Car overheated after radiator drain and fill, help! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

nicole · 05-20-2021, 11:09 PM

I drive a 2015 camaro RS.
Okay so Wednesday night I drained my radiator and filled it back up with the 50/50 dexcool mix. Drove 4 miles and car overheated giving me the “engine overheated- idle engine” message. Coolant reached 260. Drove those 4 mile back home while pulling over multiple time to cool the car. Thought the car was cool enough after a while, opened radiator cap and coolant came bursting out. Left it to cool overnight and the next morning I went to add more coolant and took the car for a drive. Drove about 16miles, Everything seemed okay, coolant temp was between 180-190 while driving and stopped at lights. Oil temp was at 199.

What should be the normal operating temps? (Coolant, oil, transmission)

Also I realized my car doesn’t have its coolant reservoir!! But has never given me problems with overheating. The highest I’ve seen my oil is 225 and that’s with being stuck in traffic for long periods of time. And my temperature gauge never moves past a little below the middle.

redcoats1976 · 05-21-2021, 12:27 AM

your engine temp is about right.maybe there was an air bubble in the cooling system after you refilled it.

InFiD3ViL · 05-21-2021, 01:26 AM

I think redcoat is on to something. IDK about your V6, but the LS V8's are notorious for being very stubborn to purge all the air out of the cooling system after it's been drained, flushed, or otherwise messed with.

Pull the radiator cap, or fill cap if you don't have one, and let her idle for a bit (Keeping an eye on temps, enough that the thermostat would have opened). Make sure to have the heater on for part of this so you are circulating through the heater core and removing any trapped air pockets, and fill/top-up as needed. After 10-20 mins of this the air should mostly be purged out. Cap it up and take it for a ride and compare temps.

Hopefully other people will chime in with their preferred tips and methods as well.

romcjr · 05-21-2021, 05:38 AM

Drained and refilled mine a month or so ago . After refilling I started mine with the cap off and let it get warm enough to open everything up . It burped a few times , shut it off , topped it off along with the overflow tank . Put cap on , drove it a bit , and have had no issues . My temp runs between 194* and 206* on my 30 mi. drive to work .

silversleeper · 05-21-2021, 10:05 AM

I don't run it with the cap off anymore because the water pump can cause the level to rise and burp up and overflow on the ground if it is all the way full. I do run it with heater on full for a couple minutes then remove cap and fill up and fill resevoir and repeat until the radiator stays full. Don't get it hot or do while hot or it will spew, burn you and make air pockets again from boiling liquid inside the engine so you'd need to start over.

CamaroCracka · 05-21-2021, 11:12 AM

It actually takes a little bit of effort to get the air out of these things. After having mine get hot after a cam change, I just put as much coolant in as I can, then drive it around the neighborhood for a few minutes and let it cool down. Then I add whatever is missing and check it again in a week or so. Running the heater on the drive will eliminate bubbles from the heater core and lines.

Camaro2ss2010 · 05-21-2021, 12:03 PM

It’s been said that if you raise the front of these cars it helps to “burp” the system.

Avenging Orange · 05-21-2021, 03:34 PM

Sounds like you still have air in the system. There is a section in your owners manual that details the process.

nicole · 05-21-2021, 11:24 PM

At around what temp should the thermostat open? So there’s a good chance it overheated because of air trapped in the system? Should I worry about any damage because it overheated?

nicole · 05-21-2021, 11:27 PM

If I’ve driven it after doing this, the radiator should be full to the neck right? Meaning there’s enough coolant in the system?

nicole · 05-21-2021, 11:30 PM

Also, I should install a reservoir/ overflow tank right? I’ve been driving without it for about a year, what is its purpose exactly?

mikeinmobile · 05-22-2021, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole

Also, I should install a reservoir/ overflow tank right? I’ve been driving without it for about a year, what is its purpose exactly?

When coolant heats up it expands and is dumped into the reservoir. When it cools it returns to system.

nicole · 05-22-2021, 01:20 AM

So basically my coolant has been dumping on to the ground and nothing is returned? The radiator cap is the one that controls the coolant going to the reservoir?

wasthatacop? · 05-22-2021, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole

So basically my coolant has been dumping on to the ground and nothing is returned? The radiator cap is the one that controls the coolant going to the reservoir?

Kinda, there's a 3/8" rubber hose near the radiator cap that takes excess pressure and liquid to dump into your would be reservoir. You may not have one if your reservoir is gone, but there should be a small overflow hose somewhere. You need to replace that reservoir if you don't have one.
Don't worry about hitting 260 that one time. I changed the water pump and radiator on my L99 last week and fluid heated up to 250 while I was burping the radiator.

05-20-2021, 11:09 PM	#1
nicole Drives: 2015 Camaro RS Join Date: May 2021 Location: El Paso Posts: 19	Car overheated after radiator drain and fill, help! I drive a 2015 camaro RS. Okay so Wednesday night I drained my radiator and filled it back up with the 50/50 dexcool mix. Drove 4 miles and car overheated giving me the “engine overheated- idle engine” message. Coolant reached 260. Drove those 4 mile back home while pulling over multiple time to cool the car. Thought the car was cool enough after a while, opened radiator cap and coolant came bursting out. Left it to cool overnight and the next morning I went to add more coolant and took the car for a drive. Drove about 16miles, Everything seemed okay, coolant temp was between 180-190 while driving and stopped at lights. Oil temp was at 199. What should be the normal operating temps? (Coolant, oil, transmission) Also I realized my car doesn’t have its coolant reservoir!! But has never given me problems with overheating. The highest I’ve seen my oil is 225 and that’s with being stuck in traffic for long periods of time. And my temperature gauge never moves past a little below the middle.

