Very very hot engine bay on my band new VE SS Wagon

Does the bonnet get hot to touch? Have you checked coolant levels?

 

oh dear. chill man, you'll give yourself a heart attack .

a) new cars will smell when they get hot. that's normal and will go away with time. they put a lot of crap everywhere to stop parts rusting away sitting at the factory. when that burns off, it smells. NORMAL.

b) engines work by igniting fuel in a confined chamber to push a piece of metal down a tube which then turns another bit of metal, and so on so on until it gets to the wheels. this process generates a lot of heat. rain on a hot bonnet will turn to steam because of that heat. NORMAL.

c) temperature guage isnt moving, and car drives "perfectly". NORMAL.

enjoy your brand new car and stop stressing. everything is NORMAL.
dont check coolant levels, dont ring dealer asking to fix a problem that obviously isnt there. part c) above is your guide post. if it drives perfectly and nothing is flashing at you on the dash, everything is fine.
mmk?

 

You can always check the coolant temp in engineering mode, should run about 85-90°C.


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Yep. Normal.

Just dont go towing in the new one yet, and dont baby it too much with gentle crusies.

 

Yep, you say your cars running hot and the advice is DONT CHECK COOLANT LEVELS? Why, too hard to lift the bonnet? Can't spare 10 seconds of time? You should regularly check coolant and oil levels (even in a new car) but if you want to follow that jokers advice be my guest.

As for smell, personally I would just be keeping an eye on oil levels, you could follow earlier advice and ignore it but I had a smell coming from under the bonnet but I checked it and found oil was leaking onto the exhaust manifold from the O ring where the dipstick goes into the block.it was the DH who did the headers that caused that problem,

 

I agree with immortality. A new car will always run a bit hotter and will always smell hotter, but to me that seems excessive.

 

wtf?
who the hell are you to call me a joker mate? :upyours:
i gave sound advice with what the OP told me.
the OP describes the car as running perfect and guages are where they should be, and also describes evaporating water on the bonnet when its raining like he's never seen that before.
it's obvious he's over stressing on a new car purchase, doesnt have a whole of car experience, and i was just trying to calm him down a bit and let him enjoy his new ride.

but no, mr hero here comes in trying to diagnose a problem that isnt there- stressing out the OP and asking him to check coolant levels what now?!? on a regular basis? how often bud? weekly, daily, hourly?
what's coolant levels going to tell you if water pump is stuffed? the temp guage will tell you more. oh wait, you're going to say "but what if that's stuffed?". ok, the check engine light then! and if that fails the car will automatically go into safety mode anyway! but looking at coolant levels isnt going to do anything. this isnt some POS 1970's HQ mate. leave the bonnet alone if you dont know what you are looking for.

how about diagnosing problems that arent imagined... like oil drops on the driveway, temperature guage fluctuations, irratic engine behaviour, BURNING OIL SMELL?!?!
OP, better go check coolant levels mate... the cars gunna blow up :bomb:
btw- when wazza helpfully suggests checking coolant levels, it might be an idea to put in a CRAPLOAD of warnings about farkin around under the bonnet when you dont know what you are doing!
your first post suggests to me that you arent very familiar with workings under the bonnet (otherwise you probably wouldve checked there first instead of asking here)... and there's nothing wrong with that at all. AT ALL.
but dont go openng stuff under the bonnet you arent familiar with... especially the bloody radiator if car is hot!
because if you've only had old cars as you said, thats the first place you are headed- and not the reservoir.
also, wazza forgets to mention that constantly opening the radiator or reservoir and exposing the fluid to air isnt a great idea as well, as the fluid is very susceptible to moisture in the air.

my advice still stands mate. IGNORE power trippers like wazza who want to big note themselves by chopping others down, when all others are doing is giving their time trying to help.
dont be touching stuff that you arent comfortable with. thats when people get hurt.

diagnose problems as you see them (or when the car tells you), and dont go looking for problems that arent there... because when people tinker with crap they dont know, THAT'S when problems happen.

and wazza? step off mate. youve been on this forum for all of 2 and bit months and you need to learn some manners!
stop calling people names and getting personal for no reason. farkin newbie keyboard warriors shitmetotears! :banstick:

 

Just letting OP hear my 2c not trying to undermine or tell anyone there stupid just trying to help a bloke out most of us know how much it suck having a new ride and start wondering if all is good. Once a week check everything, coolant, oil, power steering, if it holds a liquid check it weekly, please take no notice of the idiot gauges for warning as they are a last goodbye for your engine, yeah the smell is just a part of a new car and the heat is the engine wearing everything in rings/bore coming down to size. I've been told by a very smart/experienced man that his brothers would jump in the car and drive them hard with minimal care and they always lasted longer with less problems than my father that would baby them. It does go against most things I know about mechanics but he wouldn't say it if it weren't true.... But If in doubt just call the dealer looking like an idiot on the fone is better than on the side of the road calling a tow truck. But yeah I seriously doubt it is anything mate like UFO said its more than likely nothing just try to enjoy the new ride any everything should slowly go away.

 

UFO, I don't care how long you've been here, but YOU need to calm down. You should ABSOLUTELY be checking fluid and oil levels on a brand new car for the first week or so. Sure, if it's dropping oil on the floor that's a good sign that it's leaking, but what if the odd smell he is trying to describe is actually oil burning away? Or worse yet, oil in the radiator which you CANNOT test for with a CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I have no idea what you mean by " that constantly opening the radiator or reservoir and exposing the fluid to air isnt a great idea as well, as the fluid is very susceptible to moisture in the air"

Last time I checked the contents of a radiator and overflow tank are basically 50% water, 50% coolant. Unless "moisture in the air" doesn't classify as water?

