Coolant Temperature Too High..??

30

Asked by kathy01 Feb 09, 2010 at 10:25 AM about the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LS Coupe FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

i own a 2007 chevy cobalt ls coupe. in traffic, my car goes up to 220 degrees, even when im not moving, and once i start to drive, it goes down. if im not moving, the fan kicks on at 220 degrees. i dont think this is normal. i have taken it to the dealership. the first time, they said it had the wrong type of coolant in it, it was supposed to be red, but i dont think that matters. they charged me for it. next day, im driving in the city in traffic and all of a sudden it went up again to 220 degrees, so now it is the second time i take it to the dealership, i wonder what theyll say this time...is anyone having problems like this too with their chevy cobalt?

51 Answers

19,925

I am pretty sure that is the correct temperature that the fan should go on - between 215-220 As you start to drive temp should go no lower than 195 as thats where the thermostat should close to keep temp at that temperature.

65 people found this helpful.
19,925

Follow up : Actually Normal is much hotter on this vehicle "The PCM commands Low Speed Fans ON under the following conditions: Engine coolant temperature (ECT) exceeds approximately 106°C (223°F). After the vehicle is shut off, the ECT at key-off is greater than 140°C (284°F) and system voltage is more than 12 volts . The fans will stay on for approximately 3 minutes. The PCM commands High Speed Fans ON under the following conditions: ECT reaches 110°C (230°F)

79 people found this helpful.
400

same thing here. i got my cobalt 1 year ago. it hasn't reached 220 yet. just 217. if i sit at a red light it goes up. start to move and the temp goes down. any help from you would be great!!i hate to take it back to the dealer as i need a car for work.

40 people found this helpful.
205

mine is the same nothing is rong with your cars its allways between 90c and 110 but my fan kicks in at 102c

13 people found this helpful.
50,595

If your engine goes over 220 degrees you may have a problem with the fan relays. Does the high speed fan kick on or just the low one? I'd find a second dealer and not go to the one that said the wrong color coolant is in the motor and charges you for the change. Next they'll tell you your muffler bearing is worn out and needs replacement.

29 people found this helpful.
200

I have a cobalt 2008 and I'm from Iraq, where the temperature reaches 110 only in the case of stop at the house out to the outside water please I want to reply please help me

20 people found this helpful.
50,595

???????? I'm from So. California where the temp will reach 110 and above. Some places it is near 120 in the shade. We have learned to keep the vehicle coolant clean, flushed out, good fan belts and coolant filled with the proper antifreeze, not just water. We make sure the electric fans if equipped work, and the hoses are in good condition. So what is your question from Iraq? Just type in your question and hit, Post Your Answer"

23 people found this helpful.
320

Cars are designed to run too hot these days all for emissions purposes. My Malibu fans would not go high speed until 228 degrees. Aluminum heads will easily crack around 240 to 250,so I went aftermarket to keep my coolant around 200 at all times just to be safe.(a cracked head is a very expensive thing) At 228 things can malfunction with your cooling system allowing your car to easily overheat(I live in Texas)So,if you live in a hot climate,go with a cooler thermostat,cooler fan relays,and save your engine.

32 people found this helpful.
220

I am currently driving a 2010 Cobalt 2.2 auto with less that 10000km on it.With the outside temp at 60-70f the coolant temp will go to 221F.Then the rad cooling fan comes on and lowers the temp. Some websites say this is normal, others say their Cobalts run at 194f.The 221Fmay be normal for many, but I don't think it is right to have to constantly depend on the cooling fan to keep the engine temperature in check. My previous 2001 Sunfire 2.2 auto ran at 194f and the rad fan seldom came on, maybe once a year. I was worried it would seize from lack of use. Turning the Cobalt AC on will turn on the rad fan, and keep the engine at around 200F. I am worried about long term damage to this aluminum engine and head.I have checked that all the air is bled out of the cooling system and the coolant mix is 50/50 . Did GM make so many defective thermostats that half the Cobalts run at 194F and half at F so that no one knows what is right ?. Are garages now starting to see Cobalts come in with engines damaged from running too hot? Does anyone have an explanation for the high temperature? May 2004

22 people found this helpful.
100

^manpersun - I also have 2010 Cobalt LS coupe I noticed the other day driving in Florida weather, not that hot mind you but after a short day of driving the temperature picked up from 195 to 210 quick. The idle for the engine had a slight slow rev up and down. It sounded somewhat putt putt. Later that night after being off for a few hours, then having a short drive by the time the car was home it hit 208. I let it run for about 10 minutes where it hit 218 and the second fan kicked in and brought the temperature back to 180 in the garage on a cool night. I will see where and if the idle shows issue along with the quick heating. All I've been told about the car is it is run completely on sensors and electronics that indicate issues. Without a problem light to indicate a problem, there is "nothing worth looking at" to Chevrolet.

