Thanks to all that replied. I think my plan of attack will be to top of the
coolant system, and check my radiator cap, and see if that works. If it
doesn't work, I will change the thermostat and just add water to see if it
gets hot. I will also look to see if the water is circulating in the
radiator. If that doesn't work I will flush the system and fill back with
DexCool and water. If that don't work, well it will work, something will
work. Maybe the water pump will be the next thing.
Thanks again,
Tom
55 2nd
97 S-10
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Bob KNOTTS
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 8:26 PM
To: Bruce Kettunen; oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] newer chevy truck question
I'm retired from an AZ State agency. Our motor pool told me you should
ALWAYS use distilled water. It's cheap, and doesn't leave the minerals that
you get in the water almost anywhere. On the thermostat-you can open the cap
WHILE THE ENGINE IS COLD, and use a flashlight to watch the coolant after
you start the engine. The water shouldn't move across the radiator until the
engine gets warm. If it starts moving across rapidly at once, you almost
certainly have a failed open thermostat. Bob K in PHX.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Kettunen" <bekett@uslink.net>
To: <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 10:46 AM
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] newer chevy truck question
> As the weather gets colder, the operating temperature of the engine
> will go down if the thermostat is stuck open. If the temp guage
> doesn't reach its normal position, it is probably just a bad thermostat.
> If the truck truly overheated, the thermostat has a low melting
> point metal plug that probably melted and leaves the thermostat wide
> open.
>
> If the guage shows normal temperature or hot and you don't have cab
> heat, there is usually a valve somewhere between the engine and the
> heater that may not be working.
>
> You don't even want to think about the other possibility.
>
> Dex Cool is ethylene glycol antifreeze just like the stuff we have
> been using for years. The difference is the corrosion inhibitor
> package that is added. Green coolant uses a silicate based chemistry
> and Dex uses an organic based chemistry for this.
>
> On another list I am on, Dex Cool is called Death Cool. Seems that
> after 4 years or so it turns sour and if air is in the system it
> can quite suddenly jell up into unpumpable slime. I know Chevy says
> it is good for 5 years or 100,000 miles, but it is probably time
> to flush yours. You can replace it with Dex or with green coolant.
> The Dex Cool does tend to make water pump seals last longer. Once
> you have used green coolant there is reportedly no advantage to using
> Dex again.
>
> The consensus on that list is that it should be changed every 2-3
> years just like green coolant. Also, the consensus on that list
> is that if you live in a bad water area, you should use distilled
> water to dilute it.
>
> Bruce Kettunen
> 57 3200
> Mt. Iron, MN
>
>
> At Tuesday, 2 December 2003, you wrote:
>
> >I hope a newer Chevy truck question is ok. It takes my 1997 S-10
> truck over
> >20 miles to get warm and then it is only luke warm so to speak.
> Where you
> >you guys start to look for this problem? I would think maybe the
> thermostat,
> >if that doesn't do it, then the water pump? I havn't checked the water
> >level, but could low water in the radiator cause it to not warm up? I
> >wouldn't think so since it is pumped through?
> >It got hot last year and real quick, so something has gone away.
> >Also, I know that the Dex-cool is what I need to use, but do I add
> it like I
> >would regular antifreeze? I have never used any Dex-cool.
> >Thanks for the input, and have a great day.
> >` Tom
> > 55 2nd
> > 97 S-10----The truck in question
> >oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> >
>
>
>
>
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> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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