Ok, for the sake of full disclosure, I did a lot more than just the water pump.
Start: August 8 …….there are no issues and all is well with my TB (other than sounding like a B-52). Engine temp via dummy gauge is 210.
Now Enter August 9th – Ok, so my kids have a new basketball goal that requires antifreeze in the base. The penny-pinching side of me says to flush the systems to use new coolant in the cars and old coolant in the basketball goal. So, I use Prestone Super Cleaner on my 150K 2002 TB….LS w/ a crappy paint job. I run the prescribed 6hrs and decide to quiet things down w/ a new Fan Clutch. This is accompanied by a new Water pump. I add one more Super Cleaner for good measure and fire her up. Runs more quietly and idles at a perfect 210. However, first time on the road and temps begin to climb to approx. 220-230 (again, according to the dummy gauge). I replace the thermostat and the radiator cap. No such luck. I try burping the system, parking on an incline…etc. Nothing works. I recheck my water pump (NAPA premium line “Gates”) and hear a growl. I change that out and put in Prestone Extended Life (green). I do notice that the water pump impellers look almost charred whereas the old pump impellers look new…and was marked GM, so I assume it’s the original 2002 pump. Still have the same overheating issues. I can generally keep the temp down to 210 if I baby it and have the heat cranked. Lord have mercy, this thing has a heater. I took it in to a radiator shop and had a three way flush done since the mechanic found cool spots in the radiator. It now holds a uniform temp but still heats up the same. It appears the cooling system is generating a lot of pressure. Driving it a short distance makes the upper hose very firm…to the point that I’m uncomfortable standing by it …don’t want it to burst or anything. I tried a block tester (no change in fluid color), but you have to do that at idle and this thing will idle at 210 all day long. It only heats up when it's being driven. Sorry for being so long winded, but hopefully something in here will provide insight for a suggestion/diagnosis.
Thanks
Start: August 8 …….there are no issues and all is well with my TB (other than sounding like a B-52). Engine temp via dummy gauge is 210.
Now Enter August 9th – Ok, so my kids have a new basketball goal that requires antifreeze in the base. The penny-pinching side of me says to flush the systems to use new coolant in the cars and old coolant in the basketball goal. So, I use Prestone Super Cleaner on my 150K 2002 TB….LS w/ a crappy paint job. I run the prescribed 6hrs and decide to quiet things down w/ a new Fan Clutch. This is accompanied by a new Water pump. I add one more Super Cleaner for good measure and fire her up. Runs more quietly and idles at a perfect 210. However, first time on the road and temps begin to climb to approx. 220-230 (again, according to the dummy gauge). I replace the thermostat and the radiator cap. No such luck. I try burping the system, parking on an incline…etc. Nothing works. I recheck my water pump (NAPA premium line “Gates”) and hear a growl. I change that out and put in Prestone Extended Life (green). I do notice that the water pump impellers look almost charred whereas the old pump impellers look new…and was marked GM, so I assume it’s the original 2002 pump. Still have the same overheating issues. I can generally keep the temp down to 210 if I baby it and have the heat cranked. Lord have mercy, this thing has a heater. I took it in to a radiator shop and had a three way flush done since the mechanic found cool spots in the radiator. It now holds a uniform temp but still heats up the same. It appears the cooling system is generating a lot of pressure. Driving it a short distance makes the upper hose very firm…to the point that I’m uncomfortable standing by it …don’t want it to burst or anything. I tried a block tester (no change in fluid color), but you have to do that at idle and this thing will idle at 210 all day long. It only heats up when it's being driven. Sorry for being so long winded, but hopefully something in here will provide insight for a suggestion/diagnosis.
Thanks