How to Fix Overheating Problems in a Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado is a rugged truck that’s built for a tough workload. Coolant system failure can eventually cause major engine damage, as warming up the truck can lead to head gasket failure or loss of power, which can cause the engine to stop running. Read to the end and learn how to fix overheating problems in a silverado.

It’s best to fix problems in your cooling system when the problems are minor, that way you’ll save both time and money in the long run.

Steps to Fix Overheating Problems in a Silverado

The following steps are a guide to troubleshooting overheat faults on a Chevrolet Silverado. Continue reading:

1. Let the truck cool down for 30 minutes.. The cooling system will be under pressure when it is first turned off.

2. Open the hood to access the engine compartment. Place the radiator in front of the engine compartment.

3. Turn the radiator cap counterclockwise to remove it from the radiator. Once the cover is removed, check coolant level. The coolant should be visible looking down into the radiator. If you don’t see any kind of sign of coolant, then you’ll want to do a leak test.

4. Rent a pressure tester at a local auto parts store.. The pressure tester puts enough pressure on the system to push the refrigerant out of the leak area.

5. Squeeze the end of the pressure tester into the radiator. The end of the tester looks like the pressure cap. When the tester is tight to the radiator, pump the handle until it reads 15 pounds or the psi indicated on the pressure cap. Once the system is pressurized, watch the pressure gauge and see if it’s dropping slowly.

6. If the pressure is dropping then look at the hoses and radiator to see if there is any coolant coming out of these areas. If these areas are dry, inspect the water pump assembly for faults. Coolant will leak out of the “drain hole” if the water pump fails. The water pump is located above the main shaft and is in the path of the drive belt.

7. Inspect the thermostat if there are no coolant leaks. Allows the truck to run with the pressure cap tightened on the radiator. Watch the meter as it works; when it is overheating, it turns on the heater. Turning on the heater will cause the temperature gauge to drop; then you will know that your thermostat is freezing and that it is not allowing the coolant to circulate. The thermostat is a very easy item to replace.

In this 7-step guide are the options to fix overheating problems in a Chevrolet Silverado.

It may interest you: Chevrolet Silverado Has No Power: What To Do And Solutions!

Tips

We recommend the following when troubleshooting this issue:

• When your truck is overheating, make sure the coolant level is full before running the test.

• Fill the radiator with coolant and let the Silverado run for 20 minutes. This will determine if the coolant level is low, causing the Chevy Silverado to overheat.

Caveat

You should be careful with:

• Be very careful when working with the cooling system.

• The coolant is often very hot and builds up pressure that could be dangerous.

Items you will need

You will need only the following things:

• 1 gallon of premixed coolant