Ok, so I'm new to the forums here, but am glad I finally found this. I have a 2001 Monte Carlo 3400 (label on the engine; no, I'm not mechanically inclined) with about 85k on it. I got it in July 2010 with about 50k on it if I remember correctly (I've got it written down in the log book in the car). There are some questions I would like y'alls feedback on.

1. Yesterday, I was trying to drive through 7/8 inches of sleet/black ice. Needless to say, I did end up spinning out on the highway while going 55-60. I was able to stay on the highway, but the engine had shut off when I got the shoulder (had to take a breather after the adrenaline rush). Is this normal? The GM dealer I use has not heard of this happening. It runs fine now, started right back up, no engine lights are on, etc.

2. I use my vehicle very heavily, about 3-5k miles a month, almost pure highway. It appears from the forums that the MC will take this kind of use well. Thoughts/comments/suggestions? I pretty much just do the service as written in the owners manual.

3. I usually run the car at 73-74 mph, and get about 27 mpg +/- 10%. Is this about what other owners get?

4. I have noticed that the engine seems to be running a bit warmer than one would think it should considering the air temperature outside. The car is not even close to over heating, and it does not do any sort of spikey temperature changes, just runs a smidgin bit warm. The thermostat isssue I was reading about elsewhere on the forums didn't seem to quite fit what I was experiencing. There is plenty of fluid in the radiator and the overflow tank, and does not seem to be loosing fluid. Thoughts?

That's all I can think of at the moment. Thanks!

 

First off, welcome to the forum!

I moved your thread to the General Tech section, because the How-to section is for threads on how to do something, not questions.

I'm not sure about the car spinning out and shutting off.

As long as you keep up with regular maintenance the car should last a good length of time. I'm at 175,000 miles with my Monte Carlo.

Your MPGs sound about right.

What is warm? Can you describe on the temperature gauge where the car is reading?? Your stock thermostat is set to open at 195°F and your fans will kick on at 212°F

Was the coolant ever flushed? Dexcool coolant has a tendency to break down and thicken up and not be as effective when this happens. You could always get a nice coolant flush, shouldn't cost too much nor take too long.

 

Yeah, as soon as I submited the thread I Gibbs slapped myself for puttin it in the wrong section.

I have not done a radiator flush on it. I imagine it has dexcool in it, but where I bought the car used I do not know for sure what is in it. It is running about 15 degrees warmer, sometimes, but is not consistently warm, just sometimes. Judging by what Chibi said, its running about 185, when, as cold as it is (below freezing right now), it had been running closer to 160-165. Like I said, it's not a huge difference, but it was suprising.

On the days when it has gotten up to 70 this week - gotta love Kansas - the temperature didn't get a warmer than when I had first bought it. It went back to where one would expect the temp gauge to be. I had wondered if the thermostat was getting a little sticky, as that seems to be a common problem in the Monte Carlos.

 

My dad has a 2002 Monte Carlo LS with the 3.4 and one thing I can comment on is the fuel mileage. It gets 25-26 mpg consistently, so I can definitely see 27 happening on highway trips.

 

YES, it is normal to have to take a breather after spinning out. LOL

 

Welcome and good luck!

 

You beat me to it I thought the exact same thing when I read it.

But yes the car probably just stalled from the spinning out.