how hot is too hot?
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New Member
Joined: 02-25-2011
Posts: 22
From: florida
how hot is too hot?
I have a 500 pound boat (encluding trailer and motor) and pulling it home today, the temp. gauge climbed up to 210 in traffic, and then to 218. Once I started to move again, it started dropping. Backing the boat into the back yard, it got up to 218 again. I only noticed this sitting at a light. I don't know how hot it got on the highway. I believe they have 180 degree thermostates. So how hot is too hot? Any ideas on running it cooler? By the way - it's an 07, LT with the 2.2 Engine, and an auto. Thanks - kip
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Here on a 100+ degree day in Carolina you can see 210 while idling in traffic, so you were a touch warm, but being that you were towing I wouldn't panic about the temp. Just make sure you check you coolant level once the vehicle has cooled down to be safe. Normally I see 190-198 depending on which HHR I'm driving that particular day, but it will bounce up to 205+ sometimes idling at a light on a really hot day.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 02-25-2011
Posts: 22
From: florida
My concern is that the high temp kind of freaked me out a little, and I'm wondering at what temp and for how long, does engine damage occur? My reserve water coolant container appears to be empty... just hard to see through the plastic. I'll put in a container of "Wetter Water" thus refilling the container, and go from there.
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New Member
Joined: 02-25-2011
Posts: 22
From: florida
That's interest. Are you saying that below 230, the cooling fans on the radiator DO NOT come on? I would have guessed that they would kick on around 180 or something close to the setting of the thermostat. Or are you referring to some other fans other than the obvious ones for the radiator? Thanks much - kip
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Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
The fans will kick on when you engage the A/C, but mostly they stay dormant until the temp reaches a set point. Like almost all front drive vehicles, the HHR relies on "ram air" for cooling the radiator while in motion, but the fans will kick on in heavy traffic and situations of excessive idling.
Seeing the proper level in the overflow bottle is a bugger, I've marked mine with a stripe at the proper level for ease of viewing, a flashlight also helps.
Seeing the proper level in the overflow bottle is a bugger, I've marked mine with a stripe at the proper level for ease of viewing, a flashlight also helps.