Too many cooling problems to sort through
 

I did a search and got about a million thread pertaining to cooling probs. I scanned them I didn't see what I was looking for.

This is probably real simple, but I thought I'd hop on here and ask anyhow. I have a full radiator and overflow tank, which never happens. I burn a little water so I always check it. My gauge says it gets to 150 and it never goes higher. It might get slightly higher at stops or while going fast, but always stays around 150. My car usually runs at 200 or a little more in the summer. And, oh yeah, my heater isn't working. Not cool when its sub freezing weather right now where I'm at.

I figure the thermostat is not working, so all my water is staying in the radiator and not getting to where it needs to go. But doesn't that get the water to the engine? Where's the Heat sensor, in the radiator or engine block? I see a sensor in the radiator but always assumed this was the water level sensor.

Any suggestions?

Your thermostat sounds like it's stuck open. Your water pump is obviously working. The level sensor is in the radiator, the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is in the driver's end of the lower intake manifold below the TB.

I'd ignore the sensor. The gauge seems to agree with the lack of heat. Change the thermostat for starters. Cheap, easy, and looks very suspicious.

It sounds to me that your thermostat is stuck open. That would explain when your temp never gets hotter and why you don't have any heat coming out of the heater (unless your ECC is acting goofy).

The other thing that concerns me is that you said:

When did that start? And, do you have evidence of coolant in the oil? It sounds like your upper intake manifold and lower intake gaskets are taking a slow death. Do you know when/if they were replaced?

Sorry bad choice of words. I'm not "burning water" I going through it a little bit. I have a small leak in the bottom main line and a small trickle at the plastic elbow that goes from intake to pump. I've already replaced the bad Upper intake with new and the upper gaskets are only about 6 thousand miles old. the leak from the plastic elbow started after I replaced the intake. Must have cocked the o-ring or nicked the elbow. I don't have a heated garage so i was just waiting until the weather breaks to open the stuff back up again. I had all that apart and it never even occurred to me to replace the thermostat. DUH! I'll do that now, maybe even tonight. Vital I'm from MI too, and Monday's little heat wave would have been a good day to do it, but I spent the day cleaning the car. Maybe I'll strap up and go out and fix the thermo tonight.

Where are you from in MI?

Bill...I almost beat you to it! :lol:

Southwest MI, battle Creek

Since your plastic elbow is already leaking, you need to replace it with a metal one, and seal the threads well. The plastic elbows are known for breaking, in fact i think SSEImatt93's elbow broke yesterday.

Didn't realize there was a metal replacement. Do I have to go somewhere special to get it? Also, change the Thermo last night, and all is well. In fact I found the old Thermo did not have a gasket and I was losing a bit of water from that spot.

There is not a metal replacement for the Series II 3800. Pick up a fresh plastic one from the dealer for $7 and some change. I replaced it on my 99 when I did the lower intake gaskets.