I purchased a 1400 lb enclosed 6 x 12 trailer to haul around my three dirt bikes. I figure the trailer weighs around 2600 lbs full loaded. I drove from Reno, NV down to Auburn to ride our bikes on May 5th . On our way back home coming up highway 80 by Blue Canyon I noticed my engine temp at 230. I immediately pulled over and let the truck cool down. I had no water coming out of the overflow or lose of water anywhere. EGT's where around 1100 coming up the pass to the top of the grade.

Truck has not over heated since. Can the EGT's at 1100 for a few miles cause the engine to get hot? I would have thought at 230 I would have had some coolant lose from the over flow???

Maybe bad temp gauge, water pump or water thermostat?

 

That sounds like unusually high EGT's for pulling a 2,600 pound trailer. I tow my 6,000 lb. Hillbilly RV across I-40 from Mo. to Cal. over the mountains and I almost never see EGT's above 850.

 

96 I would be looking at plugged up radiator internal and external. If you have the oil puke bottle make sure the back of radiator isn't plugged up from blowby oil. Check internally for plugged cooling tubes, Also check fan clutch for proper operation, if fan spins freely by hand (engine not running) you may have fan clutch problem. Replace t-stat and flush cooling system if everything checks out OK.
Check build date on radiatorInspect Radiator Build Date Code:
Locate the radiator build date code as shown in Figure 1.

If the build date code is 1166 through 1296, the radiator must be replaced.
Recall#694 -- Radiator
Ram Truck
Cummins Diesel
Part# 52006479

 

Robert I thought the same on the high EGT's. Maybe I will back down my starwheel a little. I have it 110% full foward.... Ha ha

BigIron the truck has a new radiator that was installed in 2008. No overflow bottle. Truck burns no oil and water level was good. I will check the fan today....

What is weird is how the gauge read 230 but I had no water coming out of the overflow. The overflow was not even to the top either.

Thanks for the input guys.......

 

If engine temp went to 230 you should have heard fan clutch roaring going up the hill. I would also check t-stat or just replace it. Check water pump for play in pulley. Release tension on fan belt to check. I have seen water pump impeller break off if play in pump allows impeller to hit housing. Pump hadn't started leaking yet either.

 

BigIron my clutch fan will spin when truck is off. So I will replace that, the t stat and water pump to be safe. Cheap and easy insurance.

I checked radiator fluid today as well. Completely full and very clean.

I just realized that the High EGT's might be from my stock air box with K&N filter. I might not be getting enough air with the extra fuel I added with the #10 plate. I backed down the AFC screw today to about middle and the EGT's are a little lower.

Could lack of good air flow cause the EGT's to get hotter than normal and also increase the engines temp?

 

The fan should spin when the engine is off with some resistance. It shouldn't free spin, but you should be able to turn it by hand. I would get a second gauge to verify that you were actually overheating. It could be a bad temp sensor that spikes on the upper range, and giving you false results. Then you'll end up replacing good parts for a phantom problem.

 

Tate thanks for the advice.

 

2xxx