10 people found this helpful.
50

When a car is on the move, there is continuous airflow over the radiator from outside that cools the coolant flowing in it. But when the car is stationary, the cooling happens only when the radiator fan gets turned on. This depends on the thermostat setting. The error in its setting can be +/- 2 deg C or +/- 5 deg F

5 people found this helpful.
110

The fans should come on between 217 and 225. The temp sensor can have a few degrees difference. Now the car should not be at this temperature all the time. If you are having problems with high temp but not over heating check your coolant. Make sure the water to antifreeze ratio is correct and that the coolant is clean and there is no scaling. Another easy simple and over looked step is to rinse the front of the radiator with a garden hose. You will be suprised how much cooler your car will run just by doing that.

11 people found this helpful.
50,595

I built my engine on my 69 Corvette so it puts out more heat. The more houses under the hood, the more heat it produces. I also have aluminum heads, which helps just a little in cooling over iron heads. I bypassed my thermostats on my two electrical fans, (got rid of the GM clutch fan) and they run all the time. It keeps my engine cool and from overheating. This model Corvette always had heating issues even when new. Air flow was a main factor. I have two coolant gauges, one on the rear block and one just before the thermostat. I run around 175 on the highway and 195 in town in the summer. If I run the A/C it will go over 210. Smog is not an issue, and I have two Edlebrock 4 barrel carburetors, not an EFI set up. If overheating is a concern, think of bypassing the thermostats and run the fans full time.

7 people found this helpful.
70

I have a 06 chevy cobalt and the fan will not cut on the temperature gets up to 190 and i have to shut her down when im driving it gose down but not much to about 181 idk what to do the fan will not cut on from what i can tell i just replaced the relays and thermostat and dont seem to help.

7 people found this helpful.
50,595

The fan relays may have a switch that will move the ]fan to run all the time. If not, and you're not that well versed, 99% are not so don't feel left out, have a radiator specialist bypass the relay so it run constantly, or even put a manual switch in the cock pit you can turn on if the temp rises. Have one fan run constantly, and with a kill switch if you're in cold country, (as of now this year, that's 47 states.) to shut it off if it gets too cold, and let the engine heat up.

9 people found this helpful.
30

Tengo un pontiac sunfire 2.2 del 2002 y quisiera saber cual es la temperatura normal

3 people found this helpful.
50,595

That would be 82 Celsius, or 180 Fahrenheit should be normal for the 2002 Sunfire.

4 people found this helpful.
90

I have a 2009 2.2L sedan. I was having those same issues when my car was new. I was driving down narrow downtown roads doing 20mph and stopping often. The high temps increased when I would have to stop. I took it to the dealership and they told me "those kinds of temps (215-220F) are normal for these small engines." I am normally between 175 - 185F. Lately we have had higher than normal temps, around 100F, so the coolant temp has gone above 200F plenty of times. Recently I was marching up Santiam Pass in the mountains of Oregon. I was holding speed at about 60 mph while climbing the pass. It was around 90 degrees outside, and I was cranking the A/C full blast. I made it up the hill using 4th gear pretty much the entire way, and my coolant was 217F when I reached the top.Not to mention I was going on vacation with my family, so the car was jam packed, and I am one of the heaviest guys that has ever driven a Cobalt. All I'm trying to say is the car was working hard. In the end, I feel the 220F coolant temp is okay. Of course, if there is a strange noise, or an insane lack of power there might be something wrong. I have 109,000 miles now and have been running hot since it was brand new.

9 people found this helpful.
30

Hi... i have a calbolt ls 2005 2.2 ecotech motor.. i was driving n cracked the oil pan.. i had no way to get home so i drove it as far as i could my friend gave be a boost n he told me to put it n nutral n when i did it went a little ways then the cars was lagging it shut down by the house n i parked it the nxt day i checked it. It wouldent turn over but the. Engine n the car w the lock light thing was on. so dose calbolt have safty feathers to it so my car wouldnt over heat

3 people found this helpful.
50,595

Jarrick: 1. did it drain the oil out if you cracked the oil pan? 2. If it was leaking oil, did you keep replacing it? 3. what was the oil pressure while driving it? 4. did the engine overheat? 5. was there any unusual nice when driving? 6. Why did you stop by the house or did the car stop itself? If you ran it out of oil, it overheated. You may have what's called, spinning a bearing and the engine froze up. It will mean a major overhaul or new engine depending on the damage done. How did you break the oil pan? You could of gotten an airplane ticket to Australia for less than it may cost to repair the car. You should of left it parked, took a cab or bus home, and had it looked at before any damage happened to the internal parts of the engine. Just from the information you gave, your engine is toast.

