Help on engine running hot...Can water pumps be checked??

Working on a 1992 Chevy Lumina APV. 3.1 L engine

The engine was experiencing
several problems which have been repaired....but still running hot (not
overheating, just running hotter than normal).

Engine Temperature is 207.3 degrees (OBD1 tester). Electric Fan
does cycle on and off. A radiator thermometer shows antifree temperature
to be around 210 or so.

But, with the engine running and at 200 plus degrees, the system
should be pressurized...but it is not. I can remove the radiator cap
without having the coolent spurt all over. And the upper and
lower radiator hoses...are hot but can easily be collapsed.

When thermostat opens and water begins to flow I get even
heat over the surface of the radiator.

Cooling System Tester showed the cooling system holding
15 pounds pressure steady for over 30 minutes without losing anything.
Also no leaks, or signs of leaks. Radiator Cap tested okay using
tester but I swapped in a new one anyway. No change

The water pump was replaced about a year ago. Thermostat
was replaced (tested before replacement). Radiator is full of
coolent. (about a 50% mixture using an antifreeze tester.


Is the system failing to pressurize during operation indicative of a failing water
pump??? Water pump is not leaking. No bearing noise (far as i can tell).

Is the troubleshooting technique okay....what am I overlooking ???

Thanks in advance for your help.

You might consider a general degradation of cooling system effiency from
time and mileage, rust and scale build up for example, my 3800 Lumina runs
at 200 will not build up any real pressure without about 220 on the
scanner.
"Peter" <Peter@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
news:7p1qp0tjb3hbkdte0h3ia09q1jqupov46q@4ax.com...
> Working on a 1992 Chevy Lumina APV. 3.1 L engine
>
> The engine was experiencing
> several problems which have been repaired....but still running hot (not
> overheating, just running hotter than normal).
>
> Engine Temperature is 207.3 degrees (OBD1 tester). Electric Fan
> does cycle on and off. A radiator thermometer shows antifree temperature
> to be around 210 or so.
>
> But, with the engine running and at 200 plus degrees, the system
> should be pressurized...but it is not. I can remove the radiator cap
> without having the coolent spurt all over. And the upper and
> lower radiator hoses...are hot but can easily be collapsed.
>
> When thermostat opens and water begins to flow I get even
> heat over the surface of the radiator.
>
> Cooling System Tester showed the cooling system holding
> 15 pounds pressure steady for over 30 minutes without losing anything.
> Also no leaks, or signs of leaks. Radiator Cap tested okay using
> tester but I swapped in a new one anyway. No change
>
> The water pump was replaced about a year ago. Thermostat
> was replaced (tested before replacement). Radiator is full of
> coolent. (about a 50% mixture using an antifreeze tester.
>
>
> Is the system failing to pressurize during operation indicative of a
> failing water
> pump??? Water pump is not leaking. No bearing noise (far as i can
> tell).
>
> Is the troubleshooting technique okay....what am I overlooking ???
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
>
>
>




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Thanks Shep.... your suggestion might be part of what is actually happening...

I just pulled the thermostat out.... engine runs in a range of 140 to 175 degree's
depending upon speed of travel, stuck at a light or stop and go traffic. The
engine did not pass 175 degrees even once. I also tested the thermostat
it opened at 195 degrees (according to spec) and the opening looked about
normal compared to another thermostat (used as a control).

I might swap out the water pump (although it's only a year old) as they are
inexspensive and relatively easy to change out. If that doesn't make a
difference, I'll try a 185 thermostat rather than the 195 (spec'd by the
manual). I would prefer having less heat, rather than having the engine
run hotter.

Thanks for your suggestion !!

Peter.

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 1952 -0500, "Shep" <djsljsrn@capital.net> wrote:

>You might consider a general degradation of cooling system effiency from
>time and mileage, rust and scale build up for example, my 3800 Lumina runs
>at 200 will not build up any real pressure without about 220 on the
>scanner.
>"Peter" <Peter@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
>news:7p1qp0tjb3hbkdte0h3ia09q1jqupov46q@4ax.com.. .
>> Working on a 1992 Chevy Lumina APV. 3.1 L engine
>>
>> The engine was experiencing
>> several problems which have been repaired....but still running hot (not
>> overheating, just running hotter than normal).
>>
>> Engine Temperature is 207.3 degrees (OBD1 tester). Electric Fan
>> does cycle on and off. A radiator thermometer shows antifree temperature
>> to be around 210 or so.
>>
>> But, with the engine running and at 200 plus degrees, the system
>> should be pressurized...but it is not. I can remove the radiator cap
>> without having the coolent spurt all over. And the upper and
>> lower radiator hoses...are hot but can easily be collapsed.
>>
>> When thermostat opens and water begins to flow I get even
>> heat over the surface of the radiator.
>>
>> Cooling System Tester showed the cooling system holding
>> 15 pounds pressure steady for over 30 minutes without losing anything.
>> Also no leaks, or signs of leaks. Radiator Cap tested okay using
>> tester but I swapped in a new one anyway. No change
>>
>> The water pump was replaced about a year ago. Thermostat
>> was replaced (tested before replacement). Radiator is full of
>> coolent. (about a 50% mixture using an antifreeze tester.
>>
>>
>> Is the system failing to pressurize during operation indicative of a
>> failing water
>> pump??? Water pump is not leaking. No bearing noise (far as i can
>> tell).
>>
>> Is the troubleshooting technique okay....what am I overlooking ???
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your help.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
>http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
>---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

Radyator grill might be clouged by dust, dirt mud etc. Try to wash it
by pressurized water. I'm talking obut external dirt, not anything
internal. good luck. If the fan couldnot flow enough air, it might
run hotter.