Jump to content

What coolant temperature range your Spark runs at?


Recommended Posts

I miss the built in coolant temperature display available in my previous car, a Pontiac G5.

 

The engine coolant temperature tells you a lot if engine is running normally. It tell you if the cooling system is performing normal, if you need new coolant or flush. It is like your body temperature. If it is above normal, you have a fever and something is wrong. If it is much below normal, you are suffering hypothermia. 

 

Now that I have a OBDII scanner and the Torq software on my smart phone, I can monitor temperature in the Spark. I am  new owner, so do not yet know what the normal cruising coolant temp should be. My reading is usually 92 C. I do not know if that is high or low or normal, because the car is new.

 

My previous car, Pontiac G5 had built in access to temperature on the display screen. I knew immediately if coolant level was low or when is stuck in bad traffic, I should turn the heater on to cool the engine down a little.

Over 9+ years of driving the G5 I knew exactly what the temp should be based on up slope or cruising. The temp was always close to 189 F = 87.2 C when cruising. Stuck in traffic it jacked up as high as 220 F. 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

My TSTAT was bad, stuck closed, engine could reach 115 C not good, gutted the TSTAT for now and is running between 80 and 96 C usually stays around 80 on a hot  day ac full on, if I stop and go trafficc and not ac it moves 89-96 C if I put AC it drops to 80 C, when my engine was hot  over 100 it rattled and that worried me. Now that it runs cooler no rattle in valve system, I have always used 5-20W full syntetic oil since new, have over 50,000 miles now. these electronic tstat make me wonder.

Link to post
Share on other sites
6 hours ago, Mr.tozzi said:

I need to hook mine up and see how hot it runs, never got curious to know. My malibu used to run at about 190° and the cobalt was pretty hot all the time nearing 230° after a few minutes stuck in traffic.

Your Cobalt was a close cousin of my previous car, Pontiac G5. Same engine, same body structure. And I vividly remember the temp increased rapidly when caught in heavy traffic ballooning to over 220 very quickly.  

Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, mitogt said:

My TSTAT was bad, stuck closed, engine could reach 115 C not good, gutted the TSTAT for now and is running between 80 and 96 C usually stays around 80 on a hot  day ac full on, if I stop and go trafficc and not ac it moves 89-96 C if I put AC it drops to 80 C, when my engine was hot  over 100 it rattled and that worried me. Now that it runs cooler no rattle in valve system, I have always used 5-20W full syntetic oil since new, have over 50,000 miles now. these electronic tstat make me wonder.

A very hot engine can cause pre-ignition which is also known as pinging. It sounds like marbles rattling in a glass bottle. This was more common in the old days of carburetors and no electronic ignition.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...
  • 4 months later...

I just purchased my 2014. I have a scan Guage II on it. Usually don't 65 it will crop up to 210F them about down to 188/194F and then crop back up again. So the weeks chronic thermostat is not variable. It's either open or closed. I'm new to these electronic thermostats but they seem to work. Ive always felt with the real old school stuff. 

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 9 months later...
  • 1 year later...
On 9/3/2018 at 9:25 PM, LittleBlue! said:

Gearhead, your statement is consistent with what I see from my vcm scanner, highest temp I saw was 216 F.  Runs between 200 and 216F on my Spark. 

Im new here. Mine stop at traffic 203F to 217F 90F ambient temp. Cruising around 190F to 208F. 2014 spark LT1 1.2L

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 years later...
On 11/19/2017 at 5:30 PM, Retired old Gearhead said:

Normal temps for the 1.2L engine is between 80°C-102°C and the 1.4L engine is just slightly lower. Temps properly top out at 220°F max.

My radiator fan only comes on with the aircon, I have replaced all 3 sensors connected to the cooling system, do you know at what temp the fan should activate if the aircon is not on? Would i presume it should kick in at 103°C ?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...