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Engine Temperature Fluctuating

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Old 09-19-2008, 12:44 PM
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Engine Temperature Fluctuating

When i first got my SS, engine temp stayed around 199 degrees(steady cruising, no A/C),and when i was in stop/go traffic w/ A/C on it would go to 205 degrees.
That was a lil more than 3 months ago(when i got the car).

While i was scrolling thru the DIC i noticed the engine temp was 203, and if i watched it while keeping a constant speed (45 or 50'ish) the temp would fairly quickly change from 203-205, to 199 and back again, in no particular pattern. I used to be able to almost quess what the temp would be, now it seems it's all over the place
One thing i would think would make a difference is, the outside temps are a lot cooler now than when i got the car (57 degrees today when i saw this , compared to mid 90's when i first got the car.) I know engine temp is really not all that related to outside temp, i'm talking about the higher range when i would see b4 in the summer months w/ AC on , in traffic etc.

Don't think i have low coolant in the system , will double check later today. I did add a 50/50 mix to the overflow tank yesterday since it looked like the level was a lil low (kinda hard to tell)
Nothing else has changed since it was new, and the SS has 13K on the clock currently.

Just wondering if anyone else has seen this on theirs, and if i should be concerned.

Also want to point out that i saw the temp changing from 203-5 to 199 and back n forth while keeping a constant speed on level roads .It almost acts like the level is low in the system, and/or i have a air lock in it or something .


Thanks
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Old 09-19-2008, 01:01 PM
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I get fluctuations from 185ish to 220ish, depending on terrain, weather, driving conditions, a/c use and speed. All the variables account for individual or collective changes.

GM engineers indicate this is normal (but I do worry when I see 235 and better climbing Sunset Point here in AZ).

Oh, this is in a 2.4, auto however.
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Old 09-19-2008, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 08blackHHRSS
It almost acts like the level is low in the system, and/or i have a air lock in it or something .Thanks
Or your thermostat is sticking a little. If it ever gets to a point where it is a problem it will through a CEL. Or it's normal. I wouldn't be that concerned about it.
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Old 09-19-2008, 02:10 PM
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I would think that's still a very narrow band of temps you are experiencing.
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Old 09-19-2008, 04:33 PM
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The temp fluctuation was happening to me in July. After letting the engine cool overnight and looking in the filler cap, Low fluid, I filled the radiator back up and topped off the overflow tank. I am back to normal again. Last winter the dealer replaced my stuck open thermostat.
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Old 09-19-2008, 11:29 PM
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The temp fluctuations mentioned are quite normal. The only way to not have temp fluctuations is to have your computer reprogrammed to have radiator fan come on at 195 degrees. At 70 degrees outside temp, the SS runs at 190. That would limit fluctuations to 5 degrees and allow the SS to run at optimal temp at all times.
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Old 09-20-2008, 08:12 AM
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All cars temps will vary a little with driving and conditions.

In the past most have had either a light or a poor factory gauge to read the temp when today we have a accurate digital gauage.
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Old 09-20-2008, 03:05 PM
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Ya, it just seems like it's fluctuating more now (constant speed/level road) where when it was new temps stayed pretty much rock steady @199 and a lil higher when A/C was on, and maxed out in stop/go traffic w/ A/C on.

By fluctuating more, i 'm talking about it changing back n forth within 10-15 seconds

I'm checking fluid levels in a lil bit
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