'97 Lumina overheating

Ok I just bought a used 1997 Lumina. I've read many forums and many reviews and one of the big probs seems to be with the cooling system. Now I know pratically nothing about cars, but I try to read up on them and learn more. This whole Dex-Cool and overheating problem with alot of these cars has got me really, really paranoid. I plan on having the radiator flushed about once a year, regardless of what the manual says, and I generally take good care of my vehicles, but I'm still worried.

My other car that I've had for a long time is a Thunderbird...now the heating gage on that will stay relatively close to the bottom or will barely move a quarter of the way up, this is what I'm used to. The Lumina's heating gage, however, will stay in the middle, without fluctuating much. Is this normal for these cars? Does anyone out there know if this is okay? Everything seems to be fine with the car, but I just got it, and have no idea how the previous owners treated this car. I know many of you are going to think this is the stupid question on the whole forum...but I'm a big time worrier so please give me some advice.

Thanks a bunch!!

that is perfectally fine for your temp guage to stay low. How low are we talking? Is it in operating temperature, or is it below that even? If its below, might want to check into that, but I wouldnt worry, as long as it doesnt over heat. As for death-cool, oops, sorry dex cool. From what I understand, the only reason they ever put that in there is so the car can go for about 100,000 miles without a coolant flush. Now, if you keep up on your flushes, I would defenatly switch to the green stuff. Just make sure all the dex-cool is flushed out before you put the green stuff in. Mixing coolants = BAD. Hope this helps, good luck.

Anywhere in the middle is good. The less fluctuation the better. Mine ('97) will run at about 1/3 with the A/C on (fans running), and closer to the halfway mark with A/C off. After idling for a long time, the temp will climb slowly to about 2/3 mark, at which point the fans come on and bring it back to 1/2. Sounds like yours is fine. These don't really have overheating issues per se, they have a sketchy lower intake gasket, and are prone to overheating if the cooling system is not bled correctly after servicing, but that can be said of many modern cars.

thanks so much for the replies. They eased my mind alot. I just went and had the radiator flushed today. I asked the mechanic doing the job if they bled the system when they did a flush and he said that it isn't neccesary unless there is an air bubble (which I didn't question unfortunately). Is it too late to have this done? Does the system get bled during the flush or after? Like I said I really don't know anything about cars, but if it needs to be bled I would like to do that.

Also the overflow still looks like dirty water...without the goo it had before, but nonetheless dirty water. Is this acceptable and normal with the Dex Cool? I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks

wow, no dex-cool should be a redish orange color, and especially after a flush, should be 100% clean. Did you ask your mechanic about what he would do... Stick with dex-cool, or go with the green stuff?

Sounds like they just flushed the block and radiator with no mind to the overflow bottle. Check the radiator fill neck for fluid color/consistency. If it looks good, then probably all they did was just a block/rad flush.

If they used the machine hooked to the flush tee and the radiator outlet, and flushed by exchange rather than drain and refill, there SHOULDN'T be any air in the system. That's not to say there couldn't be, but if there was, you'd see the temp climbing rapidly within minutes of starting to drive. That exchange won't clear out the resevoir either. Mine looks like crap too. You almost have to take it out and wash it with water and soap to get it clean, even then sometimes they are still stained.

all you have to do to flush it is open up those two bolts on the black coolant pipes... on the 3.1 they are about 18 inches on the left and right of your oil filler cap.


and keep an eye out on your lower intake gasket! look for seepage on the ends of your heads, and for sludge in your coolant, and antifreeze in your oil... also if you average temp rises over time, might be a sign too