2002 2500 4x4 155,000 miles.

Just recently the temp has started to climb above the 190 mark, to past the next mark. not in the red though.

I can drive the truck empty at ~ 65 mph and it will stay at 190, if I bump up to 75-80 it runs about 1/4 inch above the 190 mark.

If I put a small load, say 6-8k behind the truck, I cannot hold 70 without the temp climbing.


The cooling fan is working.
I spent a couple hours yesterday pulling the radiator, degreasing, cleaning, etc.
The original coolant still had good color when it was drained. I replaced with a 50/50 mix.

Took the truck out for a test drive, and it was still running hotter than it has in the past.


Any chance I have a defective t-stat? is there anything else I should be looking for?


Thanks, Chris

 

T-Stat is what cured that same problem for me. Also, everyone I spoke with recommended going with a Cummins T-Stat, which I did, and so far (6 months later) I have had no problems.

 

that and the 01-02 had the stupid catch can in the front of the engine, when they get full the fan pulls oil out and covers the radiator. then all the dust and dirt sticks to the front of it. I cured my heat issues when I realized this and cleaned the radiator, and moved the can

 

Thanks guy's
I just had a t-stat picked up at cummins a few minutes ago. I will install it this evening.
I will look at moving the oil can, There sure was a lot of grease and dirt on the radiator yesterday when I cleaned it.

Chris

 

you should probably pull it out then, all the junk accumulates on the front of the radiator, I hosed mine down in simple green and washed it out form the backside and 90% came out, and it runs way cooler

 

add some redline water wetter to your coolant, it made adifferance for me

 

DMcPherson,

I guess I was not clear about what I did.

I removed the radiator, then sprayed it down with degreaser, then rinsed it with a light duty pressure washer. I changed the orientation of the radiator several times, so that I was able to clean it from several different angles. The radiator looked new when I was done with it. I then reinstalled it, and added a 50/50 mix of coolant/water.


On Saturday, I installed the 180* t-stat.
I have not hooked up a trailer to get a real test, but it does seem to be better, and not climbing as high.


Thanks, Chris

 

oh ok, I missed that. I bet that was the majority of your problem