Record cold in Alabama & no cab heat.

[Skydiver]

This morning (9-26-01) we had record breaking temp 41 degrees. Well I know that is not that cold but the problem is as follows:

I started my Dodge Cummins and let it idle at 1200 rpm for 15 min's. Then drove it between 45 and 55 mph for 13 miles to work and the temp guage only came up to about 120 degrees. The heater running on max produced very little heat. When I got to work the upper radiater hose felt cool. I then very carefully removed the radiater cap and placed a lab certified thermometer in the radiater. It was 65 degrees. I know I can put cardboard in between the intercooler and the radiater and that helps. When driving the truck on the interstate the guage comes up to 165 degrees and the heater works fine. The engine has never over heated leaving me to think the thermostat is flowing OK. Does this sound like the thermostat is not closing properly

Any advise on how to correct this problem is appreciated.

Tim

 

[HoleshotHolset]

the thermostat could be stuck open... . the fan clutch (I refuse to call it a 'clutch fan'... . ) could be stuck on all the time... I've seen that before.

65 degree coolant... . that's cold! wow. and I thought my truck took forever to heat up!

I think my thermostat is actually sticking shut too long... sometimes it gets close to 190 and then goes back to normal when it first warms up.

Thermostat is cheap and easy...



Matt

 

[JJW_ND]

45 degrees is a January thaw!

I would guess your Tstat is stuck open.



Just my opinion, but idling to warmup the engine (diesel) is a waste of time. I would start it, let the oil presure stabilize and and start driving. Maybe a little conservative at first, but drive it to work it. That makes heat.



When temps below -20 F, I have to drive more then 5 miles at interstate speeds with a winter front on to get coolant gauge above 140. I have cab heat long before that.



At 40 degrees I would expect cab heat (we drive with the windows down until temps go below 32) in a few miles at most.



jjw

ND

 

[Extreme1]

The "jiggle valve" might have fallen apart too. I'd try a thermostat first. The valve is on the same Cummins parts page as the thermostat. My local Cummins dealer couldn't find it and had to call the Cummins. It took THEM a while to find it!!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

What on this great green Earth is a 'jiggle valve'?? haha, that's the weirdest CTD part to date!



Matt

 

[Skydiver]

Its Fixed

The truck gets hot now. I have never seen my guage go to 180 degrees.

15. 99 plus tax for a stant thermostat was money well spent.

It never went above 140 before.

It now does the flip Flop

Tim

 

[Swamp Donkey]

41 degree's! Man you need to come up to Northern Canada where I live. That is still t-shirt and shorts weather. The last couple of weeks we have been around 68-70 during the day and a balmy 40 at night. As for your heater glad you got it fixed!

 

[Extreme1]

Jiggle Valve

No BS - that's the Cummins name. Read the section that describes draining and refilling the cooling system in the FSM.



It is a small spring loaded valve the in the top of the head. The small hose that bypasses the thermostat (goes from the head to the housing) is attached to the JV on the head end. It's to allow air to escape the cooling system (engine) to the radiator. (Really, I'm not warped enough to come up with this one. )

 

[GOODE11]

Extreme 1,



Is there a way to tell if this jiggle pin is bad?



I have a 1st gen that during the summer wants to get hot and during the winter won't heat up. Any suggestions? I've done everything I can think of. Reworked the head, rodded out and cleaned the radiator, new t-stat, new fan clutch, new water pump, and bypassed the heater core.



If anyone else can help please hop in. I should probably post this in the 1st gen forum, but I figured its current over here.



Any help is appreciated!!