On the Road, overheating, help!

[TAbbott]

Yeah, thats a pretty good grade up from the river in Laughlin. Been a long time since I went across the Dam (no trucks) but it seems like I remember the crawl up from the dam to Boulder City is no picnic either if you're running warm. No road speed at all and steep grades up through the curves and then a dead pull up to Boulder City.



Another route into Vegas from Kingman is just to go west on I-40 to a few miles west of Needles, CA and then turn north on 95. It's a bit farther, but easier going. It's downhill virtually all the way from Kingman to Needles.



In fact, most trucks (especially if they're heavy in the summer) going to Vegas from Phoenix just run west on I-10 to the Vicksburg, AZ junction and then run 72 to 95 and up through Parker, AZ, then 62 through Earp to Vidal Jctn. up US-95 through Needles into Vegas. It's mostly easy running all the way and there's not much for elevation either, which really makes a difference with marginal cooling.

 

[jjdiesel]

Just to clarify... . the dirt was on the back side of the radiator. Can't see it unless your straining with a flashlight between the two (AC). hth

 

[DonTX]

Made it into Sams Town RV park in Las Vegas. Damn that hill out of Laughlin was a bear, stopped several times and poured water over the radiator. Others were having trouble too, hotter than blazes out there.

I flushed as much as I could in a campground low pressure hose, seemed to help until it got over 100 and then it all went to hell again. Saw transmission temps and engine temps I never wanted to see!

I have just mostly enjoyed the fifth Airborne pin box, sure calms down the jerks! No experiments yet with it.

I bought a Host Yellowstone camper today in Kingman AZ, so the fifth wheel is a for sale item now I reckon.

It is HOT out here!

 

[Andersonville]

I would say you need anew fan clutch. Don't forget to buy the fan clutch wrench! Makes it much easier,I just changed mine. Brand new clutch,it is hard to move the fan blade with your hand,worn out clutch,the fan moves easily. If you are overheating that much,you need a fan clutch or thermostat is stuck closed. These engines are overkill on almost everything. NO WAY that engine should be running that hot! 210 degree is the warmest mine has everbeen. That was with 45' fifth wheel going up I 15 from LA. NOW if you recently happened to have replaced your fan belt,etc and now the engine runs hot,the belt could be installed wrong which causes the water pump to run backward which will make it overheat!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck#@$%!

PS: They are building a bypass around Hoover Dam so we won't be able to cross it at all pretty soon.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

On my previous 98. 5 CTD dually pulling a 15k 5th. whl... ... ... ... after getting into warm country it started to heat up on hills. New thermostat... . no fix. Fan clutch ok. Turned out to be a really dead bird spread out between the two radiators blocking airflow. Poked it out with a bar bq fork and a pressure washer and the problem went away.

Good luck.

 

[cro-magnum]

Hey Don I think you should be able to slip the belts when your fan has engaged its self. Never under estimate the power of air. It is very hard to make air move at the rate we ask of our fans. Im just saying the fan clutch makes for a pretty positive lock.



See ya Travis

 

[C. Harlan]

I had to go through laughlin a few weeks ago, and saw some super hot engine & transmission temps (in a Pete 379)... In the summer time, I just leave the engine fan turned on. . transmission, front, and rear drive axles were ~230 degrees, oil temp was close to 250, and water was about 220... once we got over that pass, and rolling towards Kingman, all was good. . A little warm for my liking, but never had to stop to cool down. .



-Chris-

 

[TAbbott]

One other suggestion as far a good cooling is concerned is what is the antifreeze / water ratio of your coolant?



A 50/50 mix is usually recommended for "normal" conditions, but for running in high ambient temperatures plus a little altitude a 75% water and 25% antifreeze solution or even 90:10 will cool quite a bit better.



Add some of that Water Wetter to that kind of mix and you might see 10-15 degrees better cooling. Just running some flush through the system and replacing the coolant may help as well. It doesn't take much scale in the system to really be detrimental to good cooling system performance.

 

[DonTX]

Yeah the old Horton clutch on my old 3406B Cat/Kenworth W900would cool ANY heating! Flip the switch when approaching a hill and letter eat, never a problem. Sure wish they had them on these Cummins. Question: Can you normally HEAR the fan engage on these little trucks? Had been noticeable on other engines I had with this type clutch.

I had to go through laughlin a few weeks ago, and saw some super hot engine & transmission temps (in a Pete 379)... In the summer time, I just leave the engine fan turned on. . transmission, front, and rear drive axles were ~230 degrees, oil temp was close to 250, and water was about 220... once we got over that pass, and rolling towards Kingman, all was good. . A little warm for my liking, but never had to stop to cool down. .



-Chris-

 

[MMeier]

Yeah the old Horton clutch on my old 3406B Cat/Kenworth W900would cool ANY heating! Flip the switch when approaching a hill and letter eat, never a problem. Sure wish they had them on these Cummins. Question: Can you normally HEAR the fan engage on these little trucks? Had been noticeable on other engines I had with this type clutch.

I can hear mine when it is engaged. Don, you still at Sam's Town, just drove through there but didn't see a truck like the one in your profile.

 

[DonTX]

Wow, sad you missed me. The truck is parked very obviously in the street, only one with a Mercedes grille. We will be here til early morn when I am leaving. Will be in the casino eating or back here.

I can hear mine when it is engaged. Don, you still at Sam's Town, just drove through there but didn't see a truck like the one in your profile.

