i just installed a water temp gauge in my car and replaced the valve cover gaskets but the water temp gauge reads 220. i started the car fine nice n cold. went to 180 no wories BUT as soon as i started driving the temp started to rise up and up and it hit 220 and i had to wait a few seconds to find a place to pull over but i did and it just stayed right at 220 the whole time. i let it cool off and luckly i was just about a minute or so from home so i crossed my fingers and inched it home keeping out of the throttle but it still went up to 220 and stayed there again. Is that normal? didnt budge past 220.

 

it won't hurt anything. what thermostat are you running? try a 180

 

220 is fine, my car runs 220 when its real hot outside and im driving around the city. OTher then that i am usually on the highway and i dont even pass 200 on the highway. IF anything my car is running to cool and yours is running normal . Hey ur saving gas

 

if i dont have an airdam will that make a difference?

 

A huge difference.

 

I ran a MINIMUM of 220 all the time until I replaced my air dam. Now, unless it's a stupid hot day, I run whatever temp the thermostat is. I drilled four 1/8" holes in a 180* thermostat and now run maybe 170* on all but the hottest days as long as I'm either moving or the fan is on.

 

x2...I am going to get a new one or put my old one back on because I noticed a pretty significant increase in my water temp...

 

It's one of those things that a lot of people remove for one reason or another & it makes an enormous difference. Without it, most of the air goes underneath the car instead of through the radiator. My car was missing one when I got it. The previous owner kept complaining about the overheating. The day I put it on -- never again and it's been a year.

 

I spent $35 at hawksthridgen for an air dam. My car has run 30 degrees lower since. Funny what a diference a piece of plastic can have.

 

Yes,,,especially on a car that has no front grille area. Larry.

 

Anyone know where to order an airdam? My GM Dealers in MI never have any parts that I want, and are not willing to order them. They tell me the closest unit is located in "xxxx city, in xxxx state" and that I would have to go get it myself.

 

Nevermind, I didn't see Tripper511's post.

 

Be absolutely thankful that your third gen is topping out at 220. That is a perfectly fine temp, perfect normal operating temperature, a desired commodity on these cars. Just read about 20 more posts in this tech and then go buy a lottery ticket you'll see what I mean