What is The NORMAL operating temps? I know it has to do with the elevation, driving conditions etc.....aND not SURE WHAT MINE ACTUALLY WAS BEFORE FAILURE, BUT SINCE THEY REPLACED IT the end of September, I think It runs an average of the hi 150's? Is this some what norm? When mine did fail I had zero reading on the temp gage with a CEL Light. ON-STAR Advised of a failing cooling system.....The dealer replaced the thermostat and flushed the system with NEW Coolant. Temp GUAGE is normal, no CELS since....

 

Frankly, I think coolant temps in the 150's is a bit low. I believe these cars are made to run at 185+.

But of course, if your trips and use is limited to short trips, your coolant may not get sufficient time to heat correctly. This generally is not good for the engine and exhaust system.......not enough heat to rid the vehicle of condensation.

I am not mentioning, at this point, that you MAY still have a cooling system or gage problem.

 

X2 what snoopy said. Besides 150ish being too low, the car will run inefficient at that temp range.Gas mileage may be low,emissions will be off and engine power could be down a tad.
I would have it checked out. Could just be a bad sensor but the ECM is reading and showing a low number which is below the normal operating range.

 

Thanks - and yes my trips are very short. 5 miles to work and that's letting it run 20 minutes prior to.....same way for the return trips.....Will keep a closer look at this....Thanks as always - Perfect example of why I love this site. Knowledge in Numbers is power.....

 

Well. Yes. Snoopy is right. My normal operating temps are about 185. I monitored it on my trip to Michigan. U also noticed during a short stent I'm a traffic jam that my digital readout jumped to 215 but my analog gauge stayed put. Any thoughts on that?

 

It's normal. In a traffic jam temps will rise and the gauge won't change at all until you hit 220 or so.

 

Movement of the digital reading, while in traffic (without a/c compressor engaged), is normal. And specifically the 215 reading.

Based on my experiences (and confirmed by GM/Chevrolet) the analog temp gauge is an indication of trouble ONLY when the trouble occurs (IMO, when it's to late). I've experienced, as I have described previously, temps approaching 240 when traveling up a steep incline on I-17 in the summer heat of 110+. The analog gauge moved maybe, 1/16 - 1/8 of an inch up. Based on this, the only time the analog would provide a reliable increase of temperature is AFTER the engine blows.

This unique situation has also been experiened by other owners, as well.

 

ok went for a 75 miles round trip today and The HHR Coolant temps were an average 183 - 187 - Hows that sound? Don't know why other then the short trips she was at 150's......

 

Good Shape

 

am glad I read this thread. I drive my HHR lots and with really abnormal loads when it is full of stuff. Or when I pull my trailer. And when I was going up the hills just east of El Paso texas in the heat of the summer at 85 miles an hour. I looked and it was up to 212 and the gauge looked as though it had not moved. The temp usually is about 187. Time for a tuneup almost at 200,000 miles and notice the mpg has dropped to about 27.5 and she feels like me a bit sluggish