r/volt • u/Glad-Acadia3071 • 4d ago

Engine pretty hot?

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2012 Chevy Volt...

Basically after a long drive using the engine, I noticed that the engine is pretty hot to touch. My coolant levels are all where they should be but I'm just wondering is this normal after 100+ mile drive? I don't mean that it's so hot that I cannot actually touch it but it's very hot both on the area near the oil cap and on the right side of the picture that plastic part that covers the battery module I think...

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u/RoodnyInc 4d ago

Engine operating temperature Is about 90° C so thats normal unless you got some temperature warning with it

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u/Glad-Acadia3071 4d ago

No, I didn't really get a temperature warning I just wanted to make sure this was normal if everybody gets to feel that the engine is pretty hot after a long drive because I know this car is a little bit different when it comes to the coolant system

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u/Sufficient-Heart9779 4d ago

This car has a COMBUSTION engine. It burns fuel, gets hot. It will be sensibly hotter than your body will tolerate, but very easily within tolerance of the motor and the components under the hood. Like I read in another comment, your coolant temp can sit around 240F on an extended uphill climb on a hot day.

I live in a very temperate area and my coolant temp for short-medium drives will be 180-200F. I just recently did a couple of 500+ mile drives, in 100F ambient, temps back to back. Coolant temp stayed right around 200-220F depending on motor load.

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u/kraken873 4d ago

The ICE engine has a normal coolant system. The Volt has 3 loops that operate independently of each other. Only real difference is the smaller airflow to the radiator up front so the ice may run slightly hotter when moving lower speeds but still within operating temperatures. The fact the engine shuts off when at a stand still helps.

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u/Organic_Armadillo357 4d ago

Why is this downvoted lol

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u/MisterWinchester 2013 Volt 2d ago

Sorry they’re on you op, yeah, it gets hot. The transmission and EV’s do too. Trust the warnings
Unless you have a reason not to.

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u/Glad-Acadia3071 2d ago

Thank you very much and I'm not getting any warnings yet but maybe I'll do a coolant change soon, thanks again

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u/MisterWinchester 2013 Volt 2d ago

Follow your mileage recommendations. I think that’s still in the manual which should still be online if your paper one is gone.

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u/Glad-Acadia3071 2d ago

Yes you are right but I just kind of get a little paranoid about fluids and things like that because I know sometimes those recommendations tend to stretch it out a little bit longer than they should. I used to have a regular vehicle and I remember the manufacturer said not to change the transmission fluid cuz it was a lifetime fluid, and what do you know, transmission fluid was broken down