2011 Chevrolet Aveo Overheating & Pushing Coolant

Have a 2011 Chevrolet Aveo LT, actually have 19 of these cars we use as delivery. So very much acquainted with the craziness of some normal issues. This one has me stumped though, 2011 with 41K on the clock, the car will once a week, peg the temperature gauge, and push all the coolant out of the resevoir. So far I have replaced the radiator, radiator cap, thermostat... Cooling fans are operational during overheat issue, and coolant is flowing. I have performed a block test with the test fluid all of which show negative. Was able to catch the car while doing its overheating spell and performed block test at that point. Fluid never changed colors... The only thing it really leads me to believe is combustion gases are still getting into the coolant either thru bad head gasket or an issue with head or block. Anyone had this issue before?

Sounds like my issue, other than the temp gauge going up...
I just ordered a new radiator cap, I'm gonna get the head gasket tested if that doesn't work. Strange though, no bubbles in coolant, no coolant in oil or vice versa either. Still doing it after I replaced the thermostat as well

And I have had another aveo with an expansion cap issue, so learned to do that issue first. This one I have gone thru everything including the $100 thermostat on the newer cars since it is computer controlled. Performed the block test with the test fluid still negative. But it would really need to be combustion gases or compression getting into the coolant to push out of tank. Spark plugs are fine, nothing making it internally into combustion, but it definately pressurizes tank and boils it

I wish I did that first... $130 on the tstat

Hi eaweld

Please let me know if you would like to take your Aveo to the dealer. I can start a Service Request for you, check your VIN for any updates and also locate the nearest dealership if that would be helpful. Just send me a private message and I will help you.

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

The exact same thing happened yesterday to my 2011 Aveo LT did you find a solution? was it a thermostat or Cap issue?

I would do both, these coolant systems aren't very good...had to replace the overflow tank cus when I turned it off while hot the coolant would piss out the bottom, I guess it had a slight failure in the plastic weld

this is one of those things that you can't really diagnose over the internet, the system losing coolant like this could be from a pressure leak, or added pressure (head gasket). While I have not heard of common head gasket issues on these cars yet. Even a pin hole leak that takes the pressure from the system will allow it to boil over and out.

pressure raises the temperature it takes for the coolant to boil (boiling point)) so if you lower the pressure with a leak or open system it will lose coolant at a lower temperature.

My 2011 Chevy Aveo has had overheating problems 3 times in last year. 11 mo ago, overheated. New thermostat put in. 4 mo later, thermostat failed. Was replaced. Today, overheated. It may have now done serious damage. I again had to be towed. Hundreds of dollars down the drain. I need to speak w someone ne w Chevy a sap. There appears to be a serious note Susie's w Aveos and overheating. Is it perhaps time for a recall on 2006, 2008, and 2011 Chevy Aveos???!!!!!!!! This is RIDICULOUS!! I had no idea thousands of us are having this issue!!! Susie, Iowa. Susan.grace74@outlook.com

Just had the exact same issue, Blew the intake bypass hose, replaced and the car continued to boil over after just a few miles, changed the thermostat, expansion cap and still boil over after a few miles. finally took the car in. Mechanic thought head gasket at first then found a small but visible crack in the block between the #1 and #2 cylinder. The shop states this is a common issue with these yet I cannot find anything on the web confirming this, consequently there are many post with this overheating issue being described in this forum with few to no quick solutions.

just curios, has anyone checked their water pump? Even if everything else was checked good, or replaced, without the pump moving it through the motor it won't matter. I want to do it on our Aveo5 LT but haven't had a need. I noticed that someone said the thermostat is electric or electronic? I replaced our twice, once just the thermostat, then the next day the thermostat and manifold it mounts to. While there are two electrical connections on it, there's no way they aren't just temperature sensors.

ủng há»™ up nÃ*o !!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KellyTran90

ủng há»™ up nÃ*o !!!!!

---

What does that even mean?

I have had my 2009 Chevrolet Aveo since March 2021, bought with 131,xxxKMS (81,xxxMI) from a used car lot in Rural New Brunswick, Canada, discovered 1 issue: Car had a misfire. Cause of Issue: Unknown.

