2005 Dodge Ram running above normal temps under a load

Tiny
BRIANDTHESASSY2
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
My truck runs a little hot when on the interstate or under a load in town. I can get the temp back down to normal by stopping and idling or by slowing down in the interstae to about 55. As soon as climb back up around 70 it starts to heat up again. All the coolant levels are good and the fans are running when I am idling. I did have a time this past winter that the thermostat stuck on me and the truck tried to run hot but I caught it before it got to hot. I did not change that thermostat but it did not stick again. It is puzzling how idling cools it rather than make the problem worse? Any suggestion would be great. Thanks
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 AT 11:59 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Sounds like you shouldda changed that tstat, water not circulating and with light load of idle, the fans take care of it, but heat builds as MPH and RPM goes up, re-check, replace tstat. Only other oddity I have seen is the water pump impellers can disolve if your system has dc volts flowing, test for this by puttint a lead in the coolant tank, and the other on the neg post of the batt, see if there is any voltage. If yes, flush and refill.
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Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Yeah I would go ahead and change that thermostat. And then see what happens. But with this changed atleast we know that we can cross it out and move on. I'm also wondering if the engine coolant temperature sensor is weak also. You'll have to check that too
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Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 AT 1:47 PM
Tiny
BRIANDTHESASSY2
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
If anything it is a little harder to cool down now by idling. It still does not run hot but it would if I did not baby it. Could it be the radiator? This truck was used for a surveying group for a few years and did some extensive idling. I heard that could plug up a radiator.
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Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Yes a clogged radiator, or a waterpump with corroded impellers will cuase the problem, or cooling fans not operating normally.
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Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Yes, first try to flush it out with a chemical flush and let us know what happens
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Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 8:58 PM
Tiny
BRIANDTHESASSY2
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The flush seems to have done the trick. Thanks for all the help guys.
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Monday, July 7th, 2008 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Good deal, and a cheap fix!
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Monday, July 7th, 2008 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Awesome
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Monday, July 7th, 2008 AT 9:50 PM

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