I have a 13 malibu that has an intermittent overheating problem. I've spent over 1000$ replacing parts and taking this cars to dealers who over charge and don't know what they're doing. Ive replaced the thermostat and water pump myself and the dealer replaced two little temp sensors (800$) this started after I got an oil change with my inspection. The oil isn't milky/foamy and there's no fluid on the passenger floor. The fans run like crazy. It seems to want to overheat when outside temp is below 72f or I've driven 15 miles on the highway. I keep heat full blast with the windows down to keep it at bay. No one seems to know what this is. Could it be they drained some tranny fluid by accident? Forgot, sometimes the needle dips below average temp while driving to, could it be an ecm problem? Have a radiator on order. Theres no chiltons manual for these newer cars.
Thanks for the answers. This one's a head scratcher. My best guesses are old radiator, fans may not be spinning fast enough, or the shop drained tranny fluid by mistake and hid it from me. Or knock on wood the ecm is bad.
I agree with @inthrustwetrust
Also, Scotty says, test, don’t guess. 😬
The great guru scotty is the first guy I looked to for answers. Unfortunately this car is reservoir only so those tests arnt really applicable to this model. A head gasket would give foamy oil or coolant loss which I have neither. Which leads me to maybe the radiator is just old. There are 140k miles on it.
I feel like I answered my own question...
Try this -
https://youtu.be/dI0bz8klFmI
Could well be the radiator. Were cooling fans checked for proper operation?
I can't confirm they were tested but I have to assume the shops must have checked them as part of diagnostics. They run, but do they run fast enough? Not 100% on that one.
I didn't hear you mention anything about a new radiator cap. Or burping the air out of the system.
It's been through a shop. They draw a vacuum. There is no radiator cap on this model. Reservoir only. Wish it was as simple as a bubble or cap unfortunately.
I have tried burping it in the past with no success. Not sure if that works on a reservoir or not.
so in your case the reservoir cap is serving the same purpose as a rad cap (pressurizing the system.) Change it.