After doing some basic diagnostics, we discovered that it needed new spark plugs. After Replacing, the issue was resolved. Over the weekend of May 1, 2021, I took a 4 hour drive to visit some family, had no issues. While visiting, we noticed that the coolant had been pouring out all over my families drive way. Further research noted 1 major issue: Coolant Recovery Tank had 1 large crack, as if too much pressure had built up.

We repaired the crack, only to discover that coolant was now going to boil out if the tank, as the cap had been damaged. We repaired the issue and replaced the cap, and all seemed fine. I was able to make it back home, albeit missing a day of work to repair the issue, and all seemed fine. However a week or two later, I noticed the car was over heating, and suddenly all my coolant was gone. no sign in the work parking lot of any leak, no sign in my driveway at home of any leak. Only used to drive the car too and from work.

Oil seems normal, New cap seems damaged already. Have been dealing with this issue now for the past month, and have gone through 8 and 1/2 bottles of coolant. Looking for an answer. Tried to take it to the local dealership who wouldn't even bother taking a look at it. Tried taking it to the local garage, he cannot find the issue and showed me paperwork on the service history for this vehicle.

Service History:
This is just me stating what was on the service records they had for my car, not word for word
April 2020 -"Customer states vehicle is overheating, Diagnostics show Hose needed to be replaced, Hose Replaced and Coolant filled.
May 5, 2020 - "Customer states Vehicle leaking coolant, Replaced Damaged Coolant Recovery Tank"
May 26, 2020 -"Customer states vehicle overheating, Thermostat Replaced"
July 2020 - "Customer request Radiator Replacement, Radiator has been changed"
September 2020 - "Customer states car is overheating, no issues found, Upon Customers Request replaced Thermostat, Hoses, Coolant Recovery Tank"
November 2020 - "Customer states yet again car is overheating, Thorough testing found no signs of damage to new coolant system. Customer states Dealership unable to diagnose cause"
December 11, 2020 - "2009 Aveo towed via [Local Towing Company] to [Local Garage] due to smoking/overheating while driving, customer asks us to replace Thermostat, Tank, Water Pump, and Hoses"
March 15, 2021 - "Customer purchased [Car they purchased] from [Garage], trade in 2009 Chevrolet Aveo for $800 Credit on New Purchase"
March 25, 2021 - "2009 Chevrolet Aveo LS sold to [Local Car Dealer] for $1,000.00 CAD with noted issue: Overheating Problem, Misfire, likely needs spark plugs, sold AS IS"
(Adding my purchase with noted history from local dealer)
March 30, 2021 - "2009 Chevrolet Aveo LS Sold to Lauren [Last Name] for $3,100.00, Vehicle comes with New Inspection valid until 2023, Vehicle is confirmed to be in full working order with Following New Parts added as per Dealership: New Coil Pack. Car is free from any mechanical defects."

Car starts easy, Idle's good, no loss of power, simply overheats and I am at a loss. I have no idea if I just bought a Lemon or what. As a mechanic, with a mechanic brother and father, none of us can seem to locate the issue, and we are all familiar with working on Aveo's as my grandfather has had 3 (2008 Aveo LS Manual, 2006 Aveo LT, 2011 Aveo5) and his girlfriend had 1 (2011 Aveo 2LT) which we have all worked on in the past. Simply at a loss and honestly thinking about getting rid of this friggen thing.

Based on my experiences with a 2009 Aveo, i suspect the coolant loss and overheating problems are all related to deteriorating seals in the engine oil cooler, that is allowing engine oil to get into the cooling system, and then that oil and coolant combination emulsifies into a sludge that softens the rubber hoses, cooling system gaskets, and the coolant recovery tank, until they start leaking. All 2009-2011 USA/Canada Aveos have this engine oil cooler and the internal gaskets start failing after about 4-5 years. In my opinion, the prognosis is bad until the engine oil cooler is replaced, and the system flushed thoroughly. On my 2009, I replaced the engine oil cooler, water pump (gasket was leaking), both rad hoses, both heater hoses, and the recovery tank twice. Only after I replaced the engine oil cooler did the other components stop failing and leaking.

Deano

I bought a 2012 Chev aveo 1.6 Ls in July 2021, drove less than 1000km and had the same issues of coolant bubbling out the reservoir. Sent car to service centre, Head was taken off and pressure tested, turned out it was the welsh plugs at the back of the head was leaking. Got it back last week, done about 200km so far with no issues.