High Temperature at idle

[HsvMan]

Is it normal for a commodore's engine to get quite hot while its idling, or going very slow?

Its a VS Commodore - Ecotec

During normal driving it will sit at about 1/4 of the way.
When it idles or I drive real slow for a long time it can get up to 3/4, then drops to about 1/2 then back up to 3/4 and so on. But then when I drive normally after that, the temp drops real quick to back around 1/4

[AussieHolden]

mmmm my VR doesn't do that might be the thermo stat or in need of a flush.

[HsvMan]

Just changed the thermostat about 3 weeks ago

[AussieHolden]

and it's be doing it since then or before ?

[HsvMan]

Well,
I changed the thermostat after the temp gauge on the dash wouldnt move. Replacing made the guage work again. I had only had the car a couple weeks before I replaced the thermostat, so I really don't know if it was doing it before I replaced it

[AussieHolden]

mmmmm sounds like it may have and as a result the thermo stat jammed so this my have caused or was part of the cause so I would completey flush your system out ot get someone to do it for you if still the same after that I would then say either the temp sencor is reading wrong or the radiator is blocking try cheaper option's 1st tho.

[Bax]

Well usually when your going slow, or parked idleing in traffic or similar, theres no air coming through the radiator to cool the coolant down. Might wanna invest in a thermo that you can chuck on a switch or something.

[Garth]

after you changed themistate, did you bleed the system? if you have a bubble fo air in the system, it will cause false, h ence the up and down, up and down very very quickly, try bleeding the cooling system, there is a little screw on the top of the thermistat housing, you undo that a bit untill water squirts out, and it will be considered bleed, also, a pressure test may be needed, you could have a faulty radiator cap or even a ever so small pin-hole in a hose in the sytem somewhere, let us know you go

cheers
garth

[Baldric]

check your low speed fan relay, thats a common problem on vr-vs. they **** up and because it's going low speed the fan only cuts in when it reaches high speed/aircon on

[MasterOfReality]

I had the same problem after a bought my VS.

I took it to a radiator place and had the works done to it, and it still done the same thing.

Think about it, the car heats up when you are sitting in traffic, then cools down again when you start moving. Since the motor only has thermo fans (not motor driven fans), wouldn't you expect this to happen?

[HsvMan]

Originally Posted by MasterOfReality

I had the same problem after a bought my VS.

I took it to a radiator place and had the works done to it, and it still done the same thing.

Think about it, the car heats up when you are sitting in traffic, then cools down again when you start moving. Since the motor only has thermo fans (not motor driven fans), wouldn't you expect this to happen?

So do you reckon this is normal?

[Baldric]

incorrect it is not normal, thats why the "low speed fan relay/sensors" are in place when theres low air pressure comming through it switchest the termo fans on to get more air movement through the engine bay.

try this next time you drive the car stopped at lights and teh temperature goes up, switch your aircon onto cold and if that does work your low speed fan relay isn't pulling the contacts in. thus the fans dont start. let me know how u go

[Gobbles]

I get this as well in my VS.....i would be taking it as normal as my mates VS also does this....i had a problem where my thermostat would not engage the fan but that has passed since i replaced it now i have had no over heating problems since (I had my needle 1cm past the red H line)

[mahonas]

Perfectly normal, the low speed relay is only supposed to come on below 40km/h and when the coolant reaches a certain temp (It's in the gregorys manual around, 96 degrees I think) or whenever the air con is turned on. So when You're sitting in traffic with air con off temp will rise to just over 1/2 then the fan should kick in bringing it just back under 1/2 then it will turn off, up & down etc.
To keep it down just turn the air con on.

[UseR]

My VSII has been doing the same thing aparently from what i've been told it could be a problem with the cooling fan? dont quote me on any of this it's my first holden.