whiteVLX

Hey joined this site just so I could get some help from you guys. I have a 2000 2500 4x4 Auto CTD, anyway it was involved in a little fender bender and now the temp gauge shows it running warm. Here's the history:

Accident dented left side of chrome front bumper, inspected and replaced bumber and covers. No evidence that the bumper ever got close to the trans cooler. Inspected general area around intercooler, radiator,etc and no evidence of leaks.

Before: Truck would run around 185 (just below the 190 mark) unloaded, loaded with 5000 boat or 4000 camper and boat. Excursions beyond 190 would occur when loaded on hot days during hill climbs,etc. But always cooled off below 190.

After accident: Truck continues to run at 185 unloaded although it passes by 190 briefly until the t'stat opens.
Loaded with boat and camper driving at 60 in the flats the truck runs with the needle on the 0 of 190. I presume this is around 200 or so. However, wifey noticed when climbing a hill the temp gauge crossed over to the far right white mark, again I'm presuming, this is around 220? She did state she never heard the fan roaring from underneath the hood.

The dealer tested the truck but was not able to recreate the hot running condition and there tests indicated everything was within parameters. I am looking for any ideas on why after a small fender rearrangement the truck runs warm. My only thoughts are that the fan clutch may be bad, based upon my wife's statement that she never heard it running. But it seems odd that it would fail all of a sudden. So I'm open to any ideas or tests that you can come up with.

Thanks in advance for the help, this looks like a great site.

figure_9_pro

I had the same problem on mine, got up to 230 pulling hills, but was fine on level ground. I thought it was the fan clutch and/or the t-stat. It turned out to be oil vapor coming out of the breather bottle was being blown onto the back side of the radiator by the fan and then every piece of dust, dirt and debris that tried to pass through was caught by the oil. I pulled the radiator, held it to the sun and saw no light!
I spent almost 1 hour with degreaser and a pressure washer to get it clean, reinstalled it, relocated the vapor bottle away from the front of the engine and now I have yet to see 190 on the temp gauge where it used to sit just over 190 all the time.
My understanding is the fan clutch has no effect over 40mph because there is enough air passing through the radiator to cool the engine

kevinn

Negative on the fan clutch over 40. At lease on mine anyway. When towing up a steep pass, my fan will kick on going 65 in 3rd locked.

Contractor

Ditto on the radiator. Mine did the exact same thing when towing, so I looked down at the inside of the radiator and it was full of crap. Washed it out and have no problems.


Cole

whiteVLX

Thanks guys, I third the fan coming on. Whenever I got in the 200 range it used to kick on, now it doesn't. I could understand the radiator fouling over time, but not all of a sudden. So I guess I'm still leaning towards the clutch.

kevinn

That would be my guess as well. My brother has a '00 and the fan isn't coming on as well so I think that is a pretty common problem with the fan clutch.