When has checking water levels and oil been something the average person shouldn't attempt? Even the user manual states that the owner should check these routinely outside of regular servicing, and i would recommend anybody else to do the same. I check my overflow tank, radiator and oil levels every 2-3 weeks on my 180k Caprice whenever I top up my washer fluid.

I have NEVER been in a "normally functioning car" that the bonnet is too hot to touch. I've only ever seen this happen when a car has overheated, and you can usually visibly see the evidence down the line when the bonnet has started to crack and paint peels.

Rowiejoan, You've just shelled out an odd ~40k on a brand new car, that at a glance isn't doing what it's meant to. Part of that price incorporates Holden warranty. I'd take it to them if you're certain it really is hotter than you can touch, and ask them to check it, right after the long drive there. My cammed WM Caprice putting out 280rwkw after a nice thrashing is still more than comfortable to touch the bonnet on, and while its still on and running, only mildly hot under the bonnet. I mean, ive had a car over heat before and when the bonnet is popped you need to take a step back because of the heat wave, but what you're describing is just wrong and shouldn't happen.

Also just to add, the VE's don't have (to my knowledge, or that i've read anywhere) any type of computer controlled system to govern the engine while the car is new. The car should behave the same at 0km and at 100,000kms (apart from mechanical issues)

Rowiejoan, check the coolant when the car is COLD and make sure the overflow tank is full. The LS series engines have RED coolant if you aren't familiar with them. I'm also pretty sure that since the VZ's they ditched the "low coolant sensor" and only warning you will get is when the car has depleted all of its water, and over heated by going into limp home mode and throwing a CEL.

 

NO WAY, that is not normal. I even drive with the engine cover off sometimes, I can also touch the air intake manifold on top of the engine after a drive, LLT with the alloy plenum.
If you cant touch the bonnet, cause it is so hot, man I don't know, but it does not sound right. Take it to the dealer, don't be scared of being a twat, it is your right to be. Always go with your gut feelings.

 

Burning oil is pretty obvious mate. But new cars getting hot smell completely different, and "odd" to those unaware of why.

In regards to Dex-Cool being exposed to air- read this:
GM Dexcool lawsuit may soon gain class-action status - Autoblog

I dont know what you are referring to regarding your computer comment. You mentioned the limp mode in engine problems, and that's what I was referring to. If the engine gets too hot, it'll MOST DEFEINITELY go into limp mode. I never suggested there was a magical computer that manages the engine because its new or something.

And I call horseshit on your comment about not being in a car with a bonnet too hot to touch. A normally functioning car will definitely get hot enough to hot be able to touch the bonnet comfortably if driven long enough (especially sitting in slow moving traffic).

And I never said "NEVER EVER check levels".... yet you are the 2nd bozo to 'quote me' on it. I was referring to scare tactics in earlier posts. Of course you should check fluid levels. That's bloody commonsense. But not in the way that's been suggested, like we are looking for a treasure hunt on a mythical problem, and not without due care.

OP dont stress.
If there's something wrong with your car I'll be VERY surprised. Hell... I'll promise to close down my account and leave, that's how sure I am that there is nothing wrong with your car!
Take it to Holden. Please.
If anything just to put your mind at ease.... and maybe others here too.

 

Never seen that article before UFO, definitely worth reading. But one HUGE difference, the issue with DexCool is that exposure to excess oxygen can cause degradation to the system due to the stop leak added into the coolant, NOT the exposure to moisture in the air.

My comment about the computer was targeted towards the "new cars will run hotter" comment above. Cars don't just run hotter when they are new, that's nonsense (you didn't say this, just trying to correct a misconception).

On a VE SS with either the L98/L76/L77 engine, on a brand new car with the engine cover ON, there is no way that the bonnet will be that hot that you cannot touch it. On something like an ecotec with the engine cover removed, after a solid thrashing, i've had the bonnet get ALMOST too hot to touch, but thats with no engine cover and a metal intake. I think the OP has enough info to make a decision. If anything mate, use an infrared thermometer to determine the temperature of the bonnet, and give that info to Holden and ask them if it's within spec. My biggest concern would be long term effects on the paint, as like i said, most of the old VN-VT's now with peeling/cracked bonnets is because of overheating.

Your car isn't going to explode, but if it is indeed not working the way it should, I would much rather err on the side of caution. Get it looked at, make a mention that you took it to Holden, and if in the future you do have mechanical / paint issues associated with over heating take it back and say "well i told you at <100kms!"

 

Sound advice.

If bonnet is getting so hot that paintwork is at risk, then fair enough. And documentation/proof is also a great idea just in case.... but then again that should be normal behaviour when dealing with big purchases. houses, cars, etc.... I always keep records of any problem/communications.

OP, you've touched a car on a hot day right?
You reckon bonnet is getting hotter than that?

I think this is where clarification is needed. How hot is too hot- and how hot is normal?
On a long drive in traffic, or on a hot day, both my cars get hot enough on the bonnet where there is no way you could keep your hand on it. I believe that's normal on a car, at least on the cars I've owned.

OP, just curious... what colour is your wagon?

 

Try the cat test.
If the neighbours bloody cat won't sit on the bonnet after you've been for a decent drive because it's too hot then there is definitely something wrong.

also you need to update your ride - says you're still driving a VZ wagon