Engine Temp Fluctuating
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Likes: 49
From: Mboro
Engine Temp Fluctuating
I have a 21 C8 that is currently out of warranty, purchased from auction, and fully repaired..
My engine temperature fluctuates between 189-218 pretty quickly the last few days. I can be cruising and it can jump from around 190 to 215, and then it can quickly go back to 189 or anywhere in between in seconds... tonight, I just came to a red light after driving on the interstate and it said the engine overheated! While at the light, I turned the car off right away, all the fans started spinning pretty hard and I opened the rear hatch to check how hot it is back there, and it was pretty normal operating temperatures from what I'm used to.... so I get back in the car and start it, the temperature goes from overheating down to ~200-215 quickly again and was fine the remaining drive home which is about 10 minutes....
No check engine light or any codes but I'm thinking my thermostat may be going bad as when I purchased the car it needed front passenger radiator and condenser was replaced...Anyone go through anything similar or any thoughts on which sensors to check or where the thermostat is even located?
My engine temperature fluctuates between 189-218 pretty quickly the last few days. I can be cruising and it can jump from around 190 to 215, and then it can quickly go back to 189 or anywhere in between in seconds... tonight, I just came to a red light after driving on the interstate and it said the engine overheated! While at the light, I turned the car off right away, all the fans started spinning pretty hard and I opened the rear hatch to check how hot it is back there, and it was pretty normal operating temperatures from what I'm used to.... so I get back in the car and start it, the temperature goes from overheating down to ~200-215 quickly again and was fine the remaining drive home which is about 10 minutes....
No check engine light or any codes but I'm thinking my thermostat may be going bad as when I purchased the car it needed front passenger radiator and condenser was replaced...Anyone go through anything similar or any thoughts on which sensors to check or where the thermostat is even located?
Last edited by AirStingray; Aug 26, 2024 at 11:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6,379
Likes: 3,294
The C8 RUNS INCREDIBLY COOL, takes a while to warm up, ... If you have the Z51 with extra cooling.
I had a inaccurate (unknown to me at the time - lied to by Ford), water temp in my Ford F53. Thne just before the warranty expired, it started erratic behavior (displaying hotter than it should) that eventualy started going into the red zone. Extensive analysis (Radiator, belts, ...) and checking (flushing coolant & changing thermostat 3 times, ... no change. Unfortunately, I had a personal situation and could not address the problem literally until 1 month post 5 year warranty and I changed the engine Temp sender and everything displays steady at the proper temperature that it had not since day 1. $2,000 mistake on my part for not being more forceful in addressing it sooner!
I'm not saying that this is your situation, but dig in deep. You may be out of warranty, but deal with it sooner than later.
I had a inaccurate (unknown to me at the time - lied to by Ford), water temp in my Ford F53. Thne just before the warranty expired, it started erratic behavior (displaying hotter than it should) that eventualy started going into the red zone. Extensive analysis (Radiator, belts, ...) and checking (flushing coolant & changing thermostat 3 times, ... no change. Unfortunately, I had a personal situation and could not address the problem literally until 1 month post 5 year warranty and I changed the engine Temp sender and everything displays steady at the proper temperature that it had not since day 1. $2,000 mistake on my part for not being more forceful in addressing it sooner!
I'm not saying that this is your situation, but dig in deep. You may be out of warranty, but deal with it sooner than later.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 484
From: Portland Oregon
When you say purchased from auction and fully repaired, are you saying this was a salvage title vehicle that was repaired and then sold at auction? If so, did you get the before pictures to see where and how bad the damage was before the repairs? I also assume you have checked coolant levels and it is full and stays at consistent levels?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Likes: 49
From: Mboro
When you say purchased from auction and fully repaired, are you saying this was a salvage title vehicle that was repaired and then sold at auction? If so, did you get the before pictures to see where and how bad the damage was before the repairs? I also assume you have checked coolant levels and it is full and stays at consistent levels?
I purchased it salvage and fixed it, damage was only in passenger front side where it needed radiator and condenser and hoses.. checked the coolant levels and yes it’s full.
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