Temperature Reading

I have a 2002 Mailbu LS 3100 V6. At 44, 000 miles I had the Intake Manifold Gasket replaced. (too early if you ask me) Going to Florida a few weeks ago the electric fans stopped cutting on and the temperature starting spiking. (@230 degrees) On my return, we found out the temperature sensor plugs that activates the electric fans had come unplugged. The electric fans now work; however I notice that if the car is running and in park, the temperature wants to spike upward. I doubled checked and the fans are running; however at a low speed. If the car is in drive at a stop light, the temperature stays at the mid range. (@210 degrees). My mechanic says this is normal for the 3100 engine. My question: What is the normal mid range temperature reading for the 3100 V6 and are there different speed settings for the electric fans based on demand? Any comments are welcome.

That's the temp they run at. In my opinion it's high..but it's typical for the 3100

Thanks for the quick reply. I will not worry about the guage reading. Is the wide temperature fluctation normal between between idle and driving? It seems extreme. Are there a different speed settings for the electric fans based on demand?

Did they install good, quality gaskets, such as Felpro? I think the GM gaskets were half the problem.

How many miles has it been since the intake gaskets were replaced. Keep an eye on your oil and coolent levels, check them at least weekly. The temp shouldn't be all over the place. I don't know if the fans are duel speed.

Shit, I can't remember mine coming on unless the engine was extreamly hot, which I was never too at ease with. Temp guage should stay in the middle. If the temp begins to float too much past the half way mark see if turning on the heater full-blast will help.

My Malibu is in the process of getting a fuel leak fixed so I havent driven it in a couple of months...expense issue. Since I've had the engine replaced last year with a scrap yard special I drive the car as little as possible. And baby the hell out of it when I do, and watch the fluid levels like a mother hen

I have a 2000 impala with the same problem also...and i had my intake gaskets replaced. I know the malibu, monte carlo and the impala are very identicle, some have the same parts and motors. Well if my impala sits with nothing running, the heater the a/c, it will go past the half way mark, but it will come back down after a few minutes and then repeat the process. When I'm driving down the road, it will stay at about 2-3 notches over the first quarter of the guage. If i have the heat running it goes down to a convincing level, same with the air conditioning. I have taken it in to have it checked and they said it was fine. More then likely it's probably going to be fine, but i just don't understand the big temp fluxuation between driving down the road and idleing. I just don't feel comfortable to let it sit and run for a ten minute time frame or longer. I noticed the cooling fans kick on for only a few seconds and then shut back off, seems kinda retarded. But thats my side of the story...

mike

I have a 2000 impala with the same problem also...and i had my intake gaskets replaced. I know the malibu, monte carlo and the impala are very identicle, some have the same parts and motors. Well if my impala sits with nothing running, the heater the a/c, it will go past the half way mark, but it will come back down after a few minutes and then repeat the process. When I'm driving down the road, it will stay at about 2-3 notches over the first quarter of the guage. If i have the heat running it goes down to a convincing level, same with the air conditioning. I have taken it in to have it checked and they said it was fine. More then likely it's probably going to be fine, but i just don't understand the big temp fluxuation between driving down the road and idleing. I just don't feel comfortable to let it sit and run for a ten minute time frame or longer. I noticed the cooling fans kick on for only a few seconds and then shut back off, seems kinda retarded. But thats my side of the story...

mike

When your driving down the road the majority of the heat generated by the engine is disapated by the airflow across the radiator and engine. Usually the fans come on when idling, when cool air is at a minimum.

I wouldn't let the 3100 idle for too long in the hot weather. I've even turned on the heater when stuck in traffic to help keep the engine cooler.