Holden Colarado Overheating.

Hi,
The car has the Turbo diesel motor.
Alan.

Hi,
Tell your mate to look in his ownwers manual or ring his dealer. the manual will say it is normal for the temperature gauge to move towards the high end when driving in hot weather, up hills or when towing which are your mates symptoms.

regards peter

Does he have anything obstructing the airflow into the radiator, like dinner plate sized spotlights?

Check the obvious stuff like so physical obstruction to the radiator. Check the cooling fans are working and that the drive belt isn't slipping. And of course check the coolant level.

If all of that is OK, I'd suggest making thermostat billy tea. Remove the thermostat and place in a saucepan with water on the stove top and heat it up. The thermostat should be fully open before the water boils. If it doesn't - replace it. If that's ok, then I suggest going to a radiator specialist who has an inductive thermometre and get them to measure the coolant temp around the heater tap, radiator hoses etc. Check for hot spots which may indicate a blockage/partial obstruction in either a hose of coolant port in the head/block.

Good luck.

Hi there. We must all assume that the 'new' caravan brakes were not dragging (ie either jammed on , or even the handbrake left on). Just a thought - it wouldn't be the first time.

Hi,
Being honest I have a personal interest in the relies as I have just brought a new D-max to tow a smaller caravan. Was hoping this is an isolated case not a case of them all overheating.
I had not read anything regards overheating prior to his problem with either the Isuzu or the Holden.
thanks Alan

G'day westozal, given the driving conditions you have described I would not be surprised to see the variations in engine temperatures. No doubt the aircon was on as well. My suggestion to help with engine heat dispersion is to turn off the aircon, open all the towing vehicle windows and turn on the heaters with fan assist. The engine water passing through the heater core helps lower engine temperature. Happy Days. Pauper.

When it heats up whilst towing I would change down a gear and take the revs up to around 3000rpm. I found with the ZD30 Patrol that would always reduce the exhaust gas temps by ~50 degrees.

My new D-MAX hasn't had a chance to be tested out yet ;-) 2390km and climbing ...

Malcolm

Alan,
another thing worth checking is that the cooling fins on the radiator aren't clogged, especially if the vehicle has been fjording.
I had this on a RA Rodeo, I thought I had hosed the radiator out well enough, but still used to climb on stinking hot days. I removed the radiator and cleaned all the dry mud from the radiator fins, when re-installed, have not had the problem since.

Cheers,
Dion.

I be thinking your mate is driving the vehicle a bit hard!!! bloody near flat out I would think. Slow down to 80 K's and enjoy the scenery and let the motor work easier.

If that doesn't help then test for a leaking head gaskett!!

Cheers.

I agree with all the above posts and also believe that the towing capacity of 3 ton on all of the new diesel utes is a bit much, especially when it is hot. Anyway does the Colorado have an oil cooler on the auto transmission? if not that's the first thing I would be fitting. And yes slow down a bit when in those conditions.

westozal - Yes it is normal for towing with these motors. I Have the 2007 Rodeo with the common Rail Turbo.

I have posted on the overheating issues in hot climates with this motor in the past. I tow a 2 ton boat 1 & 1/4 hrs to the coast and 1 & 1/2 hrs back up the range.

The owners manual will tell you all you need to know. The engine will remain at normal operating temperature while not under load. As soon as you start pulling the load the temperature will rise above 1/2 way, continue pulling hard and the temperature will rise to 2/3rds.

I find if you back off when this is happening you can keep it below the 2/3rds.

Trick is to tow in 4th gear any time the load starts to pull, you should not tow in 5th. I only use 5th when cruising on the flat or down hill. Towing in 4th will not change the fuel consumption, and what you have quoted is normal while towing.

I sit on 100ks when I am able and the hills I climb here I now back off and do them in 3rd at 60-70k. The car will do them in 4th but that is when the temperature really climbs. So basically you just have to slow a bit when it is hot. Winter is no problems - I can keep the power on and no heating issues - only a lot more fuel :-)

Cheers

My Colorado temp guage moves too. It's a good thing. It means it has useful graduations, unlike the bloody toyota ones I always had which never moved intil two secs before the motor blew.
Like others have said, read the manual - there is no redline at two thirds, and the engine is NOT OVERHEATING - it is running hotter because it is working harder - all engines do it, just most guages LIE about it.

Hi,
Thanks for replying.
Alan

May help if you got a scangauge....tells you exactly what the temp is ( among a lot of other useful information )

Another case of manufacturers/dealers not being entirely truthful. They say "Yes you will be able to tow your van, no worries" but they do not explain all the provisos before you part with your hard earned cash. If they say it can tow so many kg, then it should do that in ALL conditions.