Help with truck running hot.

Riverbound · Jul 5, 2017

About a month ago I noticed my truck was running much hotter than it used to. I have owned the truck for 4 years and rarely did it ever go over 200. Now it seems to sit around 210. And quite often will go up to 220. I took it to my mechanic and they tested the fan clutch and stat and everything was good to go. I had them flush the radiator. We left for a big rv trip (approximately 3000 miles). And it's still running hotter than normal. What I notice is going down the freeway or even climbing big hills it doesn't over heat. But when we come to a stop and let it idle the temps will rise, or coming off the freeway to a stop I will see the temps rise.

I have heard many talk about blown head gaskets but wouldn't I have other symptoms especially towing 15k lbs halfway accross the country.

One other issue I have is when we stop and park the truck and idle (like when checking into a rv park or pulling over on side of road for bathroom stops) the brake and abs light and check 4wd lights will come on. After a couple miles of driving they turn off and everything goes back to normal.

Truck is a 2011 Ram 3500 dually 6.7 4x4

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Burla · Jul 5, 2017

220 is nothing friend, I start showing concern at 240F. Normal is 212, so water vapor boils out of oil.

Temps always go high at idle, no air on radiator. Watch your trans temps on idle, then just try idle but move shifter to N, watch the temps drop.

I also only worry about abs if it stays on.

Your good dude, no issues.

Do you follow your exhaust temps? If there is a problem with temps in a Cummins, it will show up there first. I drove a truck for a decade and had a Cummins as a personal truck, exhaust temps are a huge thing to visualize if you are worried about engine temps. A lot of guys who tow with a Cummins upgrade to exhaust temps gauge on pilar. Over on tdr they will say these pilar gauges should be mandatory.

Read here. truck trend exhaust temps.

I don't know what the 2017 has, likely you can get some of these through evic like trans temp. But do have boost or exhaust temps gauges?

crash68 · Jul 5, 2017

Burla said:
Temps always go high at idle, no air on radiator. Watch your trans temps on idle, then just try idle but move shifter to N, watch the temps drop.

Not really with diesels, the engines will usually cool off while idling(all the different ones I have drove have), the transmission on the other hand could be a different story.
You don't ever want to just shut a diesel down while hot, let it cool down while idling especially when towing heavy.

Burla · Jul 5, 2017

Yeah, when I posted that I hadn't noticed he had the 6.7, for sure your right.

CTD · Jul 5, 2017

Is your emissions still present on the truck? How many miles are on the truck? Have you ever had the trucks EGR and EGR cooler cleaned if still present?

Assuming your emissions are still present. If the EGR cooler has any issues that restrict the flow of exhaust gases through the cooler it can cause the engine temps to increase. Over time, carbon can build up on the inside of the EGR cooler and restrict flow through the cooler. This can cause the engine temps to start creeping up, because it will not be able to cool the exhaust gases effectively. Once it becomes completely clogged the truck will then start over heating.

For the pre def trucks if I'm not mistaking at 67,500 miles there is a service interval to replace CCV filter and clean EGR & cooler.

Those temps are not that bad but could be a sign that your starting to get some build up in the egr and egr cooler.

Ratket · Jul 5, 2017

And for that reason - delete delete delete delete -

RamCares · Jul 6, 2017

Riverbound said:
About a month ago I noticed my truck was running much hotter than it used to. I have owned the truck for 4 years and rarely did it ever go over 200. Now it seems to sit around 210. And quite often will go up to 220. I took it to my mechanic and they tested the fan clutch and stat and everything was good to go. I had them flush the radiator. We left for a big rv trip (approximately 3000 miles). And it's still running hotter than normal. What I notice is going down the freeway or even climbing big hills it doesn't over heat. But when we come to a stop and let it idle the temps will rise, or coming off the freeway to a stop I will see the temps rise.

I have heard many talk about blown head gaskets but wouldn't I have other symptoms especially towing 15k lbs halfway accross the country.

One other issue I have is when we stop and park the truck and idle (like when checking into a rv park or pulling over on side of road for bathroom stops) the brake and abs light and check 4wd lights will come on. After a couple miles of driving they turn off and everything goes back to normal.

Truck is a 2011 Ram 3500 dually 6.7 4x4

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Hi Riverbound,

If you end up deciding to visit a RAM dealership for further diagnosis I'd be happy to offer assistance if needed. Just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist

Riverbound · Jul 6, 2017

ramcares said:
Hi Riverbound,

If you end up deciding to visit a RAM dealership for further diagnosis I'd be happy to offer assistance if needed. Just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea

Ram Social Care Specialist

Thank you Andrea I will. Truck only has 50k miles on it but dealer says it's out of warranty due to age. I bought this truck as a tow vehicle so doesn't get much use.

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Riverbound · Jul 6, 2017

CTD said:
Is your emissions still present on the truck? How many miles are on the truck? Have you ever had the trucks EGR and EGR cooler cleaned if still present?

Assuming your emissions are still present. If the EGR cooler has any issues that restrict the flow of exhaust gases through the cooler it can cause the engine temps to increase. Over time, carbon can build up on the inside of the EGR cooler and restrict flow through the cooler. This can cause the engine temps to start creeping up, because it will not be able to cool the exhaust gases effectively. Once it becomes completely clogged the truck will then start over heating.

For the pre def trucks if I'm not mistaking at 67,500 miles there is a service interval to replace CCV filter and clean EGR & cooler.

Those temps are not that bad but could be a sign that your starting to get some build up in the egr and egr cooler.

Yes all emissions are present. (I live in Ca). Truck has right at 50k miles on it. No gives on the truck other than what comes with it (trans,oil,water, etc). From what I gather the truck spent most of its life deleted but was put back together when I bought it. The egr stuff you describe makes sense considering the mileage and what it's doing.

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Riverbound · Jul 6, 2017

Ratket said:
And for that reason - delete delete delete delete -

It's a Ca truck but I'm considering registering it at my house in AZ. And the deleting. All my previous trucks were non smog and never had an issue with them(97&07). I would get rid of them at 200k miles this is my 3rd Cummins and has had more problems then every car I have owned combined. Every single item has been related to the smog equip [emoji107][emoji107]

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Help with truck running hot.

Riverbound

Junior Member

Burla

Senior Member

crash68

ACME product engineer

Burla

Senior Member

CTD

Senior Member

Ratket

Senior Member

RamCares

Senior Member

Riverbound

Junior Member

Riverbound

Junior Member

Riverbound

Junior Member

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