Sorry for another coolant thread, but I did not see an answer when I perused existing ones. Maybe you can help.

04 STR 113K - 1 yr ago ran @ 199 degrees all day. Once expansion tank started to leak went up to 210 and kicked on hi speed fans, but did not overheat.

Reservoir tank and thermostat replaced 3 mos ago. Ran fine, did not measure temp, but fans did not run excessively.

Within the past 2 weeks, back up to 210, fans on, still no overheating.

This week I get the "low coolant" red light. However, no fluid is on the ground, no obvious coolant smell as when the tank leaked, and the overflow tank shows proper red/orange fluid up to full line.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is most likely causing this?
2. Should I bleed the cooling system? How do I do that? I see the plastic bleed screw on the top of the coolant tank, but is/are there more elsewhere?

Thanks, experts!

 

How are you measuring temp?

At 210 I think fans should be on high. Were they?

BTW by the time the dash shows overheat you may have warped heads...

 

After a cold soak, preferably overnight, pressurise the cooling system to 1 bar and check for leaks. Pay particular attention to the area near the back of the engine as the coolant hose underneath the supercharger may be leaking.

+1 on measuring the coolant temperature through the OBD port as the gauge reading is meaningless until it's too late and damage is done.

 

210.8 via obd and Torque. Around 205 via laser. fans on high at that temp

 

As I recall, the workshop manual gives the normal operating range (depends on engine etc) but that sounds high.

If it is, it would perhaps be that despite max fans it isn't cooling enough and that would be a hint as to what could be wrong. (Ideas?)