Overheating 3.3

[3jarrells]

It never overheats except for this one long grade between Payson and Phoenix. Now it doesn't really "overheat" but it gets hotter than I care for. Almost too the point where I would consider pulling over. If I have to downshift to fourth it will creep up but as soon as I start going down hill it drops back down. If that hill was 500 feet higher I don't think it would make it. Long grades in fifth, if it will pull it, no problems. Around town in traffic 115 degrees with the AC on, no problems. Just downshifting to climb seems to do it. Any ideas? If you can solve this mystery I have another! Thanks for your help guys

[drbandkgb]

Have you thought about a Radiator cooler? When was the fluid replaced?

[Co-opski]

Any recent cooling system maintenance or service?

[3jarrells]

It is probably due for a flush. Its got 120k on it. No recent maintenance to add an air bubble either. I think I will do a quick flush and replace the thermostat while I am at it. I did replace the cap a while back, didn't fix it the problem. But it is shinny.

[drbandkgb]

If your replacing the Thermo you better do the Timing belt too.. You have to rip it all up to get to it anyways.. and your past due at the miles you have posted..

[Slicky72]

My guess is there is nothing wrong with your cooling system. If it only gets hot during that one climb then likely you are just pushing it a little too hard. You said yourself it doesn't overheat , just gets real hot . Then cools off as soon as you level off ,sounds like it is working properly. You could try adding an extra electric fan .

[3jarrells]

Yeah, I went out side to see where the thermostat was. That looks like a PITA. Everytime I work on my truck, I like my Subaru more.

I agree Slicky, if something was the matter with the cooling system it would happen all the time. But, would a fan be effective at 60 mph?

Is there a feasible way to add cooling capacity. This is also the engine that only holds three quarts of oil. Are long grades at 115 degrees just surpassing the engineering of the truck? I'm carrying three people a dog and a light load of camping gear. The same amount I carry in the Subaru just fine.

[Xterabl]

I had the same thing happen to me last summer (2000 3.3L X) on a fairly long grade, with AC on, in about 105 degrees. I kind of freaked 'cause it was the first time it ever happened.
What'd I do? Shut off the AC, rolled down the windows, and blasted the heater (set to defrost to minimize the impact on us in the vehicle).
This did the trick...needle dropped like a rock to normal range. Give it a try next time.

[Slicky72]

We have a real grind of a hill up here on the Coquihalla Hwy . When I am loaded down my poor Xterra is down in second gear at around 4500 rpm just crawling up the grade for a good ten minutes or so. The temp needle climbs up there but never to what I would consider a dangerous level. You are right the engine doesn't hold much oil and that is something I have considered looking at myself. A dual remote filter setup would probably add another quart capacity if you went with bigger filters ,because our filters are tiny. You could probably run an oil cooler in line as well for some extra measure.

[Co-opski]

Dang its hot down there! @ 70 i'm thinking about the AC but I think it was 09 when I used it last. I just wanted to say that the factory temp gauge is a ball park. I have my scan gauge on temp all the time and these are some of my observations. Winter max operating temp I get is 175* Summer max 182* for averages with the factory gauge right in the middle. It will pop up to 185* now and then but any thing over the 182* my fan will kick on. Now when I had my valve cover gaskets done I had the little hose under the throttle body done but they did not purge the system and my factory temp gauge would peg at HOT in town traffic but the scan gauge was right at 210*. The heater trick worked for me until I was able to get the air out of the system back at home. Now I'm back to the same ol' 182*?! sorry for my long winded bla bla bla but what I'm trying to say is do you think it is really running dangerously hot?

BTW subbys are nice but take a deep breath the vg33e is not that bad. This is from a guy who grew up on vovlos, flat 4 Vws and a gray market M5 straight 6.