Running warmer than normal

[JBurk]

At approximately 72K my original exhaust manifold cracked and had to be replaced. Before the manifold was replaced my temperature guage stayed a needle below half at all time, towing or not. Since replacement my guage stays exactly at half when not towing and runs as warm as two or three needles past half when towing. I've had it to two dealers and they have reflashed the computer to make the clutch fan engage sooner. This has done nothing. Is this too warm? Any suggestions?? John

 

[roperteacher]

My 2007 5. 9 always runs on the half or one needle over empty. Pulling in 110+ degree heat with AC on, I have seen the same as you. Not sure what your truck is, no signature. .

 

[jelag]

My 04, 04. 5 and 05 have always run with the needle splitting the distance between the 2 and first zero empty... . down the center of the first zero pulling on a straight level road, and splitting the second zero on light hills and across the desert at 110* and a little higher pulling grades... .

Behind a truck pulling a grade where there is no air flow across the front of the truck raises the temperature to above the mentioned levels... . once there is at least 100 ft then the temperature falls.....

and if there is a cross wind from left to right or right to left the temp goes up...

Total mileage between the 3 trucks is 400K miles

 

[JBurk]

Thanks for the replies. My truck is a 04. 5 3500 SWB SRW 410 48RE Jacobs exhaust brake Flowmaster muffler AFE air intake. Only concern is it didn't run this warm before the manifold was replaced. I'll just keep an eye on it. Thanks again. John

 

[rbattelle]

Those temperatures are not a problem, but if it really is running warmer all of a sudden that is a little concerning.

Try washing out your radiator (like steved did recently). I don't mean flushing it, I mean just washing the dirt out of the fins with a hose and some detergent.

What you're noticing could be psychological. It could be that it was running that warm before you replaced the manifold, but you never noticed until now. Now that you're looking for a problem, you found one and you've convinced yourself it's real.

I constantly have to remind myself that the truck runs warmer in the summer months. It will typically run 190 on flat, level ground at 65 mph unloaded when the temperature is greater than 70°F. Same conditions below, say, 40°F, and it'll run 185-187.

On a long hill I can get it up to 196 (and if it's really warm out, 198) unloaded at 65-70 mph.

I have a digital temperature monitor, and I can say that the calibration on my stock gauge is off a little bit. At 198°F, the needle is actually just to the right (maybe 1/2 a needle width?) of the 200° hash mark on the gauge. This is not due to different locations of the temperature probes, because my digital gauge reads from the same sensor as the stock gauge.

Check your coolant level at the overflow tank and keep it between the MAX and MIN marks. Beware the level will fluctuate a bit naturally, so don't panic if you notice it's down suddenly. Give it a day or 2 and make sure it's really down before you add any coolant.

Ryan

 

[Bean]

Mine has always run a bit warm, 210 whne the stat opens and hovers there. So I took the stat and drilled 3 3/16ths holes in it and now it stays down at 190 all the time, this is on a accual gauge.



Biggest problem I have seen with temps is oil temps, on interstate holding 80 for a long time oil temps will see 240-350 degrees even though water temps are at 190-200. Seems like the oil cooler isnt getting its job done too well.

 

[JHardwick]

Mine has always run a bit warm, 210 whne the stat opens and hovers there. So I took the stat and drilled 3 3/16ths holes in it and now it stays down at 190 all the time, this is on a accual gauge.



Biggest problem I have seen with temps is oil temps, on interstate holding 80 for a long time oil temps will see 240-350 degrees even though water temps are at 190-200. Seems like the oil cooler isnt getting its job done too well.

Becareful that you allow the coolant to heat sink and heat soak. Removing the thermostat or disabling it could put you in an overheat condition ... ... ... . also remember, you don't have spark plugs!



240-250 sounds pretty normal for an oil temp.

 

[Bean]

I didnt disable it at all, just drilled some small holes around the edge of it to let a little more flow through. Still warms up in the same amount of time just doesnt run quite as hot. I dont have very adequit cooling fans on it so the high temp made me nervous.

 

[sweeda]

I'm getting the same temps. as jelag (Jim). I don't tow but truck is always loaded with pool supplies. trucks loaded weight approx. 8000 lbs. I've got the temp to just past the second O. In traffic on a hot 100 degree day. And while waiting for a train on a 95 degree day. On both of these occasions once I was able to move the trans. would shift irraticlly. with each stop light it would get wose to the point that at 30 mph I was in high gear. It took about 5 miles to get a normal shifting came back. I've cleaned rad. in and out new themostat new fan clutch. still the same problems when under the same conditions. I've learned to but the trans in neutral while sitting in traffic. I'm in the middle of installing a trans temp. gauge to see if its coming from a heat transfer