Mystery Coolant Issue - Overheating V6 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

WilliamGray · 02-06-2022, 07:17 PM

Hey everyone! I have been fighting this issue for over 6 months now, and thought I would give this a shot. Its hard to explain but i'll try!

Background:
On my 2011 Camaro LS v6, the coolant temperature has randomly been overheating. Every time I go on long trips, no issue. But for some reason only sometimes, whenever I am driving around town (including stop and go traffic), the coolant will get way too high. I have to monitor it constantly. Today I was driving, and it was fine until a mile from my home, the coolant rose to 247*. It doesn't seem to be a sudden jump either. If my car is working right, it never really gets above 210*, and the fans kick on. However, the dual fans have not been kicking on whenever the temp rises - again this is randomly happening. If i run the AC full blast, the fans kick on, but only at a low output, not the hi output that typically runs whenever the coolant temp gets hot.

What I've tried so far:
I have replaced the T-stat and housing assembly, water pump, radiator coolant cap, have bled the coolant hose bubbles mutliple times, and have bought a temperature gun and verified that my engine is indeed getting too hot.

Right now my suspicion is something to do with the fans not kicking on. I have bought two new relays for the cooling fan Hi and Low. And have also bought a new Engine Coolant Sensor that I will replace soon.

Just wondering if anyone else has had any issues like this (where it is random and not constant), and if you would have any other suggestions!

Wizard1183 · 02-07-2022, 03:57 AM

So when you get the engine up to temp, park the car and let idle. See if the T-stat opens closes, fans kick on off. Do both take place?

Wizard1183 · 02-07-2022, 03:59 AM

Check the fans and see if they went out? You need to first ensure your t-stat is indeed opening

gtstorey · 02-07-2022, 08:45 AM

Temp sensor been checked? I don't know at what point it would boil over, but I would think you are getting close.

WannaBgeneral · 02-07-2022, 10:35 AM

It's the men from mars " drivin' them cars". LOL This is impossible. Like Wizard says, check for all working , listen at idle. Dont get caught at your fav red light. It should all happen while its parked so It wouldn't need to have been "allday" or anything.

pyroguy · 02-07-2022, 10:56 AM

I know it seems like a silly question, but what coolant did you refill your car back up with? If you used the classic green Prestone, you probably have a sludged up coolant system right now. DexCool and green Prestone do not play well together. Since you verified that your engine is indeed overheating I would rule out a sensor issue, but perhaps a sensor or relay for your fans could be contributing.

Dirty_Camaro · 02-07-2022, 11:07 AM

I have a 2SS, but I got noticed high temp warnings (from the center LCD) and a warning chime. This only happened 3 times over the span of several years. The strange thing was that the coolant temp in the dash and under the radio read normal levels. Each time this happened I noticed the coolant level was low, so I filled it back up.

You probably already did this, but I'd check your coolant level.

I didn't notice any leaks outside of the car. Though some diagnosis, my specific issue is a leak in the heater core that got worse over time. I'm looking to replace that soon.

The fact that your gauges ARE reading high (unlike my situation) implies we don't have the same problem. But anyway, I hope this information helped.

WilliamGray · 02-07-2022, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyroguy

I know it seems like a silly question, but what coolant did you refill your car back up with? If you used the classic green Prestone, you probably have a sludged up coolant system right now. DexCool and green Prestone do not play well together. Since you verified that your engine is indeed overheating I would rule out a sensor issue, but perhaps a sensor or relay for your fans could be contributing.

And I have been using the Prestone 50/50 coolant w/ antifreeze thats red thats dexcool approved. Never the green stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wizard1183

So when you get the engine up to temp, park the car and let idle. See if the T-stat opens closes, fans kick on off. Do both take place?

Thanks for the response! So i am confident the T-stat opens and closes, when idling and with the coolant reservoir cap off I can see the coolant being pulled in for some time, then it rises again, and it is flowing from what I can tell. However, the fans do not kick on like they should.

The fans kick on low, but do not engage in hi (where both fans are running in parallel) anymore. The wiring connector to the fans looked clean though.

NOT A 45 · 02-07-2022, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyroguy

I know it seems like a silly question, but what coolant did you refill your car back up with? If you used the classic green Prestone, you probably have a sludged up coolant system right now. DexCool and green Prestone do not play well together. Since you verified that your engine is indeed overheating I would rule out a sensor issue, but perhaps a sensor or relay for your fans could be contributing.

