How warm is warm enough

[tcourse]

I've never seen 190 unless I completely block radiator. Not even towing 4000lbs in 110 temps. Thermostat not closing? Normal temp for my truck is 1st line off cold no matter what outside temps are. I can forget about any heat on way to work(10 miles)What is best temp for ISB to run. Will condensate burn off at this low temp?

I live in Seattle area. Not that cold here 30-50 right now.

Input?



Thanks, TC

 

[Motorhead]

Too Cold

It sounds to me that you have a faulty thermostat. I live in the central coast of Calif and the winter AM's are usually in the thirtys or less when I go to work at 4:00 AM. I block heat to get cab heat sooner, but I always see 190 degrees. Three things to check. First pull thermostat and inspect it. It could be broken and stuck open. If not, then put it into a pot of water on the stove. Ck when the thermostat opens as the water heats using a candy thermometer or one that will read at least 212 deg. Ck the guage by either carefully ckecking the water temp at the radiator cap opening or go techinical by removing the temp sensor from the block, connecting enough wire length to it and the truck wiring and use the heated water method(like used to ck thermostat) and ck your guage against a thermometer. More than likely it's the thermostat. It is not good to run an engine too cold! Chris

 

[DKelch]

TC,



I experienced the same thing with my 98. 5 too. The only way I could get the jacket water temperature over 180 degrees was to pull my 5,500 pound boat up a 3 percent grade. It did this from the day I purchased (new) the truck. I live in Alaska and the winters are brutal, no heat... or very little in the cab is no good when it's below zero. I finally installed cold shields in front of the grille.



I recently bought a 2001. 5 and don't have this problem anymore. Could be like Chris said, maybe a defective thermostat. I never got curious enough to go through all the trouble of testing it.



I know that Cummins uses two different temperature ranges, 180 and 190. I've had them stick closed in some of the Cummins driven gen sets I've worked on, but never open. In fact, I've had them stick closed right out of the box.



A warm engine is an efficient engine... not to mention having heat in the winter is nice. Good luck.



Dwayne

 

[Mad Bomber]

rad temp

Terry, harbor frieght sells a thermometer so you don't have to steal your wifes.

 

[SOOT]

Has the same problem with the 99 from day 1. If left idleing it would cool down Pulled thermostat out and it was cracked on one side So I replaced it and it's worked great ever since.

 

[Boost]

Mine runs 185-190 empty and 200-210 whenever I pull anything, even a 3500 lb boat.

 

[GDouglas]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think I ran across some info about my 99 has a 180 degree spec thermostat and the later models starting at some later year had a 190.



I don't remember what year went to 190 though.

 

[LSMITH]

Mine will not hit 190 until I sustain EGT's over 850* for a few minutes. I have held 1100 degrees for over an hour, and it did not make it a full needle past 190. Empty is sits at 170-180 no matter what the outside temp is. I would agree with GDouglas that the 99's have a 180* thermostat in them. I would like to see mine run 190-200 all the time, but have not taken the time to put another thermostat in.