 

[RVTRKN]

Don/TX you should hear it. It almost seems like you lose a little power as well. On my 92 Dakota it would engage in the AM until I got a few hundred feet. I thought the trany was slipping at first. I believe because of the complaints of what I just described, Dodge started installing light duty clutch fans. My 94 gasser did not do that in the AM and when I installed the new one on my 94 it started doing it. The parts man asked me if I wanted a HD clutch fan and thats what I bought.

 

[Andersonville]

Is there a way to install a switch to turn on the fan like on a big truck? That would be a nice addition if it is possible.

 

[MMeier]

Is there a way to install a switch to turn on the fan like on a big truck? That would be a nice addition if it is possible.

Not too hijack a thread, but check out and do a search on "Manual fan override", works on an '03.

 

[Grizzly]

Don, Hope you get the over-heating problem figured out soon. If it's not the fan clutch, consider getting the radiator removed and flushed out. Put in new anti-freeze with more water then 50-50.



Great news on getting that Host Camper. I know you've been wanting one. Put FOR SALE signs on the 5er for the remainder of the trip.



Hope hurricane Dolly did't cause you too much damage at home on the Rio Grande. You've got enough on your plate already. Mrs. Don/TX holding out okey?

 

[DonTX]

I had a welcome visit from MMeier yesterday in Las Vegas offering to help, thanks for the excellent directions for getting thru Las Vegas. He sure has a mighty fine truck I must say! I took off at daybreak this morning and drove to Winnemucca, about 500 miles. A little problem getting to Tonopah summit, but AC off, heater on, and kept it in the zone. From there it was down hill, and lots cooler, drove 65-70 all the way with the needle in the middle (lots of airflow over the radiator that way). Got a new fan clutch sitting here, still pretty sure that is my problem, will put that on tomorrow. . I seem to be able to turn the fan when hot about exactly the same as when cold, and NEVER hear the fan engage.

Hurricane Dolly came to my house and sat there all day hammering. Our place made it thru pretty nicely actually considering. Still no electricity in the town, had a neighbor go toss out all the fridge stuff. The wife is getting tired of driving everyday, we are going to cool it a week here in Winnemucca, the on East on I80. For sale signs are up on the fiver!!

Thanks again guys for all the help!!

Don, Hope you get the over-heating problem figured out soon. If it's not the fan clutch, consider getting the radiator removed and flushed out. Put in new anti-freeze with more water then 50-50.



Great news on getting that Host Camper. I know you've been wanting one. Put FOR SALE signs on the 5er for the remainder of the trip.



Hope hurricane Dolly did't cause you too much damage at home on the Rio Grande. You've got enough on your plate already. Mrs. Don/TX holding out okey?

 

[JCasper]

I had a welcome visit from MMeier yesterday in Las Vegas offering to help, thanks for the excellent directions for getting thru Las Vegas. He sure has a mighty fine truck I must say! I took off at daybreak this morning and drove to Winnemucca, about 500 miles. A little problem getting to Tonopah summit, but AC off, heater on, and kept it in the zone. From there it was down hill, and lots cooler, drove 65-70 all the way with the needle in the middle (lots of airflow over the radiator that way). Got a new fan clutch sitting here, still pretty sure that is my problem, will put that on tomorrow. . I seem to be able to turn the fan when hot about exactly the same as when cold, and NEVER hear the fan engage.

Hurricane Dolly came to my house and sat there all day hammering. Our place made it thru pretty nicely actually considering. Still no electricity in the town, had a neighbor go toss out all the fridge stuff. The wife is getting tired of driving everyday, we are going to cool it a week here in Winnemucca, the on East on I80. For sale signs are up on the fiver!!

Thanks again guys for all the help!!

Enjoy your trip, sounds like a fun one. I hope the fan clutch solves your issues.

 

[MMeier]

I had a welcome visit from MMeier yesterday in Las Vegas offering to help, thanks for the excellent directions for getting thru Las Vegas. He sure has a mighty fine truck I must say! I took off at daybreak this morning and drove to Winnemucca, about 500 miles. A little problem getting to Tonopah summit, but AC off, heater on, and kept it in the zone. From there it was down hill, and lots cooler, drove 65-70 all the way with the needle in the middle (lots of airflow over the radiator that way). Got a new fan clutch sitting here, still pretty sure that is my problem, will put that on tomorrow. . I seem to be able to turn the fan when hot about exactly the same as when cold, and NEVER hear the fan engage.

Hurricane Dolly came to my house and sat there all day hammering. Our place made it thru pretty nicely actually considering. Still no electricity in the town, had a neighbor go toss out all the fridge stuff. The wife is getting tired of driving everyday, we are going to cool it a week here in Winnemucca, the on East on I80. For sale signs are up on the fiver!!

Thanks again guys for all the help!!

Pleasure to have met you finally Don! Glad to see you made it to Winnemucca OK. Pretty sure the new fan clutch will cure your truck, pretty unique one you have there yourself!

 

[DonTX]

When I got the fan clutch off, the front was all greasy from leakage of the unit. Was time to replace it anyway. No chance to pull with it yet, will know in about a week if that was the only problem or not.

 

[Grizzly]

When I got the fan clutch off, the front was all greasy from leakage of the unit. Was time to replace it anyway. No chance to pull with it yet, will know in about a week if that was the only problem or not.

Are you on the road again Don?



Heating problems solved?