Overheating

Tiny
DUTCHBOY13
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 234,000 MILES
Operating temperature is 210 to 220 degrees, is this normal?
Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 AT 3:39 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Are you going by the gauge in the instrument cluster? Those are notoriously inaccurate and are only good for observing when something abnormal is occurring. 220 degrees is not abnormal on many GM engines. If the radiator fan cycles on at times, it is working.

If you want to know the exact coolant temperature, you need to use a scanner to view live data and see what the Engine Computer is seeing.
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Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 AT 3:55 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Even up to 228 or 230 would be normal.
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Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 AT 5:14 PM
Tiny
PAUL NAJERA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a 2008 Saturn Vue (redline with 3.6). Recently purchased a ScanGauge II, it was showing the high volume fan turning on at 232F and off at 221F. Kind of freaked me out a little bit. I called my local GM dealership service department and asked what the normal operating coolant temperature is on this vehicle. I was told between 210 and 220F.
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Friday, April 9th, 2021 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
GM commonly runs their engines at very high temperatures. Water boils three degrees hotter for every pound of pressure it's under. With a 15 psi radiator cap, that brings the boiling point up to 257 degrees. It is also why people can be scalded when they're under the hood with a ruptured radiator hose or when they take the radiator cap off too soon. With the release of pressure, the water boils instantly and turns into steam. As it escapes, pressure keeps going down and the remaining water boils even faster.

The highest temperature I've ever run into so far was 226 degrees. Other manufacturers turn their radiator fans on by around 210 degrees.
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Friday, April 9th, 2021 AT 6:40 PM

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