H3 So.....I'm confused now

[08H3I5]

So after my radiator cracked I decided while I was there to do some preventative maintenance. Bubbles got a whole cooling system makeover

Silla 2 core radiator
GM replacement thermostat
Gates hoses
New Dex Cool antifreeze
and two electric fans on there own controller

so what is confusing me is how with all the new parts and fresh coolant it's still running on the warm side? Like my needle is sitting on the top of the little temp sensor picture thing all the time. It doesn't get hotter but it's running hotter than it did, the thermostat was supposed to be a factory temp replacement...... The fans are both Hayden, the main fan is set as a puller and is two sizes larger than they call for, and the smaller fan is set up as a pusher. I have them set to come on at the mid way point on the temp gauge, and they seem to be putting out just as much air as the factory fan did so I don't get why I'm running hotter?

 

[HummerRoller]

The thermostat was changed to allow a hotter run, because of emissions as per GM.

Sent from inside the cardboard box in the alley behind your house.

 

[Airborne]

So after my radiator cracked I decided while I was there to do some preventative maintenance. Bubbles got a whole cooling system makeover

Silla 2 core radiator
GM replacement thermostat
Gates hoses
New Dex Cool antifreeze
and two electric fans on there own controller

so what is confusing me is how with all the new parts and fresh coolant it's still running on the warm side? Like my needle is sitting on the top of the little temp sensor picture thing all the time. It doesn't get hotter but it's running hotter than it did, the thermostat was supposed to be a factory temp replacement...... The fans are both Hayden, the main fan is set as a puller and is two sizes larger than they call for, and the smaller fan is set up as a pusher. I have them set to come on at the mid way point on the temp gauge, and they seem to be putting out just as much air as the factory fan did so I don't get why I'm running hotter?

If I remember right GM came out with the 190* thermostats vs the orginal 180*. There is a member on here some how found that out, and that GM decided to not tell anyone that they were changing it. I think the member was Best4x4, maybe shoot him a PM. Either way that is still normal operating temp. Mine was doing that too for no reason at all. After I put the Efan on it's always below the half mark now.

 

[08H3I5]

If I remember right GM came out with the 190* thermostats vs the orginal 180*. There is a member on here some how found that out, and that GM decided to not tell anyone that they were changing it. I think the member was Best4x4, maybe shoot him a PM. Either way that is still normal operating temp. Mine was doing that too for no reason at all. After I put the Efan on it's always below the half mark now.

Thats just oust it mine was running hot before until the factory radiator gave out and cracked. Now I'm still running hot and both my fans running won't bring the temp back down to where it should be, at half or under. Even if it's supposed to run 10* hotter that should not meant between half and 3/4 on the gauge should it?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

are you still running an engine-driven fan?

 

[amrg]

Is it possible to get a 180 thermostat? It gets really hot here (+115) and although I have two electric fans upfront the clutch fan still kicks in to add to the cooling and I suffer from alot of power loss.
I know the Jeep guys have such thermostats which help keep the engine cooler for a longer time and improves performance!

 

[Airborne]

My next suggestion would be the fan clutch not working properly or the water pump taking a dump. Or both

Sounds like a perfect time for an Efan conversion!!! :thumbs:

 

[08H3I5]

I replaced the water pump and thermostat with a ac Delco replacement. Also replaced the clutch fan with two e fans, that move about 2800 cfpm. That should more than do the job. I'm considering ditching my external granny cooler to open that space up from back up some....

 

[Airborne]

Hmmm ya thats the same set up I have. I put the v8 version (dual fan) Efan in mine too. SO.... I'm confused now too!

Really if your temp is only a little above the half mark I would not be concerned at all. Some report hovering temps almost to the 3/4 mark. The GM temp guages have known to be way off. More like "idiot lights" than a guage.

 

[digglesworth]

Are you going by just the dash gauge or do you have a scangauge or anything to find out what the actual temp is... I run 198-202 almost constantly... I too have an external trans cooler on the passenger side. Replaced my tstat with an ac delco I got off eBay.

 

[08H3I5]

No I need to find someone that can get me a decent price on a scan gauge. I'm just going by the dash gauge. I know it was running half way and now its between half and 3/4. But its not getting hotter or cooler so I am thinking its fine..... We shall see.

Fyi the fans are just Hayden fans from O'Reilly auto parts cause I get them at cost. But they seem to be doing the job.

 

[Pappibri]

After my radiator was replaced mine ran hotter as well. They changed thermostat but it has been fine even in 90 degree weather

 

[08H3I5]

Well I have a demon to chase down, cause I was running the ac and sitting at a light when the temp gauge shot up to the H in the red. I can't deal with that knowing its only 92* with hotter temps coming.....

 

[Airborne]

Well I have a demon to chase down, cause I was running the ac and sitting at a light when the temp gauge shot up to the H in the red. I can't deal with that knowing its only 92* with hotter temps coming.....

Yes not good at all. So I was looking at your prev post. Do your fans move 2800 cfm together or individually?

Possibly a bad t stat too. Some have come from the factory bad. It sucks but it has happened to people before.

 

[08H3I5]

2800 together, but it feels like they are moving as much air as my old clutch fan. I just got a new radiator cap too cause I think its bad and that's what caused my old radiator to crack.

Also as a note, I am not running the two skids under the front end right now either so I know the engine bay is venting the hot air out.

I'm wondering at this point if I don't have a bad air pocket somewhere?

 

[Best4x4]

Yep the new thermostats are 190 and with that thermostat it'll be at half or 3/4. I run 204-215 tops and when going slow the fan clutch does a great job of cooling from 211 to 200 in very little time. As long as it's not over the upper white line then you're fine. I wish we could reprogram the PCM to calibrate the darn gauge!

198-202 is half way, 204-215 is between half and the 3/4 mark. Guage is very sensitive, but as long as I have a scanguage I'm okay with it. I would honestly love a 180 themostat in TX if I could find some NOS, but aftermarkets labled 180 are 190's. They just didn't update the packaging.

 

[4speedfunk]

You did mix water with the Dex Cool right?

 

[08H3I5]

You did mix water with the Dex Cool right?

yep should be about 50/50 maybe 60/50 but yes I mixed water with it, and a bottle of Lucas coolant additive too...

 

[08H3I5]

I'm really thinking its got a air bubble somewhere.

 

[Airborne]

I'm really thinking its got a air bubble somewhere.

Something else to consider most efans run a LOT more cfm than that. As in almost twice. You may not be sucking enough air through that brand new radiator to cool the coolant down enough.

 

[USMC_TOP]

Are these H3's notorious for air bubbles after a rad change? I think all possible causes have been addressed here.

 

[Best4x4]

I did notice my 3.7L was hard to burp out the air, but several cold/hot cycles parking it on a steep incline nose up, and massaging the upper radiator hose finally got all the air out of mine.

 

[08H3I5]

Here is the thing about the fans, the Hayden book called for a 3690 fan that pushes or pulls 1350cfm alone. With a add on fan of 3680 that pushes 800cfm (I was off earlier.) I installed a 3710 that pulls 1500cfm and a 3680 that pushes 800 so by their recommendations I should have plenty of air passing the radiator.

Now then I let it run at work tonight for over an hour, and I'm not able to see water running in the radiator with the cap off. So I think its got a air pocket somewhere keeping it from being able to run the coolant threw the system efficiently.

 

[MSC]

It's a shame to censor help...I tried to help.

 

[USMC_TOP]

Sounds like it bud, or that new thermastat is defective like someone said earlier. Hope it's not the stat.........