Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) enigine running too hot??

[motohead84]

I have a 2001 quad cab Auto with about 110,000 miles on it. The last few thousand miles the engine won't run below 220 degrees even on a cold day. When hauling about 6000 pounds of trailer on flat grades it has been going all the way to the red zone. I don;t run with the a/c on and I am not always on the gas. Is my truck overheating, or is that the norm for operating temps? The outside temps for where i drive have been in the 50's-60's with the occasional 70. I was thinking or having a complete cooling system flush to include taking out the radiator and having it professionally cleaned. Any input would be much appreciated. The only mods i have done are a 4" aluminized exhaust and a KN FIPK + triple gauges (trans, boost, egt. )

 

[hammersley]

When was the last time you changed your TSTAT? Also have you relocated your oil overflow breather bottle - cause if you haven't you may have sucked a lot of overflow oil into the rad core and have it plugged and not cooling correctly. Your fan clutch could also not be working.....

 

[justinp20012500]

Originally posted by hammersley

When was the last time you changed your TSTAT? Also have you relocated your oil overflow breather bottle - cause if you haven't you may have sucked a lot of overflow oil into the rad core and have it plugged and not cooling correctly. Your fan clutch could also not be working.....

I had the same problem with my blow by bottle. When you go down a steep hill the motor will puke about two quarts right into the radiator. Two bottles of degreaser and the pressure washer fixed it.

 

[motohead84]

Thanks for the advice. I have never changed the TSTAT and have not relocated the bottle. I clean out the bottle every oil change.

I think it is about time to do a TSTAT. Any idea which one to put in?

 

[tractorface]

Mine ran real hot because the fan clutch gave out. Might be worth checking that as well as the T-stat. Either way give the radiator a good cleaning.

 

[JR2]

I think you are on the correct path. I swaped to a 180 degree t-stat and saw no difference in mileage or heat level. Its not normal for your engine to run that hot while towing. It should really never get into the red zone.



Like others have said. .



Check the fan clutch

Check the thermostat - just change it there cheap from Cummins

Clean the radiator - soak with degreeser and use a pressure washer on it. You may want to try to have it steam cleaned if it looks real bad.



Good luck.



John

 

[TowPro]

sounds like the thermostat. When they go bad, they seem to stay closed when cold, but once warmed up they only open part of the way. . Over time this "part of the way" gets smaller and smaller until you notice a problem.

 

[hammersley]

Go to this thread - great advice from Steve - and that's the TSTAT you want... ... . DON't buy the 190 from Cummins - it's very expensive and not needed - IMO.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80825&highlight=thermostat

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Post poofed

That was bizarre. . . I replied to this and now it's gone



Anyway like I said before I would change your oil motohead if the temps you were driving at were that high. . . that's way too hot IMO and certainly didn't do the engine much good. When you overheat a motor it takes a toll on the oil and I would get it out of there.



Vaughn

 

[motohead84]

thank you all for your advice. I plan on changing my oil this weekend. I am using a new oil i have heard good things about. It is called Royal Purple. It is a full synthetic and Suppose to make the engine run alot smoother. I also use a KN oil filter.



I am going to locate my local cummins guys and see if I can get a 180 TSTAT. I also want to change the radiator fluid. Any suggestions on what to use for antifreeze?? How about comments on the product "water wetter"??



Thanks in advance.



Andrew

 

[JR2]

For AF I used the rotella extended life stuff. Its red and I am happy with it. If you are at cummins you can buy the fleetguard stuff, lots of guy use it.



As for water wetter... lots of guys on here use it.

 

[kacee3759]

My 99' truck got hot any time I was pulling my 5th-wheel up a hill and couldn't keep the speed up. The fan was OK. I put a 4" exhaust on and an afe magnum force intake system. All with marginal help. Then I changed to a 180 degree therm. That did the trick and I've had no problems since even climbing some long grades for several miles with the RPM's up around 2500. The temp never gets above about 200. Pretty inexpensive through Cummins.

 

[cpeters]

I had almost the same problem last summer, I went to cummins and bought a 180 t stat and the fleetgaurd premixed coolant, also bought the special fleetgaurd flush cleaner which got alot of gunk out of the system. you take out the coolant and put in the flush run for 30 miles and then flush with water and run 15 minutes and then flush with water again and then refill with pre mix. I think I learned from here to refill from the t stat hole and the radcap to prevent air in system.