04 GTO Strange Overheating Issue
04 GTO Strange Overheating Issue Hello,
Let me start by saying in general this is the strangest, quirkiest car I have ever owned. I don't even know where to begin but let me give you a quick overview of what I am experiencing.
2004 GTO w/ Full exhaust and Intake, otherwise stock. The car was owned by my best friend previously but sat for nearly 5-6 years prior to me purchasing. On the first week the radiator opened itself up at the seam. I purchased a 3 core aluminum radiator on Ebay to get her back on the road quickly. I drove it for a couple of months during "winter." It always ran warm but was never a problem. Around April it began overheating when I would get on it. I replaced the thermostat first with a 180*F, and next with a 160*F. The overheating got worse. Next I replaced the coolant cap. Then I pressure tested the system and it held 25psi for just about 20 minutes.
Idling in the driveway it stays at about 175. The minute I begin driving it the temperature creeps up with no end in sight slowly. It will continue all the way up to 220 which is where I cut it off. Both the fans are running full blast as well as the heater. I've had this thing up in the air to "bleed" it for air about 6 times already... no change.
I'm really frustrated with this car. This seems like something so stupid and simple, yet its holding me back from enjoying it.
DG
Let me start by saying in general this is the strangest, quirkiest car I have ever owned. I don't even know where to begin but let me give you a quick overview of what I am experiencing.
2004 GTO w/ Full exhaust and Intake, otherwise stock. The car was owned by my best friend previously but sat for nearly 5-6 years prior to me purchasing. On the first week the radiator opened itself up at the seam. I purchased a 3 core aluminum radiator on Ebay to get her back on the road quickly. I drove it for a couple of months during "winter." It always ran warm but was never a problem. Around April it began overheating when I would get on it. I replaced the thermostat first with a 180*F, and next with a 160*F. The overheating got worse. Next I replaced the coolant cap. Then I pressure tested the system and it held 25psi for just about 20 minutes.
Idling in the driveway it stays at about 175. The minute I begin driving it the temperature creeps up with no end in sight slowly. It will continue all the way up to 220 which is where I cut it off. Both the fans are running full blast as well as the heater. I've had this thing up in the air to "bleed" it for air about 6 times already... no change.
I'm really frustrated with this car. This seems like something so stupid and simple, yet its holding me back from enjoying it.
DG
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 333
Likes: 75
From: Sydney, Australia
Probably not much help but I have an 04 Monaro that I purchased new, so basically the same car minus whatever Pontiac requested Holden to change (would love to see a full list one day) and the only issue it's had is the radiator leaking.
However, my car sits around a lot as it's rarely driven and then only on the street now, so I wasn't surprised. I usually supply my own parts to my mechanic (for all my cars) but with this, I was told sternly to only use a factory radiator as a replacement and specifically not eBay etc radiators. Unfortunately, I didn't push the reasons for this, I just purchased a new factory version.
However, my car sits around a lot as it's rarely driven and then only on the street now, so I wasn't surprised. I usually supply my own parts to my mechanic (for all my cars) but with this, I was told sternly to only use a factory radiator as a replacement and specifically not eBay etc radiators. Unfortunately, I didn't push the reasons for this, I just purchased a new factory version.
Probably not much help but I have an 04 Monaro that I purchased new, so basically the same car minus whatever Pontiac requested Holden to change (would love to see a full list one day) and the only issue it's had is the radiator leaking.
However, my car sits around a lot as it's rarely driven and then only on the street now, so I wasn't surprised. I usually supply my own parts to my mechanic (for all my cars) but with this, I was told sternly to only use a factory radiator as a replacement and specifically not eBay etc radiators. Unfortunately, I didn't push the reasons for this, I just purchased a new factory version.
However, my car sits around a lot as it's rarely driven and then only on the street now, so I wasn't surprised. I usually supply my own parts to my mechanic (for all my cars) but with this, I was told sternly to only use a factory radiator as a replacement and specifically not eBay etc radiators. Unfortunately, I didn't push the reasons for this, I just purchased a new factory version.
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I've seen the red coolant that GM used after it has been sitting in an engine for a few years that had sat there not being driven, it had turned to a sludge in the block, to the point it had blocked some coolant holes in the deck. You should flush out the entire system, empty coolant, fill with water, get it up to temp hold revs at 2-3k for a few minutes. Let it cool, empty, repeat once again. Put water only in it again as go for a decent drive.. see what the result is then.
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So the good news is that I purchased the hydrocarbon test kit today and did the test... I do not have a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder wall. I am very relieved. So to begin I started throwing parts at it. I ordered a 20psi overflow cap, which will be in tomorrow.
I agree, it might be a good idea to do a coolant super flush. At this point there is some sort of stupid issue. I am seriously also considering ordering a different radiator.
Regardless, heads will be coming off in the fall, but I really would like to use the car before that...
I agree, it might be a good idea to do a coolant super flush. At this point there is some sort of stupid issue. I am seriously also considering ordering a different radiator.
Regardless, heads will be coming off in the fall, but I really would like to use the car before that...
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Higher pressure cap will only help if it's boiling over and you want to increase the boiling point. (the higher the pressure the higher the boiling point)
I would suspect the radiator since it does it while driving.
I would suspect the radiator since it does it while driving.