6 people found this helpful.
40

I have 2008 sport coupe and today mine went to 260 and all my coolant poured out of my car so I added more and it's fine I'm so confused from it

4 people found this helpful.
170

i have 08 chevy cobalt live in Tricities Washington State and had the water pump replaced with the thermostat as well, but since then the temperature exceeds 230 F and the lower radiator hose stays cold and the thermostat is not opening and i have the heater works fine ,,, i thought the thermostat is defected and replaced it as well, i even checked if i installed the thermostat the right way when i checked the fan, it was coming on with cold air comes through . Anyone has any clue ?

17 people found this helpful.
20

I run in my 06 cobalt lt coupe around 181oF

2 people found this helpful.
50,595

That is a good temp to run. The newer cars, (older that mid 70s) do run hotter. It also depends where the sensor is placed as to the true temp recorded. If it bothers you, you can always replace the thermostat with a cooler one, but check first to make sure the car will run properly with a cooler thermostat. If it runs below what it is designed for, the computer will try to make adjustments and it may affect power, mileage, and smog emotions. In the mean time, make sure your radiator is clean of bugs, leaves and other obstacles that may restrict the air flow and transfer of heat,and cooling air. Water boils at 220 degrees, and a sealed system in the newer engines allows the coolant to reach a much higher temp before boiling.

6 people found this helpful.
140

My 07 Chevy cobalt usually runs around 185-190 lately it has been eating up much faster, I checked my coolant res and it was empty, I filled it to the line, but car is still running hot, quickly getting up to upper 190s and low 200s this is not normal for my car. It will cool down eventually, from driving faster, turning on the a/c, or i assume when stopped the fan, I just do not know what the problem is.

14 people found this helpful.
170

I have a 2007 chevy colbalt and the temp was up to 214 driving and just today when I got in the car turned it on temp was 79 pulled out of my driveway and it was already 149 and climbing 2 degrees at a time then jumped to 180 and was still climbing then car was not moving it was 207 temp then back driving went to 192 temp guess my question is should the temp be jumping up and down so much and I am not driving far maybe 6 miles one way Just would like to know if I need to replace the thermostat or is that normal

17 people found this helpful.
90

Yo tengo un Chevi Cobalt 2008 quiero saber cual es la temperatura normal del coolant en el tablero? Hasta cuanto puede llegar .... al máximo. Gracias

1 people found this helpful.
30

I live in Oklahoma and we sell a lot of 90% gas / 10% ethanol mixtures here. I started using 100% gas in the summer time and now my car runs about 180-190F instead of 210+

3 people found this helpful.
50,595

jth543210, if you use ethanol gas, do you need to change spark plugs or change out the timing? I know some cars are made to run it but is there some adjustment necessary? that may be who the difference in temp of the engine. There are other reasons cars not made for ethanol can not use it.

3 people found this helpful.
90

I have a 2008 Chevy Cobalt I want to know what the normal temperature of the coolant on the board? Until .... As you can reach the maximum. Thank you

8 people found this helpful.
50,595

The coolant systems of today is a sealed unit. It takes a higher temperature for the liquid to boil. Straight water will turn to steam faster that the correct mixture of anti-freeze and water. So a normal temp on hot days in heavy intern driving in Az, Texas, florid or S.Calif., may get up to 190 or even 210 which is a warning sign. Water boils at 220 degreed F. Sealed systems can go to 240 but that's going to the danger zone. you should be between 170 to 190 if everything is working properly.

