is anyone getting hot? here the deal & I know its extream. I have a stock 2500 ctd auto towing a 40 foot weekend warrior tlr. (the trl weighs about 12500 dry) with about 3500 lbs of cargo not including food, water & such.
while driving acrossthe califorina desert in the the summer time I get hot, how hot well hot enough to trip the limp in mode. the truck has 110000 miles on it no mods or upgrades.

 

The auto trans is probably dumping a lot of heat into the radiator from the trans cooler. I'll let someone more knowledgeable on autos give pointers on the best way to pull with the auto.

But I'd also check to make sure your radiator fins aren't all clogged up with dirt and oil from the breather bottle. If that bottle isn't cleaned out each oil change, you'll end up with a lot of oil on the fins that attract dirt. I'd also check the thermostat to make sure it's still in good shape. I've seen a lot of thermostat failures where it fails partially open. It'll flow enough coolant to keep things in check empty, but it will heat up quick with a load.

 

I second cleaning the radiator. The overflow blows a fine mist of oil that attracts dirt. An infrared heat gun can help find the problem on the radiator. Just as easy to properly clean it. Truck is old enough to replace the fan clutch.

 

Along with checking that the thermostat works, you'll want to make sure it is the correct one. Granted your truck is a couple years newer than mine, but I had the same problem and come to find out the factory had the wrong one in there. IT would not open fully until about 210 and by then it was to late...... it was unedr warrenty and the **** dealer kept putting in the same rated thermostats. I put a 180 in and never had the problem again.

 

Do all the above...AND replace T-stat with a cummins 180*... PN# 3967195 .
Will run cooler and is much less likley to get as hot than the Stock T-stat.... not just because it's a lower temp but because it's a cummins design instead of a dodge (quick warmup type with poorer flow).

Works for me...I never see over 190...ever! Haven't had my cooling fan come on since going to this #

RJ

 

I would also check the fan clutch!.... With that many miles on it..it could be bad. If you dont hear the jet engine under the hood at about 208* time to replace it.

Rick

 

When cleaning, make sure you look between the charge air cooler (intercooler) and the radiator. I've found quite a bit of buildup in there as well. Something with the PSI, like that of a spray booth, worked well for me. A fan spray pattern allows you to direct the water between the 2 exchangers fairly well. -just something that might not seem as obvious.

 

While this is a bit extreme, this is what the unmonitored "puke" bottle can do. It took me 3 hours to make this right again plus about five cans of degreaser and a bottle and a half of wheel cleaner acid. Every time I changed the angle of the power washer more krap came out. Once again...it's my strong opinion that the BEST way to do this job is to remove the radiator.





...also cleaned the fan, shroud, and front of the engine while the front was apart.