Radiator Problem? Engine Coolant Temp behaving funny
humandoing
09-07-2004, 12:10 PM
Hi all,
I recently got into a little bit of a rear-ender <insert bad words here>...
Since then, the engine seems to be running a little hotter than it ought to, and I've noticed a bit of dripping on occasion from the radiator.
The coolant is still at a full level however, but what's strange is that I can tell from the handy electronic guage in the car, that while I'm driving, the temperature fluctuates like crazy. If I recall correctly, this seemed to always regulate itself exactly at 89-90 degrees, but now it will get up to around 97 degrees, and then I can hear the fan kick in, and drop down to around 85 degrees, and basically it just keeps doing this. Even if I am only idling the engine in my driveway, or if I am driving on the highway.
The fan turns on and off and on and off like nobodies business. Any ideas? I've had a friend tell me that a sensor or thermostat probably needs replacing. What is your collective wisdom?
Also, I was looking at the price of a new radiator, and someone asked me if the radiator on my olds had an engine oil cooling reservoir? Um... Any ideas?
It's a 1990 Ciera SL, 3.3 Liter 6 cylinder.
Any help would be awesome. Much appreciated.
I recently got into a little bit of a rear-ender <insert bad words here>...
Since then, the engine seems to be running a little hotter than it ought to, and I've noticed a bit of dripping on occasion from the radiator.
The coolant is still at a full level however, but what's strange is that I can tell from the handy electronic guage in the car, that while I'm driving, the temperature fluctuates like crazy. If I recall correctly, this seemed to always regulate itself exactly at 89-90 degrees, but now it will get up to around 97 degrees, and then I can hear the fan kick in, and drop down to around 85 degrees, and basically it just keeps doing this. Even if I am only idling the engine in my driveway, or if I am driving on the highway.
The fan turns on and off and on and off like nobodies business. Any ideas? I've had a friend tell me that a sensor or thermostat probably needs replacing. What is your collective wisdom?
Also, I was looking at the price of a new radiator, and someone asked me if the radiator on my olds had an engine oil cooling reservoir? Um... Any ideas?
It's a 1990 Ciera SL, 3.3 Liter 6 cylinder.
Any help would be awesome. Much appreciated.
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