engine runs hot

[TERMINATOR]

I am thinking about running the summer without a stat i tow everyday mostly in traffic,anyone ever try this or is a bad idea. THANKS JERRY

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1999 black 3500 QC dually,4+4,auto,354,leather,8. 6 boss plow,pia lights,outlaw rear bumper,kc back ups,banks powerpack,275,s,a pillar boost and egt,pro torque tc,goodyear a/t 305/70/16

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Its probably just a bad thermostat. There was a bad batch released in '98-'99 trucks The cooling system is HUGE. More than enough to cool the engine when the T-stat is opening all the way.

From Fritzs' Web Page:

Overheating while towing:

Reports appearing of bad thermostat batch
replace thermostat.

Cummins P/N 3943200

see Dodge dealer for warranty replacement - no TSB yet

TSB: http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1998/07_08_98.htm



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 05-01-2001). ]

 

[B.G. Smith]

You definitely do not want to run without a thermostat except maybe in an emergency. Some vehicles will actually run hotter without the TS because the coolant will flow through the radiator too fast to get much cooling. My thermostat went out on my first trip to Colorado. Installed new one in Taos New Mexico and haven't had a problem since. Geno has the thermostat for about 16. 00. I got mine from dealer at about 43. 00. bg

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White 99 3500, QC, 3:55, auto. most options except leather, Line-X bed liner, fiberglass running boards Rancho 9000s, bug shield and window vents, black vented 5th wheel tailgate, 110 gal. aux. fuel tank.

 

[MCummings]

WHOA!, when my truck is running, I have the exact OPPOSITE problem.

When truck was new, it was overheated to 220*
then we had the dual stage thermostat replaced, now I think the dual stage thermostat has it's 1st stage stuck open.
My truck will NOT move off of the lowest temperatuer if it is below 60* and pointed into the wind,
And on HOT days, it takes about 5-10 Minutes of HARD Driving to get it into the Safe range.

MerrickNJr

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1998. 5 Dodge 3500, 2wd
5-Speed, Light Driftwood
Replaced the Resonator and Muffler with 6ft of 3" Aluminized pipe.
3. 55 rear-end
A. R. E. Camper
Michelin 245/75/16's

 

[TERMINATOR]

Well i guess its off to dealer in morning to get new stat their is no way i can run this truck another day like this. Thanks everybody once again... JERRY

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1999 black 3500 QC dually,4+4,auto,354,leather,8. 6 boss plow,pia lights,outlaw rear bumper,kc back ups,banks powerpack,275,s,a pillar boost and egt,pro torque tc,goodyear a/t 305/70/16

 

[SteveAZ]

Had a the hot problem in my 99. Never new about it until I towed last summer. w/o the tow it's fine. (Was only 4000lbs or less and I never went faster than 175mph hehehe).

There was a TSB for the goofy stats that only rear they're ugly head when a load is applied.

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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges, 16X8 Eagle wheels, Dunlop 285/75 AT's

 

[tlippy]

I was going to post but thought this was old hat. I consider myself a THERMOSTAT expert. Anywas here's my chain of events:
The OE stat worked fine for the first 25K miles - never getting above 190 when pulling. Then I went with the TDR guys around Mount Hood and the truck ran 210 all day.
Took the truck in and had the OE stat replaced under warranty. Thereafter the truck ran around 165 inloaded - an never above 185 pulling. Spend last month around Guaymas - temps were 100+ and the truck never got hotter than 185 even while pulling. So I thought the replacement stat was bad. Installed th 3rd stat on Monday. By doing it myself I did discover that 180 is stamped on the stat. The 3rd stat behaves just like th 2nd stat - ie; truck runs around 165 unloaded. So it looks like Cummins designed the engine to run close to the 180 mark.
I am now comfortable that the 3rd stat - and running at 165 unloaded and 185 loades is how the truck was designed.

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99' Quad 4x4 A/T LB 3. 54 45K Miles.
26' Terry w/slide (7500GVWR)
"KISS your truck and it will be forever faithful"

 

[Guest00]

Cummins makes 2 stats for the ISB, 180 and 190, Dodge uses a 190 for EPA caert. I am on my 4 th stat in 30k mi. OEM never went over 190 or under 190, It was replaced with the short block at 10k mi. 2nd leaked but held a rock steady 190 even at idle in winter, 3rd would fluctuate between 160 to 190 untill last week when it popped up to 210 on 2 grades and again on a down grade. Today I installed a new 180* and hope this one holds up.
Cheap insurance for $15 bucks at Cummins.

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2K, 2500, Quad, SB, 4x4, 3:54LSD, A/T w/ DTT VB, TC, TC SAVER and AUX COOLER , REESE 15k 5th slider, EASLEY BULL BAR, MAAP NERFS, BFG-TA's, 9000's,TORQUS MAXIMUS 505 lbft ECM, stealth DD2's, Bully Dog Boost & elbow, ISSPRO pyro, boost & transmission, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, AFE filter, GEAR VENDORS OD, TAYLOR WING onboard.
MxM's on order
pullees:
#1 y2k ARTIC FOX 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA-LIFE, VFW-LIFE, SoCSA-LIFE, SASS

 

[tobaccogrower]

TERMINATOR:
is your truck overheating? if it is i had the same problem in my 99 coming back from florida. thought it was the thermostat but was really the fan clutch. mine only overheated wwwhen towwing. a good way to check the fan-clutch is observe the fan when shutting down the truck. it should only spin about 1 or 2 turns then stop... james...

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1999 RED LOADED 3500 QC DUALLY. 331N. DUNLOPS,ALPINE AUDIO,PSYCHOTTY AIR WITH K&N,BANKS POWERPACK,275 injectors, VA CPC, soon come. . DTT TC and VB. more in store????

 

[Coop]

Originally posted by RAMHEAD3437:
TERMINATOR:
is your truck overheating? if it is i had the same problem in my 99 coming back from florida. thought it was the thermostat but was really the fan clutch. mine only overheated wwwhen towwing. a good way to check the fan-clutch is observe the fan when shutting down the truck. it should only spin about 1 or 2 turns then stop... james...

This is not always the case. The temperature of the engine is going to variably engage the fan clutch, so if the truck were cool, it will freewheel much more than if it is hot.

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1999 24V, 4X2, auto, Psychotty Air, Line-X Bedliner, everything else stock