FYI for anyone interested....what pyroguy is saying is true for the original formulation of Dexcool circa 1993-4.....they have long since changed the formulation and you may mix it with any coolant.

Wizard1183 · 02-09-2022, 02:59 AM

So replace all parts you bought and if still not working correctly? I’d say you need to check your wrong to the fans when up to temp measure voltage in your fan wires and test to see you’re getting 12V. It’s possible a wiring issue

02-06-2022, 07:17 PM	#1
WilliamGray Drives: Charcoal Gray, SS Rims Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 10	Mystery Coolant Issue - Overheating V6 Hey everyone! I have been fighting this issue for over 6 months now, and thought I would give this a shot. Its hard to explain but i'll try! Background: On my 2011 Camaro LS v6, the coolant temperature has randomly been overheating. Every time I go on long trips, no issue. But for some reason only sometimes, whenever I am driving around town (including stop and go traffic), the coolant will get way too high. I have to monitor it constantly. Today I was driving, and it was fine until a mile from my home, the coolant rose to 247. It doesn't seem to be a sudden jump either. If my car is working right, it never really gets above 210, and the fans kick on. However, the dual fans have not been kicking on whenever the temp rises - again this is randomly happening. If i run the AC full blast, the fans kick on, but only at a low output, not the hi output that typically runs whenever the coolant temp gets hot. What I've tried so far: I have replaced the T-stat and housing assembly, water pump, radiator coolant cap, have bled the coolant hose bubbles mutliple times, and have bought a temperature gun and verified that my engine is indeed getting too hot. Right now my suspicion is something to do with the fans not kicking on. I have bought two new relays for the cooling fan Hi and Low. And have also bought a new Engine Coolant Sensor that I will replace soon. Just wondering if anyone else has had any issues like this (where it is random and not constant), and if you would have any other suggestions!

02-07-2022, 03:57 AM	#2
Wizard1183 Drives: ABM SS2/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lafayette,LA Posts: 2,310	So when you get the engine up to temp, park the car and let idle. See if the T-stat opens closes, fans kick on off. Do both take place? __________________ Life is short, drive it like you stole it!

02-07-2022, 03:59 AM	#3
Wizard1183 Drives: ABM SS2/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lafayette,LA Posts: 2,310	Check the fans and see if they went out? You need to first ensure your t-stat is indeed opening __________________ Life is short, drive it like you stole it!

02-07-2022, 08:45 AM	#4
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,438	Temp sensor been checked? I don't know at what point it would boil over, but I would think you are getting close. Last edited by gtstorey; 02-07-2022 at 09:28 AM.

02-07-2022, 10:56 AM	#6
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #832 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 7,079 View My Garage	I know it seems like a silly question, but what coolant did you refill your car back up with? If you used the classic green Prestone, you probably have a sludged up coolant system right now. DexCool and green Prestone do not play well together. Since you verified that your engine is indeed overheating I would rule out a sensor issue, but perhaps a sensor or relay for your fans could be contributing. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #832 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

02-07-2022, 10:35 AM	#5
WannaBgeneral Drives: 2014 Camaro 2ss/RS premium sound Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 39 View My Garage	It's the men from mars " drivin' them cars". LOL This is impossible. Like Wizard says, check for all working , listen at idle. Dont get caught at your fav red light. It should all happen while its parked so It wouldn't need to have been "allday" or anything.

02-07-2022, 11:07 AM	#7
Dirty_Camaro Drives: 2011 2SS Camaro Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 13	I have a 2SS, but I got noticed high temp warnings (from the center LCD) and a warning chime. This only happened 3 times over the span of several years. The strange thing was that the coolant temp in the dash and under the radio read normal levels. Each time this happened I noticed the coolant level was low, so I filled it back up. You probably already did this, but I'd check your coolant level. I didn't notice any leaks outside of the car. Though some diagnosis, my specific issue is a leak in the heater core that got worse over time. I'm looking to replace that soon. The fact that your gauges ARE reading high (unlike my situation) implies we don't have the same problem. But anyway, I hope this information helped.

02-09-2022, 02:59 AM	#10
Wizard1183 Drives: ABM SS2/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lafayette,LA Posts: 2,310	So replace all parts you bought and if still not working correctly? I’d say you need to check your wrong to the fans when up to temp measure voltage in your fan wires and test to see you’re getting 12V. It’s possible a wiring issue __________________ Life is short, drive it like you stole it!