Just got back to civilization and Internet world and want to update my high coolant temp situation from last month. After experiencing Chernobl-type coolant temps while towing a 5000 lb load in the Az desert and mexico, we did a trip to Palm Springs with no towing. With the OBDII scanner hooked up and climbing a pretty steep (but not radical) grade, the coolant temp shot up to 128F. Slowed down to get the temp down.
On the mexico trip, some of you suggested cooling system problems. I found the fan clutch was suspect but didn't have time to get it replaced before Palm Springs. Some of you thought I could have radiator sludge clogging problems, but since I had recently had a complete cooling system flush and service, I assumed that the radiator was OK.
Well, you were all right. When I took it in for the clutch, I asked the service mgr to chech the radiator. He said it should be OK because it was recently serviced. WRONG. It was full of sludge and had several cold areas!!
I politely suggested that should have been discovered when the service was performed. he backpedalled and said that since I didn't mention any problems, they just hooked it up and flushed it.
So after a new radiator and fan clutch, I put it to the test on a hot (100F) day up the Tejon pass on I5. Got in the left lane, floored it and held it there all the way up. With intake air temp of 159 degrees the max coolant temp was (suspense building?)........199 degrees!
Man, what a difference a fully functional cooling system makes. Most of this last week, I've been beating the crap out of this truck - climbing very steep hills on dirt roads - hardly ever out of low gear... and the temp gauge needle never moves up.
When I get back home to So. Cal in another week or so, I'm going to hook up the boat and find some grades to climb and see what happens. It should clearly be a better (cooler) experience.
Ed
On the mexico trip, some of you suggested cooling system problems. I found the fan clutch was suspect but didn't have time to get it replaced before Palm Springs. Some of you thought I could have radiator sludge clogging problems, but since I had recently had a complete cooling system flush and service, I assumed that the radiator was OK.
Well, you were all right. When I took it in for the clutch, I asked the service mgr to chech the radiator. He said it should be OK because it was recently serviced. WRONG. It was full of sludge and had several cold areas!!
I politely suggested that should have been discovered when the service was performed. he backpedalled and said that since I didn't mention any problems, they just hooked it up and flushed it.
So after a new radiator and fan clutch, I put it to the test on a hot (100F) day up the Tejon pass on I5. Got in the left lane, floored it and held it there all the way up. With intake air temp of 159 degrees the max coolant temp was (suspense building?)........199 degrees!
Man, what a difference a fully functional cooling system makes. Most of this last week, I've been beating the crap out of this truck - climbing very steep hills on dirt roads - hardly ever out of low gear... and the temp gauge needle never moves up.
When I get back home to So. Cal in another week or so, I'm going to hook up the boat and find some grades to climb and see what happens. It should clearly be a better (cooler) experience.
Ed