racemydodge

Its 75 degrees here in Michigan. My motor seems to be running hotter than
usual. Normally runs about 195 to 200 degrees, well in traffic today its at about 215. If i was to run it on the expressway im sure it would cool off.
i parked it in the driveway and idled to see if the temp would go down but it didnt. I the turned the heater on and it finally went down to 200 degrees.

Is it the thermostat? Not enough coolant? truck has 175,000 miles

Thanks

Al

racemydodge

If the thermostat is stickey will this overheating occur?

lovinCTD59

I would check the coolant level, and make sure your radiator is clean. I had mine up to 230 degrees once just because my radiator was REALLY dirty, its hard to tell how dirty it is unless you remove it...

Since the thermostat mechanically controls the coolant temp, it may be the culprit. I recommend replacing it with a Cummins OEM T stat and not an aftermarket one.. good luck!

racemydodge

Thank You for your reply! I have ruled out the T-stat. I finally looked between the radiator and the inter cooler and it was really dirty. i went to a self serve car wash and sprayed from inside the engine compartment out and then sprayed straight down between the two. It is running literally 15 degrees cooler!

AGAIN THANKS FOR THE RESPONCE!!!! 63 VIEWS ONE ANSWER SO .....

HERE WE GO....

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN THE RADIATOR AND INTERCOOLER?

SPECIAL SOLUTION OR JUST WATER OR DISMANTLE OR.......?

Busboy

The best way is to remove it, but I have cleaned mine with a long stem compressed air powered engine washer gun with a 90 deg tip that suction feeds varsol. I was able to go between the rad and the inter cooler. After varsol then an engine degreaser with the same gun then wash at car wash. It did a pretty good job.

infidel

Take it apart.
Be careful not to bend fins with a high pressure washer.

J BODY

I agree on the removal. Easy to get out. I used engine degreaser and our high psi washer here at work. Spray it, soak it, and then power wash it. After that I spray them with a acid wheel cleaner and spray rinse it again. Gets any remaining oil residue and makes the rad look like NEW....... and of course rid of the breather bottle and route the tube to the outside of the frame rail.