I have an 04 Isuzu Ascender with the tuff as nails GM 4.2 Liter inline 6. I was thinking of running the Royal Purple Extended Life oil filter with the 5w30 Amsoil XL Series for 10K and the P1 with either the 5w30 Pennzoil Platinum or the Napa Full Synthetic for 6K. I live in the VA/DC area with a lot of rush hour traffic also take a few long trips to New York and Florida. What are your thoughts on my applications?
04 Ascender oil and filter applications
- Thread starter sm00thpapa
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Yep. Either is fine. That engine runs well on anything. But at 7 quarts for a change, I'd lean toward PP given your 2 choices.
Originally Posted By: beanoil
Yep. Either is fine. That engine runs well on anything. But at 7 quarts for a change, I'd lean toward PP given your 2 choices.
Yeah your right 7 quart oil changes can get expensive. I paid $5.60 for the Amsoil, $3.69 for the PP and $3.38 for the Napa SYN. I couldn't resist the price for the re-badged Valvoline SYN. I have used Synthetic oil since my first oil change at 3,000 miles and it has 96,000 on it now with no engine trouble what so ever. It just over heats a little only when the AC is on. Have to check that out some time.
Yep. Either is fine. That engine runs well on anything. But at 7 quarts for a change, I'd lean toward PP given your 2 choices.
Yeah your right 7 quart oil changes can get expensive. I paid $5.60 for the Amsoil, $3.69 for the PP and $3.38 for the Napa SYN. I couldn't resist the price for the re-badged Valvoline SYN. I have used Synthetic oil since my first oil change at 3,000 miles and it has 96,000 on it now with no engine trouble what so ever. It just over heats a little only when the AC is on. Have to check that out some time.
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As for your temperature issue, check to see what color your clutch fan is. Many of those earlier vehicles (Trailblazer/Envoy) came with a White colored Clutch fan which tended to fail. Luckily many that I had to replace failed in the locked position and just made quite a racket instead of overheating the engine. The replacement was a Black colored fan with new clutch of course that solved the cooling problems. Pretty sure the Isuzu version probably had the same issue since it was basically the same vehicle. This way if you end up looking for a used fan you will know to stay away from another White one. I guess they changed the color to make it easy to spot a problematic fan clutch. Hope that helps you and gives you something to look into.
Originally Posted By: 71Chevyguy
As for your temperature issue, check to see what color your clutch fan is. Many of those earlier vehicles (Trailblazer/Envoy) came with a White colored Clutch fan which tended to fail. Luckily many that I had to replace failed in the locked position and just made quite a racket instead of overheating the engine. The replacement was a Black colored fan with new clutch of course that solved the cooling problems. Pretty sure the Isuzu version probably had the same issue since it was basically the same vehicle. This way if you end up looking for a used fan you will know to stay away from another White one. I guess they changed the color to make it easy to spot a problematic fan clutch. Hope that helps you and gives you something to look into.
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
As for your temperature issue, check to see what color your clutch fan is. Many of those earlier vehicles (Trailblazer/Envoy) came with a White colored Clutch fan which tended to fail. Luckily many that I had to replace failed in the locked position and just made quite a racket instead of overheating the engine. The replacement was a Black colored fan with new clutch of course that solved the cooling problems. Pretty sure the Isuzu version probably had the same issue since it was basically the same vehicle. This way if you end up looking for a used fan you will know to stay away from another White one. I guess they changed the color to make it easy to spot a problematic fan clutch. Hope that helps you and gives you something to look into.
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
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Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I don't have numbers on my temp gauge it just has 4 hash marks. With normal driving and no AC on it is just a tad below the middle hash mark. With the AC on it climbs to near the 3/4 hash mark. Can it be the radiator can't handle the extra load of the AC?
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I don't have numbers on my temp gauge it just has 4 hash marks. With normal driving and no AC on it is just a tad below the middle hash mark. With the AC on it climbs to near the 3/4 hash mark. Can it be the radiator can't handle the extra load of the AC?
