Engine temperature starts creeping up?

JHOLMBERG

MEMBER
2005 DODGE RAM
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
67,000 MILES

I have a 2005 Ram 1500 with the 4.7L V8 and only 67,000 miles on it. Engine temp is right where it needs to be until I am stopped in traffic or at a light at which point the temperature starts creeping up. If I put the truck in nuetral and rev the engine a bit, the temperature starts coming back down. I have replaced the thermostat as well as flushed the radiator and the problem still persists. The water pump is less than a year old so I don't think that is the issue. I am fairly certain it is not a head gasket issue since I changed my oil and found no trace of coolant in the oil. What could be going on with my truck?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,741 POSTS

Dandy observation that increasing engine speed brings the temperature down. Be sure the shroud is in place behind the radiator and there are no places air can bypass the radiator. This video shows the job being done on a similar car but the process is the same.

https://youtu.be/N_-MLVlBHk8

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/fan-clutch-removal

A leaking head gasket doesn't always pump coolant into the oil. It can push combustion gases into the coolant. There's a tester for that. It is a glass tube with two chambers of dark blue liquid. Your mechanic will hold it over the radiator neck and draw air through it. If combustion gases are getting into the coolant, the liquid will turn bright yellow.

This guide can help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Images (Click to make bigger)