directions from Alldata:


ENGINE COOLANT
A 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and use only GM Goodwrench(R) DEX-COOL(R) or Havoline(R) DEX-COOL(R) (orange-colored, silicate-free) coolant, or an approved recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 6038-M (GM P/N 1052103).

CAUTION: If silicate coolant is added to the cooling system, premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the coolant will require change sooner, at 50 000 km (30,000 miles) or 24 months.

Start with checking the coolant level and let me know what you find.

Take care,
Joe