05-21-2021, 01:26 AM	#3
InFiD3ViL Drives: 2010 CGM 2SS/RS LS3 Swapped A6 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 4,575	I think redcoat is on to something. IDK about your V6, but the LS V8's are notorious for being very stubborn to purge all the air out of the cooling system after it's been drained, flushed, or otherwise messed with. Pull the radiator cap, or fill cap if you don't have one, and let her idle for a bit (Keeping an eye on temps, enough that the thermostat would have opened). Make sure to have the heater on for part of this so you are circulating through the heater core and removing any trapped air pockets, and fill/top-up as needed. After 10-20 mins of this the air should mostly be purged out. Cap it up and take it for a ride and compare temps. Hopefully other people will chime in with their preferred tips and methods as well. __________________ 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS LS3 Swapped A6 - GPI LS3 SS1 .647/.638, (224/237, 112 +4, 7º overlap) on CamMotion 8620 core, BTR Platinum .660" Dual Spring kit w/titanium retainers, CHE bronze trunnion upgrade, stock heads milled @ .015, Melling HV 10296 oil pump, TSP 1-7/8" long tube headers (W/Catless Off-road Pipes), Corsa Xtreme 3" Catback, GPI Ported/Rod Mod Intake, Stage 2 Ported Throttle Body, Vararam OTR CAI, Mike Norris Gen 2 catch can + GM 1LE clean side separator, 160º thermostat - Megan Racing adjustable coilovers (lowered 1.75"), MRR M017 10/11" wheels-Tuned by Ryan @ GPI

05-21-2021, 05:38 AM	#4
romcjr Drives: Two 1984 Z28 / 2014 2SS/RS AGM L99 Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: WALLER , TEXAS Posts: 253 View My Garage	Drained and refilled mine a month or so ago . After refilling I started mine with the cap off and let it get warm enough to open everything up . It burped a few times , shut it off , topped it off along with the overflow tank . Put cap on , drove it a bit , and have had no issues . My temp runs between 194* and 206* on my 30 mi. drive to work . __________________ 2014 2SS/RS AGM L99 CAI Intake ELITE Catch Can POWERSTOP Brakes (5/31/21)

05-21-2021, 11:12 AM	#6
CamaroCracka Drives: 2010 Turbo LS3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 2,736	It actually takes a little bit of effort to get the air out of these things. After having mine get hot after a cam change, I just put as much coolant in as I can, then drive it around the neighborhood for a few minutes and let it cool down. Then I add whatever is missing and check it again in a week or so. Running the heater on the drive will eliminate bubbles from the heater core and lines. __________________ 2010 SS - On3 kit with downpipe cutout, CTR 78/80, CompCam 239/251 620/632 122+4, E85, Z28 suspension and ZL1 diff with Outlaw axles. Gen6 ZL1/1LE brakes. 2011 Vert - 416/w 230/236 .612/.602 115lsa, 1LE suspension w/32mm rear bar. Z28 diff. ZL1 brakes.

05-21-2021, 12:03 PM	#7
Camaro2ss2010 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS M6 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,249	It’s been said that if you raise the front of these cars it helps to “burp” the system. __________________ ECS supercharger, custom ground cam, ported throttle body, long tube headers, aeromotive fuel pump, fic injectors, ATI super damper, Corsa Extreme exhaust, elite engineering catch can and many other things.

05-21-2021, 12:27 AM	#2
redcoats1976 Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: central florida Posts: 4,915	your engine temp is about right.maybe there was an air bubble in the cooling system after you refilled it.

05-21-2021, 10:05 AM	#5
silversleeper Big Crow Drives: '13 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: California Posts: 1,486	I don't run it with the cap off anymore because the water pump can cause the level to rise and burp up and overflow on the ground if it is all the way full. I do run it with heater on full for a couple minutes then remove cap and fill up and fill resevoir and repeat until the radiator stays full. Don't get it hot or do while hot or it will spew, burn you and make air pockets again from boiling liquid inside the engine so you'd need to start over.

05-21-2021, 03:34 PM	#8
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	Sounds like you still have air in the system. There is a section in your owners manual that details the process. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

05-21-2021, 11:24 PM	#9
nicole Drives: 2015 Camaro RS Join Date: May 2021 Location: El Paso Posts: 19	At around what temp should the thermostat open? So there’s a good chance it overheated because of air trapped in the system? Should I worry about any damage because it overheated?

05-21-2021, 11:27 PM	#10
nicole Drives: 2015 Camaro RS Join Date: May 2021 Location: El Paso Posts: 19	If I’ve driven it after doing this, the radiator should be full to the neck right? Meaning there’s enough coolant in the system?

05-21-2021, 11:30 PM	#11
nicole Drives: 2015 Camaro RS Join Date: May 2021 Location: El Paso Posts: 19	Also, I should install a reservoir/ overflow tank right? I’ve been driving without it for about a year, what is its purpose exactly?

05-22-2021, 01:20 AM	#13
nicole Drives: 2015 Camaro RS Join Date: May 2021 Location: El Paso Posts: 19	So basically my coolant has been dumping on to the ground and nothing is returned? The radiator cap is the one that controls the coolant going to the reservoir?