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

[pacofortacos]

Yeah, I don't think any harm was done.

What's funny is the Zerex website does list it for use in newer Chryslers, but it definitely is the wrong one to use.
Used to be nice in the old days, just grab any antifreeze and good to go. Now you can really screw your engine up by mixing incompatible antifreezes.

The newer engines run a bit warmer for a few different reasons, it doesn't hurt anything though.
I have tried a 190 stat and I think overall the 203 works a bit better as far as mpg and overall driveability but we all use our trucks a bit differently from each other.

IF you want it to run a bit cooler, you can remove most of the shutters in front of the radiator without much if any mpg penalty - just need to keep 2 pair in to hold the mechanism that lets the AGS motor know when they are closed or open to keep from tripping a fault code. Most keep the top row and bottom row.

 

[thebanjoman]

Yeah, I don't think any harm was done.

What's funny is the Zerex website does list it for use in newer Chryslers, but it definitely is the wrong one to use.
Used to be nice in the old days, just grab any antifreeze and good to go. Now you can really screw your engine up by mixing incompatible antifreezes.

The newer engines run a bit warmer for a few different reasons, it doesn't hurt anything though.
I have tried a 190 stat and I think overall the 203 works a bit better as far as mpg and overall driveability but we all use our trucks a bit differently from each other.

IF you want it to run a bit cooler, you can remove most of the shutters in front of the radiator without much if any mpg penalty - just need to keep 2 pair in to hold the mechanism that lets the AGS motor know when they are closed or open to keep from tripping a fault code. Most keep the top row and bottom row.

I just want to get this fixed and drive on. I'll learn to understand and live with the higher temps. I have other vehicles I can play with.

A 1929 model A ford I'm restoring and 2 Suzuki trucks ( A Samurai and a Sidekick) , both of which have non-stock bigger motors and the Samurai is on Toyota Axles and 36" tires so I have 'modded' enough and now I'm enjoying them. I have a 2.3 liter in the Sidekick (orig 1.8 liter) from an Suzuki Aerio so I have enough TOYS .

I use this truck to haul to the 'toys' to the trail and the restorers who are helping me with the model A so this truck suits me.. After 17 years towing with the Dakota this is a much better truck for what I use it for.

 

[pacofortacos]

Those sound like some nice toys to play with.

I had a 2001 Dakota before my 16 Ram, I really liked the Dakota a lot. It was a quad cab with a 5.9 in it.
I like my 16 Ram, but it has taken a while for the size to grow on me. Really love the 8 speed transmission though.

 

[thebanjoman]

Those sound like some nice toys to play with.

I had a 2001 Dakota before my 16 Ram, I really liked the Dakota a lot. It was a quad cab with a 5.9 in it.
I like my 16 Ram, but it has taken a while for the size to grow on me. Really love the 8 speed transmission though.

I can't leave well enough alone so I had to promise my wife I would not touch this truck.. I still want the 8.4 Radio and Android Auto so I will do that.

I'll get this minor issue fixed and enjoy it. I'm waiting on the coolant to be delivered and have 'sucked out' the reservoir and will drain the rest when it comes.
She'll sit till I can do this.


It tows the 16 foot trailer and the 'toys' just fine.

 

[pacofortacos]

That ford looks like it is in amazing condition.

 

[thebanjoman]

That ford looks like it is in amazing condition.

That' before I started the restoration It was my Father-in-Laws and my wife wanted to keep it.

It sat in a garage on the Ohio property for years and I we got it back to Virginia in 2007.

During teardown with the headliner a 'mouse skeleton' fell down in my collar and I 'jumped' and nearly knocked myself cold on the door pillar.

It's in pieces now, working on wood bow roof and brakes. She still needs a lot of work.

I'd get more time with it if i didn't do stupid stuff like put in the wrong coolant in my truck.....

 

[TomB 1269]

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.

Use Distilled water.........Deionized is not required.... Distilled has had the mineral / metal content "removed"
And yes the active shutter system will cause that exact response at highway speeds as the shutters close to decrease drag and therefore less airflow thru radiator. At 45mph your drag is not as great going thru the grill so the shutters will tend to run in the open position.

 

[crash68]

Use Distilled water.........Deionized is not required.... Distilled has had the mineral / metal content "removed"

I really should go find the post where someone quoted me and stated deionized water should be used and let you two battle this one out....
that's why I said "or"

 

[pacofortacos]

I don't know deionized water is hell on most metals as it sucks the ions right out of most of them except for stainless.
I would be afraid of not getting all of the deionized water out after the flush.
DeI water is very aggressive to metals.
RO water won't suck the ions out of metals and is very pure.
Distilled water would be a good choice.

I personally would use Distilled or RO water.

 

[thebanjoman]

Well I drained the coolant out of the radiator..



And siphoned out what I put into the overflow.



The overflow looks a little 'mixed' but what is in the radiator looks fine to me. It's getting changed anyway.

I put in a gallon and a half of distilled water and ran the truck in the driveway up to operating temp. It came up to 204 and then dropped back to 197 and cycled between a little bit while it was idling. I know there is still air in the system but I wanted to just let the water circulate. It never went over 204 and was never driven so I['m fine.

I'll let the truck cool and drain the water/coolant mix and probably run another cycle of distilled to make sure I get it as much of the HOAT I had in there (which was very little)
out.

Now I'll have to figure out the proper coolant to water mix to get as close to 50/50 now that there will be mostly water in the block after I do this.

 

[scott lass 18]

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

save ur money just get a turner set ac fan to run all the time for sumer and set at 190 if in 90 s ok works for me !

 

[Batt4Christ]

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

Yes, it’s quite logical for coolant temp to increase when engine is shut off. It’s no longer circulating through radiator, and is sitting in the hot engine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[thebanjoman]

Now that I'm nearing the end of the HOAT/OAT debaucle..

I've always used my ''spill proof' funnel and some time to purge the air. Even did this on my Dakota without having to use the bleed screw without issue.

I really don't want to pull the plug if I don't have to. Can I just continue to use my old methods and use my funnel and running at about 2500 RPMs for a while with the heat on to purge the bubbles?

 

[thebanjoman]

I've flushed it twice, and flushed the reservoir twice too. I can't see any contamination of the HOAT coolant into the OAT coolant and the radiator/engine. I only ever added it to the overflow so if any did mix it was very little. I think I should be good to just go ahead and fill with the MOPAR OAT coolant when it arrives in the coming days.

 

[Wild one]

I've flushed it twice, and flushed the reservoir twice too. I can't see any contamination of the HOAT coolant into the OAT coolant and the radiator/engine. I only ever added it to the overflow so if any did mix it was very little. I think I should be good to just go ahead and fill with the MOPAR OAT coolant when it arrives in the coming days.

Your local dealer will have it in stock,if you don't want to wait

 

[thebanjoman]

Your local dealer will have it in stock,if you don't want to wait

Nearest Mopar dealer is more than 25 miles from me. I just did Amazon and saved me having to make the trip.

 

[Wild one]

Nearest Mopar dealer is more than 25 miles from me. I just did Amazon and saved me having to make the trip.

25 miles isn't a trip,lol. My closest track is 155 miles one way and i'm there usually every Friday night in the summer,that's a trip,lol

 

[thebanjoman]

It's back together with the right 50/50 mix and the right antifreeze.

I probably could have gotten away with just draining the overflow tank because so little got mixed but decided to do a flush/drain and refill anyway.

Back to normal and I learned a few things so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

 

[crackerjack1957]

Check/clean radiator fins.......over time bugs,dust & debris