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I don't have numbers on my temp gauge it just has 4 hash marks. With normal driving and no AC on it is just a tad below the middle hash mark. With the AC on it climbs to near the 3/4 hash mark. Can it be the radiator can't handle the extra load of the AC?
Ah, okay. The half way mark is the 210 mark on the Trailblazer. I've rented many of these vehicles over the years and all of them usually run right at the 210 or middle mark.
If you haven't replaced the thermostat I would do that, and replace the coolant temp. sensor while you are at it. It's right close to the thermostat. It's somewhat of a royal pain to do the thermostat on these vehicles. There are two ways to do it - either go through the drivers side wheel well, or remove the alternator and remove it from there.
You shouldn't be going up to the 3/4 mark even with the a/c on. BTW when it goes up to the 3/4 mark is this at high speeds or in traffic?
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I don't have numbers on my temp gauge it just has 4 hash marks. With normal driving and no AC on it is just a tad below the middle hash mark. With the AC on it climbs to near the 3/4 hash mark. Can it be the radiator can't handle the extra load of the AC?
Ah, okay. The half way mark is the 210 mark on the Trailblazer. I've rented many of these vehicles over the years and all of them usually run right at the 210 or middle mark.
If you haven't replaced the thermostat I would do that, and replace the coolant temp. sensor while you are at it. It's right close to the thermostat. It's somewhat of a royal pain to do the thermostat on these vehicles. There are two ways to do it - either go through the drivers side wheel well, or remove the alternator and remove it from there.
You shouldn't be going up to the 3/4 mark even with the a/c on. BTW when it goes up to the 3/4 mark is this at high speeds or in traffic?
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I don't have numbers on my temp gauge it just has 4 hash marks. With normal driving and no AC on it is just a tad below the middle hash mark. With the AC on it climbs to near the 3/4 hash mark. Can it be the radiator can't handle the extra load of the AC?
Ah, okay. The half way mark is the 210 mark on the Trailblazer. I've rented many of these vehicles over the years and all of them usually run right at the 210 or middle mark.
If you haven't replaced the thermostat I would do that, and replace the coolant temp. sensor while you are at it. It's right close to the thermostat. It's somewhat of a royal pain to do the thermostat on these vehicles. There are two ways to do it - either go through the drivers side wheel well, or remove the alternator and remove it from there.
You shouldn't be going up to the 3/4 mark even with the a/c on. BTW when it goes up to the 3/4 mark is this at high speeds or in traffic?
Only in traffic. At highway speeds it runs normally just short of the middle.
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?
Not normal at all. I bought my TB new, and I drove it from San Diego to Phoenix several times in the summer. Going up some long hills on Interstate 8 at 75 MPH with both the front and rear a/c on and ambient air temp 110+ the temp gauge would move only 1 notch to the right of "210" while climbing the hill, and would return to the 210 mark once I got to the top of the hill.
I don't have numbers on my temp gauge it just has 4 hash marks. With normal driving and no AC on it is just a tad below the middle hash mark. With the AC on it climbs to near the 3/4 hash mark. Can it be the radiator can't handle the extra load of the AC?
Ah, okay. The half way mark is the 210 mark on the Trailblazer. I've rented many of these vehicles over the years and all of them usually run right at the 210 or middle mark.
If you haven't replaced the thermostat I would do that, and replace the coolant temp. sensor while you are at it. It's right close to the thermostat. It's somewhat of a royal pain to do the thermostat on these vehicles. There are two ways to do it - either go through the drivers side wheel well, or remove the alternator and remove it from there.
You shouldn't be going up to the 3/4 mark even with the a/c on. BTW when it goes up to the 3/4 mark is this at high speeds or in traffic?
Only in traffic. At highway speeds it runs normally just short of the middle.
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Only in traffic. At highway speeds it runs normally just short of the middle.
