I just bought a 1992 camaro RS v6.

Upon opening the hood after taking it home i noticed bubbles and electrolysis around the thermostat housing. Shortly afterwards i replaced those parts. Even put a new gasket with silicone.

A couple days ago i also replaced the water pump.

The car no longer overheats, but the temperature seems to fluctuate.

from about the 220 mark in the middle, It'll go to the next line over to the right and hang there until i accelerate and then it goes back down. At night, it typically does the exact same thing and goes back to the middle.

It doesn't smoke at all anymore or smell like boiling coolant.

I was just wondering if that temperature fluctuation was normal or not.

 

sure, it can be normal, it depends on coolant flow and accuracy/sensitivity of the temp sensor and guage



220 and under is fine

as long as the fan is doing its job pulling air through the radiator well,
and the radiator is not old/rotten/restricted,
and the cooling system is holding 15/16lbs of pressure when hot and even for a while after the when the engine is shut off,
then all should be well


and also the air dam underneath the rad support needs to be complete and intact as well


good luck

 

I wouldnt worry. Stock gauges are not always accurate.

 

I agree with xbcrguy, however, you may have a low coolant issue from filling it up and not getting all the air out of the system. I have seen this happen before where the fluid cycles air through and makes the reading go falsely cold when the air passes the sender. This will be most apparent when running at driving speeds (rpm in the 1800+ range) and then when you slow down. Remember when you fill up your cooling system that the car needs to run until the thermostat opens and then hold the idle up and top it off. The thermostat will be open when the top hose gets hot. If this is not the problem, also remember that when outside air temperatures are coldest, the guage will be more apt to fluctuate because the air is cooling down the coolant so much that the thermostat can actually cycle closed while you are driving and then open back up. This also could account for the guage fluctuation.

 

Not a hijack but dang, you guys made me feel alot better about my car. I have the same problem. Thanks!!!

 

Thanks a lot guys. I'll probably flush the system.