06-22-2020, 10:16 AM | #1 |
it's a space station!
|
Overheating after idling (2011 1LT RS)
This is my first post in quite some time. I'm having an issue with my 2011 1LT RS. This has only happened twice so far. After sitting idle at a drive-thru the engine starts to run hot only after I begin driving again. While sitting idle the car runs at normal temperature. When driving on the highway or interstate no issues occur unless it has been idling beforehand. I've also sat in a parking lot for 20 minutes idling with the AC on and no issues. I've checked and the coolant levels are fine.
I suspect it is bad thermostat, but wanted opinions before I tackled that since I am finding that replacing the thermostat on the V6 can be a bit of a nightmare. Any input would be greatly appreciated and feel free to ask questions if I have not provided enough details. Edit: I should mention that it does cool back off quickly after a few seconds and then the temp fluctuates.
__________________
Last edited by THATS NO M00N; 06-22-2020 at 10:43 AM. Reason: Adding more details. |
06-22-2020, 10:27 AM | #2 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 2,129
|
How hot is hot? Boiling over or reduced engine power/no ac warning?
|
06-22-2020, 10:40 AM | #3 |
it's a space station!
|
The first time it happened I got the overheating warning on the dash. Second time the gauge just went to around 2/3 over.
__________________
|
06-22-2020, 11:00 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2013 ZL1 and 2019 Ram Laramie Join Date: May 2017
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 1,259
|
When is the last time you flushed and filled the system? Have you filled/top offed the radiator exclusively with DexCool? If nil to the former and nay to the latter that is a likely suspect.
|
06-22-2020, 11:20 AM | #5 |
Give speed a chance
Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 2,204
|
Monitor fan function. With AC on your fans are on all the time. Maybe they don't turn on during non AC operation. Or maybe just ONE is operating.
__________________
2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.
|
06-22-2020, 12:24 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2011 1LT/RS A6 RJT SuperCharged Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: 87114
Posts: 3,503
|
Is your coolant level low? What temps are being displayed on the DIC?
__________________
Power is worthless without control. The 2nd protects the 1st.
BMR sub frame brace, BMR tunnel brace, LSR sways, LSR CM ca & tl, Sphon ExD el, GM tower brace, Megan EZ Streets, Goodridge Stainless Steel Braided brake lines, PowerStop D/S rotors & pads, Doug Thorty Ceramic Shorties, Magnaflow x-pipe, MRT V2.0, KICKER PowerStage sub & amp, Infinity speakers & tweeters, Viteese Throttle Controller, Viteese Paddle Shifters, ACS T2 Splitter, ACS T2 Ports/Quad LED lights, VDI kit, Havoc diffuser, IPF ECU/TRANS tuned, IPF/KPE Supercharged. 364RWHP/297RWTQ |
06-22-2020, 04:05 PM | #7 |
it's a space station!
|
Just drove home on interstate and never got over 210. Stopped for gas and when I got in it was 221. Drove home on side streets and topped at 230. It would cool back off to 210 and go back and forth hovering around 215 on the way home (about 10 minute drive). Fluid is at the proper level.
__________________
|
06-23-2020, 08:09 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 2,129
|
Have you drained the system recently? If so you might have air trapped.
I'm not sure about the V6, but the V8 runs very warm. I don't think I ever saw 230 but I did see upper 220's before I had the fan cut-on point lowered. |
06-23-2020, 06:07 PM | #9 |
Account Suspended
|
HOT: squeeze your upper radiator hose, for firm pressure. If there is no pressure,
replace the cap on the fill neck at the motor. I thought I had a bad t-stat, turned out the cap was bad. |
06-23-2020, 07:00 PM | #10 |
Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Clermont, IN
Posts: 3,297
|
its gotta be t-stat or fans because of the odd fluctuation. If it were the cap, it would lose coolant. I've idled in the desert with a/c on and never got above 196*.
__________________
2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419.
Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!! |
06-23-2020, 08:29 PM | #11 |
Banned
Drives: 2015 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: My Garage
Posts: 1,125
|
Worst case senario... popped head gasket. Best case senario... bad rad cap.
|
06-24-2020, 08:01 AM | #12 |
it's a space station!
|
It happened again yesterday after sitting in a drive-thru again. Topped out at 250 shortly after leaving the parking lot. Once I got going it cooled down to 208 and then hovered around 213 the rest of the way home. I think it is the fan because I heard a clicking noise while waiting in line.
__________________
|
06-24-2020, 08:41 AM | #13 |
it's a space station!
|
It is definitely the fans not working. Just sat in the parking lot and got up to 228 and the fans never came on. So does anyone know how to test if the fans are bad or if it's a bad sensor not telling them to come on?
__________________
|
06-24-2020, 08:48 AM | #14 |
Drives: 2013 ZL1 and 2019 Ram Laramie Join Date: May 2017
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 1,259
|
Any codes? Any blown fuses? Start the engine and turn ac to max. If the fan runs it is not fan circuit related.
|
|
|
Thread Tools | |
|
|