What is the normal operating temp. on an '01 SS? Now mind you its 80º here and when driving I'm getting a reading similar to the one in the pic I'm posting....however at idle it approaches the midway mark (200º?) is that normal? The other day it went over the midway mark to about 230º I'd estimate.

Now I just had the radiator changed out as my old one had a leak at the top. I think there was/is some air in the system. I noticed that when I bleed the system through the bleeder valve by the throttle body its bone dry? There is no air nor coolant coming out through the bleeder valve? I bled it after running the car and it was well heated up and turned off....but still nothing?

Bad thermostat? Bad blades in the water pump? Os is this normal temperature behavior? Also why is the bleeder valve not yielding anything at all?

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

Do you hear any hissing when you open the bleeder valve? Air or anti-freeze should come out.
If you don't even get hissing then make sure your bleeder isn't stopped up somehow.
Is your radiator full?
Do you have heat?

 

Mine never passes the middle line and it's usually over 95 degrees here in the day

 

It shouldn't go past the 200 degree mark. Which is exactly in the middle. Are your fans coming on?

 

Make sure to check the coolant level...

 

I would think that is pretty close to normal to be honest, of course a car is going to heat up more when at idle and even faster while in gear at idle.
Like everyone has said be sure that your coolant is full along with correct level in the overflow.

 

Shouldn't really go past halfway under normal driving.

 

You need to have the car running and warm when you bleed the air. The water pump has to be running and the thermostat open so the coolant can circulate.

 

OK thanks guys you have raised another question?.....what is the normal "height" of the coolant level inside the radiator? Mine is always about 3-4 inches down from the top of the neck? Should the coolant level be all the way up to the top of the neck in the radiator?

As far as the fans I know one of them comes on as I saw it winding down the other day but I'm unsure if they both come on?

Oh and I do have heat.

 

It should be about an inch below the top of the radiator tank.