what's wrong here

[dseabaugh]

When running in the hills loaded I have this near addiction habit of putting my foot in the throttle a little bit overiding the cruise and watching the speedo climb. Only thing is if it a big enough hill the temp gauge rises at approx the same speed as the speedo. Poor old truck just doesn't give any slack to anyone. Oo. Is there a cure for this ailment?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

dseabaugh



Check to see it the Fan Clutch is not worn out. If the fan free wheels (with engine off) with little drag, then it's worn out.

 

[Snow man]

Did you check the cooant level,is there a leak?When is the last time you flushed,and serviced the cooling system,in addition to the clutch fan,id check the radiator externally,for blocked fins,leaves,and debri clog up the fins over time,they need a good powerwash,or air gun blast every few years. Internally,it might be corroding up if you've neglected the cooling system,inthat case a professional cleaning,or replacement is the cure,along with preventative manintance. Good luck.

 

[JIM S.]

and the thermistat may not be opening all the way... and like snow man said... ... check the outside of the rad. grasshoppers and leaves love the front of radiators.

Jim

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Are we watching coolant temp or EGT?



Matt

 

[dseabaugh]

Coolant temp. Radiator/condenser/coolers clean. Checked fan clutch. Runs like a sripped ape anything above 65 MPH. mash the throttle and watch the speedo climb, but loaded (24-28K) on hills will be running maybe 1/4 throttle and accelerate to maybe 3/4 throttle (don't need to) and temp gage will follow to the right just like speedo so I'll back off on it. by then I need to anyway just so I don't get a ticket. 75 mph is about 2100 rpm. never has gotten to the red just climbs right up though and takes a little while to cool back down till the temp gauge starts it 140 to 180 yoyo thing again. do 215 hp engines have bigger radiators than these 185 hp autos? can't complain about how truck rides, handles, brakes, shifts, gits, just wonder about temp thing cause one of these times I'm going to have a senior moment and let it get away.

 

[dseabaugh]

forgot, only time I've noticed is on long pulls on Interstate when I'm running 70 mph + and loaded so I would think there would be enough wind through the radiator if I took off the fan and chucked it in the bed.

 

[pwknapp]

When it is 90 out mine goes up a bit also as I try to keep it at 70 running hills loaded. A good headwind will test the temp when loaded and running in small hills. my . 02

 

[LarryB]

My money is on the thermostat. Check out this picture and see what I found in mine. It looks like a rubber jacket of somesort. Maybe was around the thermostat. Anyway, I dropped it into a pan of boiling water so it would open, removed the obstruction and reinstalled it. Works great now, never overheats and warms up a lot quicker.