Post Head Gasket Temp Problem

A few days ago (5)I had my head gasket replaced. 96 s10, 2.2 155K miles. After I picked my truck up I noticed that the temp would spike from its normal 190, to 210 then falls back to 190 and the heater stopped working. The spiking is very consistent, you could almost set your watch by it. Before the HG change it never went above the 190 and had the best heat ever in a vehicle.
On the way back to the garage the heat magically started working (and still does 5 days later). I took it back to the garage and they replaced the therm. but the temp still does the same thing. I insisted on replacing it with the same temp therm as was in it already. It does not run "hot" or have the smell of coolant after driving it. But at faster speeds the temp spikes higher (to 220) then when running lower speeds (200-210). I check the coolant level each morning and it has no leaks (that I can see) but when looking in the rad. the fluid is not clear after sitting all night (the res is full also). Apparently they added the "green" coolant and it mixed with my "orange" which gives it a not so pretty look. I will not take it back to the same guys since after they changed the therm., "for nothing" he said, I noticed that I had already paid for the therm on the original HG bill. My answer for the temp gauge spiking was "air pockets" and "as long as it comes back down it's ok."
Any ideas?
Thanks,

If they mixed green with orange, then they need to pay to have the ENTIRE system acid flushed. Both fluids are incompatible with eachother and cause sludge, which causes blockage/airpockets. They focked up, make em fix it. I mean a FULL ACID flush.

if they refuse to do the acid flush tell them your going to call your lawyer, that will light a fire under thier azz to correct the problem

if they refuse to do the acid flush tell them your going to call your lawyer, that will light a fire under thier azz to correct the problem
:iamwithst

I took it to another place and they said the gasket was leaking still, causing air to get in causing the temp to fluctuate. According to these guys cyclinder number 4.

i would think the temp would fluctuate....
how can an engine stay the same temp...while running at high rpm's........
you nail the gas and the engine temp is goin up...
you cruise at a constant speed on flat road...and the temp should stay the same.....
190-210 is a normal operating range from what i read in these forums.......
when i floor the gas my external guage will go as high as 210...and idle at 190 normally.
my stock guage dont fluctuate much.....
i believe the stock guages have compinstation built into them to keep them within limits...so as to not get people worried........

no, when you floor it you shouldnt see your temp riseing, if you do, your in your last geat and in the red, stop flooring it, there is a lot of fluid in there, you shouldnt notice a 10 degree increase in no time flat, and yes if they mixed green with ornge they fucked you good, if its that new yellow shit, i dont know, its to new for me to try it, ill pay the extra buck (or 4) to get dexcool ornge and flush it every other spring

so your saying these 4.3's dont go above 190?

My 92 S-10 4.3 4 x 4 ever since it was new, will reach about 210 or a bit more before the thermostat opens, and runs between 190 to 210.

Jerry

my 4.3 has never gone above 190, except once when the water pump was shot and it had just enough fluid in it to heat the cab

never goes beyond 190........interesting.
and you base that off your stock....guage only?

never goes beyond 190........interesting.
and you base that off your stock....guage only?
yes, based off my t stat, i have no reason to beleve that it is bad in any shap way or form, it may accually be 193 or so, but i doubt its off to where there would be a 10 or 20 degree difference

lots of faith in those stock gm guages....humm :)
190 all the time....thats awsome...under full load driving in summer...up hills a/c on.......sweet....
wish my truck never went above 190 degs.
not being sarcastic or anythin....but 190-193....thats damn good.......
you live in indiana? where its nice and flat....
cause i can get on my truck on nice flat roads and the temp stays under 195.....but a hill or when i floor it...goes above 193...the highest iv seen it go is about 210......which i dont think is a problem...
iv heard the engines are cast...and can take some heat......then again...from what iv read here..most people say there trucks temps range from 190-210...depending on driving conditions...and im in that range...so i think im safe....plus we are talking about differnt engines,,
there are like 4 or 5 differnt 4.3 motors....mine is a 93...which i know for a fact is not exactly the same as a 94.95.96....and so on.....
so when we talk temps and such...lets rember...apples with apples....
pinenipples with...well you know..... :lol:

as for the person who started this post.........
i would agree that running in the mid 200's under normal driving is an interesting situation...
specialy since you say it never went past 190 before the head work.
and 220...that is for shure a temp i would start to question.....
its not even summer yet.
if its because that shop did something wrong....better get them to take care of it....or...takem to see judge judy!! : :nono:

^^ i live in michigan, right by lake michigan, where the wind keeps our air cooler due to winds from the west blowing over the lake, and it is fairly flat here, no ac, and almost alwase a cross wind blowin under the vehical

sounds like a damn bubble bath commercial :P

no really... sounds luvley.......enjoy that
wind blowin under the vehical