Ok as were moving into summer I've noticed that my 97 Cater is always at 1/2 on the temp gauge or an 1/8 above half (sometimes close to the 3/4 mark when sitting at idle) My fans are on, but the problem is its only like 80 degrees outside and I live in an area where in summer the temp. usually is around or over 100 degrees in the summer months. So you can see that I'm worried it will soon be over heating. I think that I might need to replace the thermostat, I have already flushed the system and put new coolant in with no change in the gauge readings. Does anyone know where the thermostat is located, what has to be removed to get to it, and if you have any pictures it would surely help :). Thanks again!

That's a very common problem. I have a 97 too and I too had the same problem. I tried everything, including switches. There are two of them and after changing them nothing changed.

Thermostat is located right under the throtle body behind the timing belt rear cover. It is very difficult to replace. The entire intake manifolds, timing belt rear cover and battery need to be removed. According to the manual intake manifold's removal is enough but it just didn't work on mine as there is no space to manuver the thermostat. I ended up adding an external oil cooler to the system and it solved my oil pressure problem and helped the over heating problem as well.

That's a very common problem. I have a 97 too and I too had the same problem. I tried everything, including switches. There are two of them and after changing them nothing changed.

Thermostat is located right under the throtle body behind the timing belt rear cover. It is very difficult to replace. The entire intake manifolds, timing belt rear cover and battery need to be removed. According to the manual intake manifold's removal is enough but it just didn't work on mine as there is no space to manuver the thermostat. I ended up adding an external oil cooler to the system and it solved my oil pressure problem and helped the over heating problem as well.

Talking of external oil cooler ,if you dont mind can you explain it how to install it what exactly it does and can you also explain little bit of working of internal oil cooler too if you have time

That's a very common problem. I have a 97 too and I too had the same problem. I tried everything, including switches. There are two of them and after changing them nothing changed.

Thermostat is located right under the throtle body behind the timing belt rear cover. It is very difficult to replace. The entire intake manifolds, timing belt rear cover and battery need to be removed. According to the manual intake manifold's removal is enough but it just didn't work on mine as there is no space to manuver the thermostat. I ended up adding an external oil cooler to the system and it solved my oil pressure problem and helped the over heating problem as well.

And the reason it was doing that is because the oil cooler utilizes the coolant to transfer its heat. The hotter your oil gets the hotter your coolant becomes. The car is designed to handle it, otherwise they wouldnt have made it in the first place if it wasnt efficient enough. Otherwise as long as its not in the red zone or the overheat light is not on its fine. They run "warm". Our Catera runs in the middle most the time and sometimes 3/4 as well. Especially when sitting in high heat and/or traffic. The car has to be moving with air circulation for it to really cool well and not just using fans. This is with any car.

The Catera's oil cooler works as this: In the valley of the engine (in the middle of the " V "), rests an oil cooler. Supplied by oil lines, oil circulates through this heat exchanger. The oil cooler sits in the coolant passage between the banks of the cylinders. Coolant surrounds the oil cooler and carries the heat away. The coolant then circulates through the cars radiator and it inturn cools the oil because of this. Basically the coolant is doing two jobs, one of cooling the engine and another of cooling the engine oil. You can see in the center of the engine on the picture below where the internal oil cooler sits.

An external oil cooler is supplied by oil lines that circulate oil through a small radiator. Its cooled by air and not coolant. This is what omemurat did: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=285379&postcount=2


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/MrHaun/V32SE.jpg

Jeff, you are the man..! :)

Thanks for the help guys, I was worried. Where did you buy your oil external oil cooler? And for how much?

Would using synthetic oil instead of regular oil help in bringing down the temperature significantlly.
Thanks for your time Jeff and Omer's idea of external oil cooler is neat too

Thanks for the help guys, I was worried. Where did you buy your oil external oil cooler? And for how much?

Just follow the link that Jeff provided above. There are some info about the cooler.

I have been planning on taking some pictures of my application and post it here but I haven't had a chance yet. Hopefully soon :yup:

Would using synthetic oil instead of regular oil help in bringing down the temperature significantlly.
Thanks for your time Jeff and Omer's idea of external oil cooler is neat too

Synthetic oil usage have significant advantages and some disadvantages.

They are designed by using advanced technology thus they give better protection and fuel economy with longer life. Their ideal working temperature window is much larger than mineral based counter parts. They start lubing much sooner in the cold mornings and they breakdown much later at higher temperatures than mineral based oils.

But they are pricier and they tend to leak from the seals and gaskets more than the mineral based oils as they stay thin even after they cool down.

Since they require less energy to move around, and give better friction protection etc, I say they should help bringing down the engine temp down also. :thumbsup:

I have same problem so i bought alldata subscription. They say two things (1) open your coolant cap, use 400 grit sand paper and polish it in circular motion. And change the cap. (easy one) if this doesn't work than (2) your coolant temprature sensor is mel-functioning. It is faulty and needs to be repalced. GM redesigned those. GOOD are stamped VDO. (hard one as the thing is buried in intake manifold)

Valvoline has a full synthetic oil that has the additives to rejuvenate seals and gaskets so they don't leak. Its from the "Max Life" line of oil. I'm going to try it myself.