Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Engine Temps

[ALehman]

I recently O/H my engine this summer. Replaced all parts and installed a new mopar radiator and coolant temp sensor but i am having trouble keeping engine temps to stay at the normal operating range line. Running the interstate no problem but around town and heat on its hard to keep temps up. I'm pretty sure the thermostat seat is installed correctly but haven't pulled it out to check it . Should I just install a new thermostat. The one I have is a cummins. Also is there different temperature thermostats

 

[WDaniels]

Unless it is dipping below the 140 degree line, it sounds pretty normal. Mine can be up at operating temp(just below the 190 degree mark) and if I stop at a stop light or something, it cools off real fast and the temp guage dropps.

 

[ALehman]

Mine temp guage begins a 140 I believe then the first line, then 190 , another line and then 230 or somthing like that. But yes it dips below the first line of the temp arc. Thats only driving a light throttle like in town or back roads, interstate driving is fine but i do not come close to the 190

 

[DonTX]

My 97 acts like it needs new thermostats, acts about like the others here have described. It stays in the operating arc, but in cool weather, on the low end usually, and don't seem to ever get there unless you work it a bit. Apparently this is "normal" for the breed?

 

[T-Bone]

ALehman,



My 1997 would never get warm. I pulled the thermostat and it looked like this.



T-Bone

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[DonTX]

Does it get up to temp in a hurry and stay there now, or does it do like others have described?

 

[ALehman]

Does it get up to temp in a hurry and stay there now, or does it do like others have described?

It takes a while to warm up and if you run the heat it drops back down. It does however warm much faster when i have an insert in the grill

 

[Advantage Take]

Just replaced t-stat in my '97. looks exactly like t-bone's. would barely hit 140 even with trailer + 4 horses.

 

[McLaughlin]

Mine was NEVER raising above 140. Replaced the t-stat and now it gets to 160-170 after about 10 min. Immediately after hitting 160 or so it will drop clear below 140 for a while before it startes cycling. Earlier this year (after the replacement), it never got over 180 even when the outside temp was 90+ in stop and go traffic.

 

[Timebomb]

ALehman,



My 1997 would never get warm. I pulled the thermostat and it looked like this.

ALehman, Pull your T-stat $100 bucks says thats what it is, my 98 did the exact same thing and when I pulled the T-stat it looked just like T-Bones picture. After I found Oil in the overflow leading to a headgasket replacement but that was erelivent to the T-stat doing that, unless the oil broke down that piece of rubber causing it to weaken and colapes.

 

[ALehman]

OK, so I pulled the thermostat out today and it looked just fine. No seal stuck in the thermostat. So I installed a new 180* cummins thermostat with new seals and still it won't heat up past the first line on the temp guage. Again, I just rebuilt the motor, new radiator, water pump, hoses and temp sender. Could it be the radiator cap? It builds pressure but could it not be enough. I'm pretty sure it's not the headgasket. I studded and oringed the head and block with a . 020 head gasket. I just want to get the dang thing fixed

 

[ALehman]

Any ideas out there, some one? Maybe a defective fan or radiator cap?

 

[KAlder]

fan clutch might be seized causing fan to always be pulling air. dont think so on the cap. usually if a cap is defective it will overheat, or just leak coolant at the cap or the overflow bottle. try pulling the fan/clutch assy and see what she does

 

[McLaughlin]

Have you checked the t-gauge and the probe, sender and wiring between the two? Since you did all the motor work, the sender or more likely the wire connection could be bad.

 

[ALehman]

I replaced the probe during the motor rebuild. But the motor has never really ever got hot so maybe it is the fan.

 

[Hammer]

It doesn't sound like anything to worry about. Mine has the updated t-stat in it and with the Garrett Stage 3 roller charger and its use of the coolant to cool the exhaust housing I rarely see any big temps until I have it flogged hard. Mine will run just above the first line and then under a hard acceleration load may slip to near 190 and never has gone past it,even when it was over 90 degrees this summer.



If you have ran the truck with the coolant system open(no radiator cap to seal it) to allow all the air pockets to purge out,have done the new t-stat and checked to see if the fan clutch is free then you have it all about gone over.



If it doesn't still calm you at all then I would suggest a trip back to Antrim and have them look it over to be sure. I am not that far away and there are a couple of my members within a very short drive of you so if you need a second opinion let me know and I'll see who I can raise to see whats up..... Andy

 

[ALehman]

I checked out the fan clutch, it goes all the time with no stopping. Ordered a new one tonight. Hopefully that cures it.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Your . 020" over head gasket probably isn't helping either, since that lowers the compression and means less heat in the cylinder under normal driving.

 

[Timebomb]

The fan will turn all the time untill heat warms it and then it will drive hence clutch fan. I hope you can return the fan, I dont think thats the issue. Mine is a 98 with the different gauges so the temp. gauge is different. But with my . 020 over headgasket and getting the same t-stat from the rack from were you got yours. Mine takes a wile to warm up. In fact when trying to get temp in the engine when I changed the headgasket I couldnt get it to come off of 140, thats with the engine @ 1700rpm for 20min I gave up and drove the truck and got heat in it that way, 600-800deg. egts helps. It takes a wile even now, getting off work going on the interstate I drive about 5 miles @ 70mph untill I see it come off the 140 mark. Id be happy to try to help you p. m. me with time that I can stop up. I work 2nd shift so Im free untill 3. 00pm m-f

 

[Dr.Bob]

Have someone shoot the block and see what temps you are running but most run cool.