Engine Overheating

[Eskimo]

My Chevrolet Vivant has a few times overheat (temperature pass 3/4 mark or very near H).

 

Have sent it twice to Starsauto but it still came back again. The last time, last weekend's trip to Malaysia.

 

It usually overheat in the mid afternoon , when movement is slow due to slow moving traffic etc and aircon dial set to 2 or 3.

 

But then coming back from second link at 7.30pm, last Monday, the temperature still went up in the jam. We now have to make do with turning aircon OFF and winding down the windows when this happens....

 

Do you guys Optras and Aveos, have this problem ?

[Kel2505]

did you check your coolant ???

[Genie47]

If the coolant system is still OK after you sent it to SA, I suggest you take a look at the oil. Most 4-cyl TC cars do get overheated not because of the coolant system. It is the oil reservoir. More oil in the sump = more temperature stability.

 

So it could be an inherent engine design fault. Have you been revving it hard? Yours must be the manual. Before going over to blame the inherent design, exhaust all the possibilities. Check the coolant fan, see if it kicks in early. You can actually disable the thermostat controlling the coolant fan so that it runs continually. Go about driving around like this to see if it maintains.

 

What color is the coolant? Orange or green. If it is orange..... it is Deathcool..er sorry Dexcool. GM's factory fill until this year. Damn lousy. Get rid of the crap, flush with 50% vinegar and use some green/blue stuff. If you want to go overboard, use only water + some pump lubricants.

 

And use syn oil finally.

Edited August 14, 2004 by Genie47

[Jagash]

Check your radiator cap. If the rubber seal is defective, it can cause

this problem.

[Guest Aveo_powered]

Hi, with the aircon off, what does the temperature gauge read when you are stuck in a jam?

[Genie47]

Check this post I just made. It is first hand information from a mechanic who has done it.

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=616303

 

No harm trying it to flush and then fill with new coolant. I believe Carrefour is selling Total ready to use coolant. Just use that.

[Gendut]

Is it possible for you to check the cooling water circulation. Confirming that it is circulating will eliminate the possibility that your water pump is not pumping.

 

Another sypmtom of pump not pumping: water temps are OK when engine at low loads and travelling at moderate speeds. CAuse natural convection circulates the water.

[Eskimo]

did you check your coolant ???

 

Yes sure, it is there , near the Max limit.

 

Starsauto has checked that too.

[Eskimo]

It will slowly go down but not to the original or desired level. Once I start cruising will the temperature gauge be down to the correct level.

 

[reply]

 

Hi, with the aircon off, what does the temperature gauge read when you are stuck in a jam?

[Eskimo]

It is the oil reservoir. More oil in the sump = more temperature stability.

 

Starsauto asked me to bring the car again, to check. The next time I go down, I will probably tell them what to look for this time or know what to ask them to check

 

-Oil in the sump

-If Coolant fan kicks in early

-Possibility of disabling the thermostat

 

This time, I will sound as if I know what is happening....

 

So it could be an inherent engine design fault. Have you been revving it hard? Yours must be the manual.

 

Yup..it's manual. I spoke to Gilson, he said there are Vivants with this problem but apparently the owners did not make it an issue since it is able to recover itself after the car gets moving. Don't know whether want to believe or not.

 

He continued by saying the Optra has 2 fans while Vivant has one, so aiding to this problem.

 

 

What color is the coolant? Orange or green.

 

Coolant color is green ....so I think that is OK and yes, at 13000km, has just used syn oil. Thanks for your help.

[Eskimo]

Check your radiator cap. If the rubber seal is defective, it can cause

this problem.

 

Won't be able to tell if it is defective but will get the agent to verify.

[Tien]

still under warranty, make sure they correct it!

[Guest Aveo_powered]

What?????? The Vivant has only one fan??

Are you sure they did not short-change you bro?

 

When I went to buy my aveo(1.4 hatch), the display car had 2 fans, and the test-drive car had ONE fan! I questioned SA, but they couldn't give me a proper explanation. But i made sure that when I collected my car, it had TWO fans.

 

In Singapore's climate, one fan definitely cannot make it. Don't talk about getting stuck for several hours in a jam. Even small capacity cars have two fans, in some cars, especially continentals, the 2nd fan is installed by the local agent.

 

Do demand that SA solve the engine overheating problem for you, afterall it is still under warranty.

[Ace_t]

check your water pump..

 

before you crank the engine, remove the radiator cap.

crank the engine and observe if the water is 'running'/circulating.

Step hard on the accelerator and observe (ask a friend to help, but observe safety precautions against scalding) if the water in the radiator goes low when the pedal is depressed.

water should rise back to the mouth of the radiator when u release the pedal.

 

Also take a sample of the coolant water in the radiator and see if there is any sign of rusting.

 

hope it helps.

[Luckcent]

Errrrrmmm. Eskimo's car speedo is about 13k only, cannot be so fast radiator rusting. Like what you said the radiator cap is faulty or the radiator fan is not woking.

[Wenwen]

Hi,

 

I am also an Aveo 1.4 driver. When my friends check my car the other day, he could not find the radiator cap. Do you know where can it be found?

[Luckcent]

That means your car comes without radiator cap and it depends on the close system of the cooling system thru the coolant reservoir.

[Wenwen]

then, how can I change the coolant?