2016 RAM Express Quad Cab. 38k - Temp creeping up at highway speeds??

[thebanjoman]

I have a 2016 RAM Express Quad Cab w 5/7 I bought in 08/2019 with 26K Miles on it.

No modifications to the truck.

It's now got 34,884 on it and I changed the oil at 30K. I do 5K oil changes because I've always done it so its due.

It's been a good truck, suits my needs but in the last few days now that it's getting warmer around here in Virginia (80 today) I noticed on two separate trips that the temps are creeping up past what I feel comfortable. as high as 212. The temp needle never goes past 1/2.

Temps have been running 197 - 204 all the time, except for the last 2 days of going out.

Yesterday I ran an errand and on the highway at 70 the temp rose to 212. I was headed home only going a few miles and backed off the speed and the temps went back down to 201 at around 45 mph and I got home. I let the motor cool and checked the radiator.

Well it never noticed it since I got the truck while that driving and checking my oil that the overflow tank cap was not seated properly. It looked closed to me until I touched it and saw that it was never seated properly since got the truck.

I pulled the overflow stick and the tank was empty. I opened the radiator cap and it was still full and I could see fluid at the level it was supposed to be.

I took another vehicle and got some antifreeze, made my 50/50 mix and filled the overflow back to the max level. I made 100% sure the overflow cap is closed and seated properly now. That plastic overflow cap is GARBAGE,.

Today i took the truck out running another errand through town not going over 50 and the temps never got above 202. UNTIL I took it out on the highway and got up to 70. and the temp AGAIN "creeped" up to 212. I backed of the accelerator and coasted while I was getting off at my turn and the temps came back down and I drove the 1 mile till I got where I was going.

Somethings going on here and I'm trying to understand what I could be. Seems like I can run around town and be OK but now temps go up on the highway.

I did the usual, check for mud/dirt/bugs in the radiator fins. Fan clutch seems OK but Im truing to wrap my head around this.

Truck has never given me a moments trouble I've been searching the forum and the Internet to see if there is something similar to what I've been experiencing but have found nothing.

Don't want to take it in unless I have to, I want to try and understand this more before I do.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Well my truck started running around those temps as well. 212 down to 208 area and this just started a couple days ago. However in my case, the weather was extremely hot and up to +30 here in northern Ontario. It never came back down and the needle stayed at half. My oil temp was up to 191F as it usually runs like top 170F. My pressure was pretty low at like 27-31 at hot idle. When driving she was up to 50-55. I just think it has to do with outside temp. Was it hotter out then it has been around your area?

 

[Dave2018]

A little under half way in the gage is normal. It's the active grill shutters at work. There are YouTube videos on this do a search to see what others have done.

 

[crash68]

Is it just the coolant temp that's creeping up? What's the trans and oil temps doing? Try driving on the freeway for a good half hour or so get everything good warmed up see if the temperatures stabilize. The 215°F is still within operating range, there's trucks that will be above that for hours on end towing a trailer.
Someone mentioned about the AGS, it sounds odd but are you running the air conditioning? If your not using the AC the AGS will cycle off of just the engine temps, they also look at refrigerant pressure to determine position.

 

[thebanjoman]

Admittedly I obsess over coolant temp numbers. I was running the A/C at the time.

I have to keep reminding myself that the thermostat is 195 not 180 so 203 is normal for these motors. (I'm old.. I've got 180 burned into my brain)


I also have no way of telling if/when the coolant was changed since new. At 38K it should probably be changed.

I'll go ahead and do a coolant flush and replace as it's due and then go from there. If nothing more than for piece of mind.

It's not that hard a job and I can do it here. Then I will go from there.

More reading and understanding.

 

[tron67j]

Try turning your heater on full when it heats up, if temperature gauge drops it might be your thermostat is not working right. That happened to me on my first Ram. Good luck.

 

[Wild one]

Admittedly I obsess over coolant temp numbers. I was running the A/C at the time.

I have to keep reminding myself that the thermostat is 195 not 180 so 203 is normal for these motors. (I'm old.. I've got 180 burned into my brain)


I also have no way of telling if/when the coolant was changed since new. At 38K it should probably be changed.

I'll go ahead and do a coolant flush and replace as it's due and then go from there. If nothing more than for piece of mind.

It's not that hard a job and I can do it here. Then I will go from there.

More reading and understanding.

The trucks use a 203F thermostat.Not sure where you live,but you can put a 190 thermostat in it when you do a coolant flush.

 

[crash68]

I have to keep reminding myself that the thermostat is 195 not 180 so 203 is normal for these motors. (I'm old.. I've got 180 burned into my brain)


I also have no way of telling if/when the coolant was changed since new. At 38K it should probably be changed.

I'll go ahead and do a coolant flush and replace as it's due and then go from there. If nothing more than for piece of mind.

