Now that the weather is warming up, I have notice that my water temp is getting in the 210* range while climbing grages. Two things come to mind.

1. Flush the radiator and reload with new antifreeze (cheapest solution)

2. Exhaust - I have the stock exhaust and I have ~200K miles on the truck. wondering if I could have muffler/resinator clogging going on causing some flow restruction....causing the heating.

How can I check on the exhaust issue?

 

Yes a plugged exhaust system brings temps up. Have someone rev engine to 2000 and put your hand by tail pipe. There is no set PSI that I know of bought you should be able to tell if exhaust is restricted. Blast of air should be immediate.

 

On a 24v the first thing to look at is the front side of the radiator........you may find a nasty oil coating with dirt plugging the core.#2 would be a t/stat that does not open fully reducing the flow.

Bob

 

+1 to Bob's post. Clean that gunk and the problem will go away.

The likelihood of soot buildup in the exhaust actually plugging something is extremely remote on this year of truck.

 

Flush cooling system like others say for starters. Check junk on outside of rad from blowby. Theromstat could be going, but doubt it.
You did say pulling a hill got to 210. That happens to be temp that fluild fan engages and makes everthing cool. May not be indicating porblem.

 

What Bob4x4 said!!! ....and some here will say otherwise, but hands down the BEST way to clean this is to REMOVE the radiator, soak it with some engine degreaser and clean it with a high pressure spray. If you have access to a steam cleaner that's even better. After that, give it a good spray with some aluminum wheel cleaner (mild acid). This will rid of all the oil and make the radiator like NEW.

 

MY 24v does this when climbing grade heavily loaded. I thought it might be an egt problem, factory exhaust, just wondering

 

Update...........
Cleaned the radiator with gunk and high pressure cleaning. It was not too bad but there was some grease/dirt build up.

Flushed and cleaned the cooling system with Prestone Cleaner and ran it on a road trip for 3-4 hours. Drained, flushed and reloaded with new coolant.

Still runs a little warm.......

I'm wondering if the resonator and/or muffler is breaking down internally and may be causing some minor blockage causing back pressure. No Cat on Diesels as they commonly clog. Hmmmmm........

Maybe an excuse to get the 4" exhaust I've wanted!

 

About 14 months ago, on the 2001 listed in my signature, I went through the same symptoms you describe. I took my radiator out, cleaned it, etc., and it cooled down a bit but still ran warm. As soon as I replaced the t-stat, it immediately went down to normal operating range and has stayed there ever since. I suggest Cummins for this part.

 

Fan clutch... Tranny temp/cooler..?

 

I had a 98.5 24V heating when climbing. Up to 210-240ish. Bad enough that I had to control by backing off the throttle. Trying to keep the head gasket in place. First thing I thought it might be was cracked exhaust manifold. Replace that not a lot of difference. Checked the intercooler and radiator as mentioned above. Ordered a thermostat and fan clutch. Installed thermostat and dropped the temp back to normal during climbs on hot day. OE stat looked fine ? Yet to swap the fan clutch.

Work: 1998.5 Ram 3500 Reg cab 4x4 dully, 410's LSD, 235's, 5 spd with service body, exhaust brake.

Mine: 2002 Ram 2500 sb, ex-cab, slt, HO 6spd, 410's lsd, 285's, smarty, gauges.