7 people found this helpful.
20

hi john sir, i have chavy cobalt 2010 ONE TIME I SEE OVERHEAT SIGN I STOP THE CAR WAIT FOR COOL DOWN AFTER 30 MINUTE START THE CAR N BRING HOME AND I CHANG THE THERMOSTAT AND DRIVE BUT TEMPERATURE REACH 120C. SO PLEASE HELP ME FOR THIS WHAT I CAN DO, ALSO ABOUT HOW MUCH MAX TEMPERATURE FOR OVERHEAT, THANKSSS

2 people found this helpful.
50,595

Please read the above responses. Most of you questions are answered there. Make sure you have proper fluid and it is full. Is the radiator clear of birds, insects, leaves or other blockages. The timing may need to be checked. Is the car actually overheating or is your sensor going bad? A sealed car calling unit will not allow the water to boil at a normal temp, but 5 to 10% higher. Since you changed your thermostat, you may rule out that as a problem. Is your radiator hoses in good order. Wear ones will flex and compress if they are old and weak, restricting the flow of coolant. Normal temp will be 170 to 190 F.

4 people found this helpful.
150

Hey John I have a 05 Cobalt Base Model Sedan. It has 205xxx miles. I changed the radiator to an aluminum, replaced the thermostat, and the water pump. Coolant level goes up to 330 degrees and this really scares me. The weather outside is about 100 degrees. If you have info please help.

4 people found this helpful.
50,595

Fredrick, just type the question and submit. On top of the page is a place to ask questions. Gustavo03, Did you also changeout the coolant hoses? If so, I'd really suspect the radiator or thermostat. Have someone test the pressure of the coolant running through the radiator. It may tell you if there is a blockage. Does the car run up to 230 quickly or after normal warm up? You may need to check the fluid level in the calling system as air may of been in the system when filling it and ow it is low. People have posted on this site they went through two to four thermastats until they found one that worked. It's hard to analyze over the internet. Have you timing checked also.

4 people found this helpful.
150

The radiator was replaced less than a year ago and so was the thermostat. It would take awhile for it to go up to 230 degrees and it would stay there till I stopped driving. It was the thermostat! This was the third one I've been through. It keeps the car at about 190 degrees and 210 max. I went OEM on this one and it worked great. Thank you so much for your help.

7 people found this helpful.
30

Me same thing. I think what happened when the oil was changed, I think they topped it off with green antifreeze because when i left there thst night it ran hot. They say when the red and green are mixed it makes clumps in the radiator and thus not circulating properly to cool. I dont know, but I'm having the same problem. Also , having a problem with the issue of red or green antifreeze.

3 people found this helpful.
70

i live in tx and i have an 07 colbalt. my car usually starts off at 11-130, but within 5-10 minutes of driving it'll get up to 220, then after about 15, if i'm not on the highway, at a red light, or parked for a couple of minutes, it jumps to 250+, and that's when cooling mode comes on. sometimes it'll come on at 240. this is constantly everyday, multiple times a day. when i took it to a shop the guy told me not to worry about it, but it seems like it's getting worse and worse

5 people found this helpful.
65

2008 Cobalt.....runs at 195 - 200f driving down the highways but if I stop...drive-thru. ..traffic whatever it rises to 230f and of course the a/c cuts off....start moving and it cools to about 200f.....a/c seems to get cold again just under 225f. Just had the systen flushed....didn't seem dirty.....new coolant added....new thermostat. ... still doing about the same....fan seems to be working normally....radiator is clean.....free of anything that might block air flow. ....so do I just accept these temps as more or less normal? or do I have a problem and just don't know what else to do? I'm in DFW.....temp hovers near 100f most of the Summer though the car wasn't much cooler in the Winter months.

6 people found this helpful.
20

Jessica my car does the exact thing .. did you get a answer???

2 people found this helpful.
20

My car when I'm driving gets to 320 degrees. I just changed antifreeze and radiator fan, yet it's still doing it. Anyone have any idea? I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt coupe

2 people found this helpful.
50,595

I do not buy 320 degrees. Your coolant will turn to steam at 270? in a sealed system. 220 is more in line with a hot engine. How do you know it is 320 degrees when most heat gauges do not register that high? You may have a bad sensor, or gauge. Put a heat gun on it to see where the heat is coming from. You may have a bad water pump, clogged radiator, poor conditioned hoses or the thermostat is stuck or put in upside-down. Most gauges max out between 250 to 280.

3 people found this helpful.
90

what is normal collant degree 2008 cobalt?

9 people found this helpful.
40

2005 cobalt 150K. I just flush the coolant system "radiator" it's still going to 228F when I drive. should I do something make different?

2 people found this helpful.
20

what is the normal temperature of the coolant since my car regularly did not exceed 180 F, now it remains in the 196 F And if I use it in journeys of more than one hour goes up to 214 F, my car is a cobalt 2008 2.2 LT.

2 people found this helpful.

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