I'm putting this in it's own thread since I haven't received much response when I posted this in my "It Runs!" thread.

I pulled the t-stat tonight just to verify that it is the correct part... it is a 180 degree t-stat. I also boiled some water to test it and it works exactly as it should (opens at 180). But, I still have not seen temps in the truck over 170 (at most) and most of the time it's right at 165. Should I be worried? Or is it just a combination of fresh coolant and the cooler weather (high of 70) we've been having lately? My truck had always run pretty cool, but not this cool.

Is my temp gauge bad?

Thanks.
~ Russ

 

Try a 190 tstat and see what happens.

 

You sure the gauge is right? Verify that with a seperate thermometer first.

Your thermostat might have a little too much leakby when it is closed. Replace the thermostat with a new one and see what happens.

 

This is a new thermostat, has only been in the truck for 350 miles.

Dumb question: How can I verify the accuracy of the gauge? Can't open up the cooling system while hot or with the truck running... can I?

 

You can't tell. Put a new one in.

 

o.k, dumb question but your fan clutch isn't stuck on is it??

 

I say change the thermostat...

It doesn't take much flow of coolant in these trucks to drop the temp way down!

 

Have you access to a infared gun they are accurate???

 

I'd like to know if you ever got a good solution to this. The fan clutch is something I need to check. New thermostat didn't seem to help at all, the truck still runs really cold. I had my water pump grenade and keeping it easy was able to drive 25 miles without overheating. Keep in mind I live in MN and it was 20 degrees out when that happened. None the less I have to be driving none stop to keep the truck even in normal operating range, if I stop for 5 minutes I'm down to 140 or less. I did check the temp with a infrared too and the gauge is really close

 

Man, deja vu! My truck used to be the EXACT same way! Friggin engine block carved out of ice or what? Thought I used to have the only cold Cummins in the world, Farkum, I feel the pain! Or I would if it were'nt so cold!

 

i would put cardboard in front of my radiator to build heat, one day i bought a genuine Cummins thermostat and it works great now with no cardboard. the Cummins boxed stat was physically different than the one removed. the wife even thanked me for that. she drives it more than i do in the winter.

i am from SW Michigan, it gets cold here too.

 

hmm... I'll try going the cummins route. The cardboard stays on my truck from November to March typically.

 

dont get me wrong, there still cold blooded beasts. i noticed a considerable difference between the 99 when i bought the 01, there identical trucks and the 01 built heat fast and blew hot air, that is when i tried the Cummins stat. it is not quite as good as the 01, but it goes to 180 and stays there now and blows HEAT!

if you dare, put it in gear with the parking brakes applied, it warms up 2X faster