Coolant Recovery Tank On 4.3 Sierra

[deyomatic]

2005 Sierra, 4.3. I noticed one day after driving around that the coolant level in the recovery tank was just a hair above the "Full Cold" line even though the engine was at full operating temp. I drove to the store and bought a gallon of Dexcool just to be sure I had some on hand. The following morning, I wanted to top it off before driving so I knew that it was full. The level was exactly the same, just a hair above the "Full Cold" line. Shouldn't this level rise when the coolant gets hot? The temp gauge doesn't run hot- the needle never gets above the 210 mark. Last winter, when I first started driving it, the needle never went above the second larger white line, probably the 180 degree mark. I don't know if that's a combo of highway driving and New England winter temps, though. I'm not worried about it, just curious...

 

Thanks.

[txab]

You should have a 195 degree thermostat in your 4.3. So even during the winter that should be your minimum temp after you've been driving a bit. Your temp gauge should show from 160-260. There should be larger marks at 25 degree increments. 185 would be the first larger mark and 210 would be the next and it should be marked as 210.

 

It's getting to be time to change the coolant, if it hasn't been changed already. You can change the thermostat then if you think it might be a problem