anyone ever hear of a radiator that is supposed to have a restrictor plate not having one? It's cold outside here in Maine and my truck doesn't warm up until I get going over 50 mph uphill. the temp fluctuates so much the gauge is starting to look like a speedometer! The dealer changed the thermostat twice and now wants to replace the radiator. the service manager said he remembered reading a service bulletin about this problem. is this for real?
radiator restrictor plates in 2004 vortex 4800 sierra p/u
Dec 13, 2005
7 Replies
When I lived up north, I used to put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator in several of my vehicles. The last time I went to Oklahoma for Christmas I had to put the cardboard in so that we could have heat. 10F.
Amazing! Thanks for the update. GM has been using some sort of o-ring for the last 15 years or so.
Hey, I knew an O'Ring. Best telephone operator on the East coast. Beautiful head of red hair and.....
Can't find an O-ring on the coast? Come on! What happened to flat gaskets? And call an aftermarket place, probably sell them 99 cents each.
Many GM's use a special slotted O-ring and a flat gasket (like my car). The O-ring holds the thermo in place. Without it, the thermo flops around quite a bit and lets water flow around it. Those not familiar with GM's (like his dealer mechanics) may not have realized it needed one.
may not have realized it needed one.
Well said.....
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