What's interesting is the thermostat is listed as a 203°F which would make sense that you see 204°F on the dash but other stores list it as 195°F(9° over temp seen on the dash)

The coolant is a 10year/150K mile OAT coolant, it's a good idea to replace with the same. If you buy the concentrated coolant and mix it yourself, be sure to use distilled or deionized water.

 

[89grand]

212 isn't anywhere close to over heating. I'd start getting concerned at 225 or above.

 

[pacofortacos]

Pray you bought the correct antifreeze - universal will not work - and incorrect antifreeze can and does cause major problems.
Certain antifreezes mixed together can gel as well as cause other issues.


Shutters will stay closed until temp = 219 degree or so OR trans = 196 deg OR AC calls for them to open (they are not open all the time with just AC on )

 

[TheEnder]

I have a 2016 RAM Express Quad Cab w 5/7 I bought in 08/2019 with 26K Miles on it.

No modifications to the truck.

It's now got 34,884 on it and I changed the oil at 30K. I do 5K oil changes because I've always done it so its due.

It's been a good truck, suits my needs but in the last few days now that it's getting warmer around here in Virginia (80 today) I noticed on two separate trips that the temps are creeping up past what I feel comfortable. as high as 212. The temp needle never goes past 1/2.

Temps have been running 197 - 204 all the time, except for the last 2 days of going out.

Yesterday I ran an errand and on the highway at 70 the temp rose to 212. I was headed home only going a few miles and backed off the speed and the temps went back down to 201 at around 45 mph and I got home. I let the motor cool and checked the radiator.

Well it never noticed it since I got the truck while that driving and checking my oil that the overflow tank cap was not seated properly. It looked closed to me until I touched it and saw that it was never seated properly since got the truck.

I pulled the overflow stick and the tank was empty. I opened the radiator cap and it was still full and I could see fluid at the level it was supposed to be.

I took another vehicle and got some antifreeze, made my 50/50 mix and filled the overflow back to the max level. I made 100% sure the overflow cap is closed and seated properly now. That plastic overflow cap is GARBAGE,.

Today i took the truck out running another errand through town not going over 50 and the temps never got above 202. UNTIL I took it out on the highway and got up to 70. and the temp AGAIN "creeped" up to 212. I backed of the accelerator and coasted while I was getting off at my turn and the temps came back down and I drove the 1 mile till I got where I was going.

Somethings going on here and I'm trying to understand what I could be. Seems like I can run around town and be OK but now temps go up on the highway.

I did the usual, check for mud/dirt/bugs in the radiator fins. Fan clutch seems OK but Im truing to wrap my head around this.

Truck has never given me a moments trouble I've been searching the forum and the Internet to see if there is something similar to what I've been experiencing but have found nothing.

Don't want to take it in unless I have to, I want to try and understand this more before I do.

Noticed that in the cali heat (got up to 110 today) that my truck was creeping up onto 212. When it’s turned off after being ran in the same heat, the temp can jump to 221°, haven’t seen it above that.


Sent from my Blue Onyx RAM 1500

 

[thebanjoman]

As I said.. I'm old.. Not used to seeing temps like this and it's going to be a new learning experience for me.

When I refilled the reservior i used Zerex G05 coolant mixed 50/50 .

I did at least make sure I checked before just dumping old 'Prestone Green" in it.

It may be the color of the antifreeze but it sure looked 'rusty' to me.

I'm so used to seeing and using 180 degree thermostats in my vehicles. I did have a 195 in my old Dakota pickup and I kept that truck 17 years since new.

I guess this is what you get when you finally have access to temp NUMBERS instead of just a needle.

You are not accustomed to what you are seeing and you have the expectation that something is wrong.

That stupid reservoir cap is a bad design if you ask me. It's hard to tell if it's closed and you don't want to slam it closed for fear of cracking plastic.
I had to use more force that I thought I should have to for it to close properly.

 

[pacofortacos]

According to my 2016 owners manual you used the incorrect antifreeze - from my owners manual Zerex G05 is HOAT.

Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than
specified Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine
damage and may decrease corrosion protection.
Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant
is different and should not be mixed with
Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze) or any “globally compatible”
coolant (antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine
coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling
system in an emergency, the cooling system will
need to be drained, flushed, and refilled with fresh
OAT coolant (conforming to MS.90032), by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.


LOOK at the pics in the following thread! Not good when mixed with HOAT.
https://www.ramforum.com/threads/what-coolant-is-in-my-truck.115952/

 

[thebanjoman]

OK,

I seriously doubt a total of about 25 miles with what I added into the reservoir only is going to do significant damage. Very little would get sucked into the radiator on the cooling cycle and it was less than 1/4 of a gallon of actual antifreeze, rest distilled water.

I'll order 2 gallons of Mopar 68163848AB and mix with distilled water. I'm in a climate that if I'm a little more on the distilled water side I will be fine.

And it won't be done by an 'Authorized Dealer' but it will be done as soon as possible.

According to my 2016 owners manual you used the incorrect antifreeze - from my owners manual Zerex G05 is HOAT.

Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than
specified Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine
damage and may decrease corrosion protection.
Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant
is different and should not be mixed with
Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze) or any “globally compatible”
coolant (antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine
coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling
system in an emergency, the cooling system will
need to be drained, flushed, and refilled with fresh
OAT coolant (conforming to MS.90032), by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.


LOOK at the pics in the following thread! Not good when mixed with HOAT.
https://www.ramforum.com/threads/what-coolant-is-in-my-truck.115952/

 

[scott lass 18]

I have a 2016 RAM Express Quad Cab w 5/7 I bought in 08/2019 with 26K Miles on it.

No modifications to the truck.

It's now got 34,884 on it and I changed the oil at 30K. I do 5K oil changes because I've always done it so its due.

It's been a good truck, suits my needs but in the last few days now that it's getting warmer around here in Virginia (80 today) I noticed on two separate trips that the temps are creeping up past what I feel comfortable. as high as 212. The temp needle never goes past 1/2.

Temps have been running 197 - 204 all the time, except for the last 2 days of going out.

Yesterday I ran an errand and on the highway at 70 the temp rose to 212. I was headed home only going a few miles and backed off the speed and the temps went back down to 201 at around 45 mph and I got home. I let the motor cool and checked the radiator.

Well it never noticed it since I got the truck while that driving and checking my oil that the overflow tank cap was not seated properly. It looked closed to me until I touched it and saw that it was never seated properly since got the truck.

I pulled the overflow stick and the tank was empty. I opened the radiator cap and it was still full and I could see fluid at the level it was supposed to be.

I took another vehicle and got some antifreeze, made my 50/50 mix and filled the overflow back to the max level. I made 100% sure the overflow cap is closed and seated properly now. That plastic overflow cap is GARBAGE,.

Today i took the truck out running another errand through town not going over 50 and the temps never got above 202. UNTIL I took it out on the highway and got up to 70. and the temp AGAIN "creeped" up to 212. I backed of the accelerator and coasted while I was getting off at my turn and the temps came back down and I drove the 1 mile till I got where I was going.

Somethings going on here and I'm trying to understand what I could be. Seems like I can run around town and be OK but now temps go up on the highway.

I did the usual, check for mud/dirt/bugs in the radiator fins. Fan clutch seems OK but Im truing to wrap my head around this.

Truck has never given me a moments trouble I've been searching the forum and the Internet to see if there is something similar to what I've been experiencing but have found nothing.

Don't want to take it in unless I have to, I want to try and understand this more before I do.

 

[scott lass 18]

i put in a 195 cuz 204 t sate was way to hot I feel ! goes 195 199 then opens but just did a 180 was so surprise when it opens cools done for few minutes then right back up 188 so feel this 5.7 just run very hot ! have tune set to turn ac fan on 197 changing to 190 today at 103 see how it works ! had pump go out 136 miles so hope new one keeps going ! after dealer did found ac fan not even plugged in new something wasn't right ! ac was on no fan running 2 minnit fix glad I did it !

 

[scott lass 18]

Noticed that in the cali heat (got up to 110 today) that my truck was creeping up onto 212. When it’s turned off after being ran in the same heat, the temp can jump to 221°, haven’t seen it above that.


Sent from my Blue Onyx RAM 1500

way too high mine did get to 220 in our california heat ! so change mine right a way to 195 ran great for years ! now 180 and goes to 199 in this heat then goes down 188 hope this helps !

 

[pacofortacos]

OK,

I seriously doubt a total of about 25 miles with what I added into the reservoir only is going to do significant damage. Very little would get sucked into the radiator on the cooling cycle and it was less than 1/4 of a gallon of actual antifreeze, rest distilled water.

I'll order 2 gallons of Mopar 68163848AB and mix with distilled water. I'm in a climate that if I'm a little more on the distilled water side I will be fine.

And it won't be done by an 'Authorized Dealer' but it will be done as soon as possible.

That was a copy and paste from the owners manual.

You may have sucked some of the new coolant into the system, hopefully not too much. But it sounds like you are planning on flushing and filling with new stuff so you should be good.

Did you look at the other thread?

 

[TheEnder]

way too high mine did get to 220 in our california heat ! so change mine right a way to 195 ran great for years ! now 180 and goes to 199 in this heat then goes down 188 hope this helps !

Yes, thank you. I have a few things i wanna do to this truck, 180 t-stat and a electric e-fan swap to name a few. My clutch fan is on its way out already, so why not?


Sent from my Blue Onyx RAM 1500

 

[thebanjoman]

That was a copy and paste from the owners manual.

You may have sucked some of the new coolant into the system, hopefully not too much. But it sounds like you are planning on flushing and filling with new stuff so you should be good.

Did you look at the other thread?

What i pulled in from the reservoir is minimal at best.

Distilled water is cheap and I can run drain and flush the system and it should be fine, just work.