2016 Ram 3500 High Coolant temp

[WLiggon]

I have a 2016 Ram 3500 . Had truck to two dealers for what I consider high coolant temp. While towing my 5th the temp will go to 219 before fan kicks in. Today (July 9) while driving in 104 degree temps and climbing hills the temp went to 226 before the fan kicked in. In seconds the temp dropped to 219 at which point the fan dropped out. Further down the road the temp went to 226 and did not drop out until the temp reached 197. My 2013 never did this . Is this normal? I notice no change in the engine power. I feel that this temp is too hot for the engine.

 

[jelag]

so I have been watching my engine oil temperature and transmission oil temperature when the water temperature goes up.... and I've not been concerned... I have, after pulling a hill when the fan is operating pulled into a rest area, opened the hood and ran my infrared temp gauge across the hoses, top of the radiator, and across the front of the radiator where I can hit it with the infrared gauge...

In the 3 times I've done this, I've never seen the temperature indicated.... so I'm not personally convinced what the gauge is saying is correct... after all, its what the ECM wants you to see.... Just my thoughts....

 

[jelag]

so I have been watching my engine oil temperature and transmission oil temperature when the water temperature goes up.... and I've not been concerned... I have, after pulling a hill when the fan is operating pulled into a rest area, opened the hood and ran my infrared temp gauge across the hoses, top of the radiator, and across the front of the radiator where I can hit it with the infrared gauge...

In the 3 times I've done this, I've never seen the temperature indicated.... so I'm not personally convinced what the gauge is saying is correct... after all, its what the ECM wants you to see.... Just my thoughts....

 

[Kirwin]

I see this in my truck pulling Afton Mountain with temperatures near 100 at the bottom and the truck throughly warmed up. I've seen momentary 232 or so before the fan "locks"and them temperature drops back to the 215-220 range and the fan slows and the cycle repeats. Unless temperate continues to rise after you hear the fan lock, or you don't hear the fan lock, I don't think you have a problem. It will sound a chime and turn on the temperature indicator if it thinks you are overheating, and eventually, I believe, derate the engine to protect it.

 

[BigPapa]

I can't attest to the newer Cummins engines, but we just picked up a 2010 HHR for my wife. It's the newest vehicle we've had and I was concerned while driving it home when the coolant temps got to 212*. When I got home I did a bit of research and found that the high speed fans aren't even commanded on until ECT reaches 230*. The newer engines are just made to run hotter I reckon.

 

[RustyJC]

The highest coolant temperature I've seen is 230 degrees F, and that was momentary at the eastbound entrance to the Eisenhower tunnel (elevation 11,100 feet) towing our 19,000 lb GVWR 5th wheel across Colorado on I-70 in late May. No bells, warning lights or any other indications of overheating.

Rusty

 

[AH64ID]

IIRC the 2016 has a 200° thermostat, which means your temps are only a couple of degrees high for fan operation and could simply be the difference in when you hear it engage vs onset. The ECM adds fan speed based on several parameters and it's not always audible until its roaring.

so I have been watching my engine oil temperature and transmission oil temperature when the water temperature goes up.... and I've not been concerned... I have, after pulling a hill when the fan is operating pulled into a rest area, opened the hood and ran my infrared temp gauge across the hoses, top of the radiator, and across the front of the radiator where I can hit it with the infrared gauge...

In the 3 times I've done this, I've never seen the temperature indicated.... so I'm not personally convinced what the gauge is saying is correct... after all, its what the ECM wants you to see.... Just my thoughts....

I'm not sure you would see those temps on the radiator or hoses, in fact if you did I would be very concerened. The temp starts to drop as soon as it leaves the block and the radiator should always be cooler than the block or you'd be heating and not cooling the coolant.

These motors cool down very quick as soon as you pull power away and I often see a 20° drop in a very short time going from a hill pull to a coast (such as entering a rest stop).

I'd bet that the coolant temps you are seeing are accurate.

Oil temp on the other hand.... show me where the senor is I am fairly certain it's a complete BS number. I cannot even fathom why Ram felt the need to include a fake number, although they have been doing it for almost 20 years with oil pressure.