Coolant temperature fluctuations normal??

[NardDog]

If no coolant leaks to the ground then its a possibility its leaking from the inside , keep an eye on it and if its a drastic leak that you cant see puddling on the ground then you make have a bigger issue.

 

[rdezs]

Scary thought. Low on coolant and an oil pressure gauge not working. Is it really not working? Or do you have coolant mixed with the engine oil thinning it out to where you have no oil pressure? Better start checking things out. I'd start with an oil change and see what comes out from the drain plug first.

 

[mountie]

In my '05 Yukon, the temp gauge ( at running temp - 200 ) , has never been different no matter the ambient conditions or speeds.

( I flushed the coolant twice, since I owned it.... replaced the overflow canister to see the levels better.

 

[Jman2]

Definitely going to keep an eye on the coolant level. My oil pressure is having the issue where it’s always reading 80, but it jumps to 80 automatically with only battery power. Plan on changing that sensor sometime soon.

 

[Jman2]

Since filling up the coolant, temp holds steady at a tick under 200 with no fluctuations at all.

 

[Fless]

Is this an electric fan system, or the clutch fan system?

Think about having a scan tool on it to view the ECT PID so you have the exact temp the sensor is reporting. You'll see fluctuations with that setup that you don't see with the gauge that's made to remain steady.

 

[mountie]

Since filling up the coolant, temp holds steady at a tick under 200 with no fluctuations at all.

If all's good, it will stay there.

 

[petethepug]

The coolant level was low……

Yup, and you probably need a new coolant reservoir too. The integral level sensors probably dead.

Now start looking for your coolant leak. Probably the plastic side tank in the radiator or cracked reservoir tank. When new leaks occur they only leak under pressure.

 

[Meathead16]

How long have you owned the truck for? Any known history? Is it the 5.3? Certain heads used on that engine have a known defect that results in a cracked head and subsequent internal coolant leak. Heads manufactured by Castech wirh the casting number 706 was the most common one to be affected by this.

TSB

 

[rockola1971]

Is this an electric fan system, or the clutch fan system?

Think about having a scan tool on it to view the ECT PID so you have the exact temp the sensor is reporting. You'll see fluctuations with that setup that you don't see with the gauge that's made to remain steady.

Absolutely true. The temp signal fed to the temp gauge is averaged to keep the temp gauge needle from being erratic and catching every little temp swing. I cant remember on our gen whether its averaged in the BCM or in the Cluster itself.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... cant remember on our gen whether its averaged in the BCM, or in the cluster itself.

In older vehicles, it was just a spring meant to bias / normalize the gauge needle.
GM tired of customers complaining
'my friend's version of my vehicle tends to run a few degrees hotter / colder than mine. How do I get this fixed?'
The temp needle spring shut them up pretty quickly.

 

[mountie]

In older vehicles, it was just a spring meant to bias / normalize the gauge needle.
GM tired of customers complaining
'my friend's version of my vehicle tends to run a few degrees hotter / colder than mine. How do I get this fixed?'
The temp needle spring shut them up pretty quickly.

Uh..... as long as the temps are consistent, I don't see an issue. IMO

 

[Marky Dissod]

... as long as the temps are consistent, I don't see an issue.

SO long as temps are ACTUALLY consistent, I agree.
I was saying that the spring-dampened needle made temps look more consistent than they actually were,
not only that GM did it because they considered the questions annoying and wanted to shut people up.

 

[mountie]

SO long as temps are ACTUALLY consistent, I agree.
I was saying that the spring-dampened needle made temps look more consistent than they actually were,
not only that GM did it because they considered the questions annoying and wanted to shut people up.

Same for a transmission temp gauge..... That will drive people nuts.....