That's sounds like a bad fan clutch. Did you use an OEM and the latest part number? I don't remember what the part number was (you can find it over at trailvoy.com) but there were several updated part numbers before GM got it right.
I had mine replaced by Chevy and I could sit in traffic in Phoenix in the summer time with the a/c running full blast and the temp gauge would never move off the half way mark.
Edit: Another thing you could try is take a garden hose and spray through the radiator. Sometimes dirt and bugs collect in the fins and you will not get very good air flow over the radiator.
On my TB it was easiest to spray from the engine side of the radiator.
Only in traffic. At highway speeds it runs normally just short of the middle.
That's sounds like a bad fan clutch. Did you use an OEM and the latest part number? I don't remember what the part number was (you can find it over at trailvoy.com) but there were several updated part numbers before GM got it right.
I had mine replaced by Chevy and I could sit in traffic in Phoenix in the summer time with the a/c running full blast and the temp gauge would never move off the half way mark.
Edit: Another thing you could try is take a garden hose and spray through the radiator. Sometimes dirt and bugs collect in the fins and you will not get very good air flow over the radiator.
On my TB it was easiest to spray from the engine side of the radiator.
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I got my fan clutch replaced in March at NTB. I think they had it on hand or got it from Napa right next door. Since they changed it, it is running cooler but still runs a little hotter than normal when the AC is on.
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Originally Posted By: beanoil
Yep. Either is fine. That engine runs well on anything. But at 7 quarts for a change, I'd lean toward PP given your 2 choices.
Yeah your right 7 quart oil changes can get expensive. I paid $5.60 for the Amsoil, $3.69 for the PP and $3.38 for the Napa SYN. I couldn't resist the price for the re-badged Valvoline SYN. I have used Synthetic oil since my first oil change at 3,000 miles and it has 96,000 on it now with no engine trouble what so ever. It just over heats a little only when the AC is on. Have to check that out some time.
I owned an 2007 GMC Envoy for three years, and put around 42,000 on it. I think it came with heavy duty cooling standard. The temperature gauge NEVER varied at all. I also pulled my 3000 lb boat with it, and the last two miles home were uphill. Never moved a notch!
Originally Posted By: beanoil
Yep. Either is fine. That engine runs well on anything. But at 7 quarts for a change, I'd lean toward PP given your 2 choices.
Yeah your right 7 quart oil changes can get expensive. I paid $5.60 for the Amsoil, $3.69 for the PP and $3.38 for the Napa SYN. I couldn't resist the price for the re-badged Valvoline SYN. I have used Synthetic oil since my first oil change at 3,000 miles and it has 96,000 on it now with no engine trouble what so ever. It just over heats a little only when the AC is on. Have to check that out some time.
I owned an 2007 GMC Envoy for three years, and put around 42,000 on it. I think it came with heavy duty cooling standard. The temperature gauge NEVER varied at all. I also pulled my 3000 lb boat with it, and the last two miles home were uphill. Never moved a notch!
This is a 7 year old vehicle and just started to this. So 7 years with no probelms is pretty [censored] good I would say. The engine still pulls like a beast. Could it be the transmission fluid needs to be changed out? I already changed out the coolant when they installed the new water pump and clutch fan.
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
I got my fan clutch replaced in March at NTB. I think they had it on hand or got it from Napa right next door. Since they changed it, it is running cooler but still runs a little hotter than normal when the AC is on.
The problem is the aftermarket fan clutches were based on the GM early design. GM made changes to the design of the fan so that it performed better at low speed.
I never had trouble with overheating, but a year or so after I bought it, the a/c would blow warm air in around town driving. When I took it back to the dealership I bought it from they said that is typical of all cars.
I mentioned my at-the-time 10 year old FORD van would blow ice cold air under the same conditions. I asked if they had the latest TSB and they said "Huh?"
Fortunately (and thanks to a lot of helpful folks over at Trailvoy.com) I had a copy of it for them on the passenger seat!
