Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Ok Solved my overheating problem - thanks Steve St.Laurent

[hammersley]

Ok. I've been complaining about my guage running over the 190 mark and upwards of what I thought would be 210-220 degrees, when running in 4 wd, with AC on and going slow. Well some mentioned that the TSTAT that came in my truck was probably a 190 and either it was to high or maybe going bad. WELL - all you gear-heads that mentioned maybe the thermostat was bad YOU WERE RIGHT! I put a new one in today, changed the antifreeze and WOW - Baby did the guage ever respond. Now if it gets to 190 - it's there for a second or two and down to 180 ish! It has never responded like that - and it was 95 here today!



AND A HUGE thanks to Steve St. Laurent for adding his notes to supplement the instructions on changing the coolant that's found here:



http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/cooling-sys/antifreeze.htm



BTW - here's the photo of the new replacement 180 Cummins T Stat - #3967195 - $16. 88 - NOT the $57 dollar 190 degree one they want you to use!

 

[SRadke]

Congradulations Hammersley. I guess that electric pusher fan wouldn't have helped you much.

-Scott

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Your welcome. Pretty easy way to change it isn't it?

 

[snowracer69]

Well, tickle me pink... this is something I've been looking at doing myself recently.



Mr. St. Laurent, I would like to get those tips on changing the coolant out... 85k on my pickup and it's never been done, and I'm about 90% sure my Tstat is bad now too (goes well over 200*F when I'm running it hard and takes a while to cool back down... never did this before and friends pickup w/ exact same BOMBs doesn't do this).



Thanks ahead of time,



Josh

 

[hammersley]

Steve - it couldn't have been much easier.

And your comments were what I really followed. You were sure correct about the pull and turn and pull and turn on that darn radiator stop... . and the location adjacent to the transfer cooler is a bit of a pain - but it was nice and clean. AND - the advice on how to drain - and fill - went 100% as you said. GREAT advice. Now if I can only get some help on adjusting my valves - I purchased a tool kit - that's running now at https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80822 - I want to tackle that - but as I've never adjusted valves - I want to learn... ...

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Josh - click on the link that hammersly posted above and scroll down the page - you'll see it there.

 

[Barry]

Coming out of Little Rock with a 5er behind me, I noticed my heat guage was running on the east side of mid range. It had never done that before... . nor did I like it. Nursed the truck home and pulled out the Tstat. The arch over the top was broken clear thru. Thats when I learned about the Tstat problem in the Cummins. I now carry a spare under the back seat.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Have they changed the part number on the 180* stat? The 180* one I bought (last year) is P#3954194. Just trying to keep up to speed with the #, I don't want to give out old info when someone asks for the latest number, thanks.



Rob

 

[kacee3759]

I just purchased a new 180 degree therm. from Cummins a couple of days ago and the part number and date are the same as the photo above. #3967195.

 

[hammersley]

Yes Rob - they have changed the #

don't ask me why - and I did carefully look at the $55+ dollar 190 degree one that they say Dodge wants us to use. It is made different and has a large rubber housing. I should have taken a photo.

 

[dsherman]

Will it work on a 2002 ?

Thank you

 

[hammersley]

you bet it will

and I'm so glad I changed mine... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I'll never use a 190 again!!!!!! I thought that the difference would be marginal as once the engine got up to temp - the TSTAT would open- and cool her down - what's the problem. Well that's not what happens. My truck doesn't get as hpt as before as the guage is considerably lower and boy was it easy to change - A DREAM.....

 

[Rob Thomas]

Re: Yes Rob - they have changed the #

Originally posted by hammersley

Yes Rob - they have changed the #

Ok, thanks