They replaced the fan clutch and the a/c worked great even at low speeds up until I sold it last January (except for summer of 2010 when the fan control module went out).
I got my fan clutch replaced in March at NTB. I think they had it on hand or got it from Napa right next door. Since they changed it, it is running cooler but still runs a little hotter than normal when the AC is on.
The problem is the aftermarket fan clutches were based on the GM early design. GM made changes to the design of the fan so that it performed better at low speed.
I never had trouble with overheating, but a year or so after I bought it, the a/c would blow warm air in around town driving. When I took it back to the dealership I bought it from they said that is typical of all cars.
I mentioned my at-the-time 10 year old FORD van would blow ice cold air under the same conditions. I asked if they had the latest TSB and they said "Huh?"
Fortunately (and thanks to a lot of helpful folks over at Trailvoy.com) I had a copy of it for them on the passenger seat!
I am afraid to ask this question, but did they replace the coolant with DexCool? If the existing DexCool was mixed with green antifreeze then there is a possiblity that it may have sludged up the radiator like it does in the Blazers. I really hope the antifreeze was not mixed with anything else.
Originally Posted By: 71Chevyguy
I am afraid to ask this question, but did they replace the coolant with DexCool? If the existing DexCool was mixed with green antifreeze then there is a possiblity that it may have sludged up the radiator like it does in the Blazers. I really hope the antifreeze was not mixed with anything else.
They drained the orange dex-cool and added the yellow one which goes with anything. The problem started with the orange dex-cool still in.
I am afraid to ask this question, but did they replace the coolant with DexCool? If the existing DexCool was mixed with green antifreeze then there is a possiblity that it may have sludged up the radiator like it does in the Blazers. I really hope the antifreeze was not mixed with anything else.
They drained the orange dex-cool and added the yellow one which goes with anything. The problem started with the orange dex-cool still in.
I know this is an old post but I wanted to throw in the fact that these vehicles with the I6 run right under the 210 mark, which is straight up.
The 195 mark is 1 hash mark under 210 and with the variables in stepper motors and needle placement on the motor, that temp you are seeing is fine.
You can get a scan tool and view the live data and see it's right at 195. The coolant temp sensors go bad in these things after awhile and that will change the gauge reading. The gauge and the ECM read from the same sensor.
The 195 mark is 1 hash mark under 210 and with the variables in stepper motors and needle placement on the motor, that temp you are seeing is fine.
You can get a scan tool and view the live data and see it's right at 195. The coolant temp sensors go bad in these things after awhile and that will change the gauge reading. The gauge and the ECM read from the same sensor.
Originally Posted By: i6pwr
The 195 mark is 1 hash mark under 210 and with the variables in stepper motors and needle placement on the motor, that temp you are seeing is fine.
You might want to go up a few post and re-read what he said:
" . . . already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?"
I would say it is most definitely NOT normal for the temp. gauge to go between the the half way mark and the 3/4 mark. I owned my TB for 6 year and put at least 70,000 miles on it plus as I mentioned I've rented several Trailblazers/Envoys/Rainers with the I6 engine over the years. None of them ever moved more than one notch past the center mark under ANY conditions.
The 195 mark is 1 hash mark under 210 and with the variables in stepper motors and needle placement on the motor, that temp you are seeing is fine.
You might want to go up a few post and re-read what he said:
" . . . already replaced the white clutch fan with a black one and a new water pump. The white one was squealing pretty bad and needed to be replaced. With the white one it ran all the way to the H mark for engine temp and now with the black one it goes right between the center and 3/4 mark. Is that normal when the AC is on or is it still running a bit hot?"
I would say it is most definitely NOT normal for the temp. gauge to go between the the half way mark and the 3/4 mark. I owned my TB for 6 year and put at least 70,000 miles on it plus as I mentioned I've rented several Trailblazers/Envoys/Rainers with the I6 engine over the years. None of them ever moved more than one notch past the center mark under ANY conditions.
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