5.7 Hemi intermittent overheating

[ATXram1500]

My 2014 5.7l is having intermittent overheating issues... at first it was at idle with the AC on.. then it would overheat in stop in go traffic.. or just at random times. Once I cut off the AC, the engine starts to cool. So i'm wondering if it has something to do with my AC condenser. I have checked, and both my electric fan and mechanical fan are running. Correct me if i'm wrong, but the clutch fan works with the water pump.. so if the mechanical fan is spinning that means the water pump is working.. correct? I haven't check coolant levels yet (I will check once I get off work).

Was reading online that if your AC condenser is full of debri, bugs, dirt etc.. it will not dissipate heat like it should.. causing your radiator to overheat. Thoughts?

 

[rzr6-4]

If you're already on the edge of overheating, the AC fan might be the tipping point but odds are there is something going wrong with your primary cooling system.

Mine did very similar things. My water pump had gone bad, still turned and pumped fluid but had a slow leak. Kept adding fluid to limp by until I had time to replace. I wouldn't think about it too hard until you've checked coolant levels.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Lots of us dont even run the mechanical fan so that wouldn't cause your overheating.

Check your WP and thermostat

 

[ATXram1500]

So I checked my radiator and coolant overflow tank. Both were bone dry. I have some liquid it looks like, on my lower hose and around the water pump. Does that mean the water pump is done? How can I diagnose it without taking it all apart if I don’t have to?

I’ve attached pictures of the lower hose.

 

[Daw14]

Locate where the fluid is leaking from first.

 

[Treburkulosis]

Mine likes to use coolant. I just keep it topped off and I added kool it to mine. Mine started this same thing back in March. Its been fine since. 160k on everything that it left the factory with.

 

[ATXram1500]

Locate where the fluid is leaking from first.

It’s hard to locate where the fluid is coming from because everything is dry.

 

[HuskerRam]

From the discoloration, is it coming from the T-stat? Fill 'er up, run it and watch where it's coming from.

 

[DILLIGAF]

It’s hard to locate where the fluid is coming from because everything is dry.

Thats why they invented dye https://www.amazon.ca/Interdynamics-375CS-Radiator-Coolant-Dye/dp/B002M4E0VC

 

[ATXram1500]

From the discoloration, is it coming from the T-stat? Fill 'er up, run it and watch where it's coming from.

Hard to tell. Looks really wet around the lower hose

 

[HuskerRam]

My thoughts (grain of salt) are it may have leaked from the tstat housing and eventually dropped on the lower hose. Refill the system, add a little dye like Dilligaf suggests and it should be pretty easy to see with a black light.

 

[ATXram1500]

My thoughts (grain of salt) are it may have leaked from the tstat housing and eventually dropped on the lower hose. Refill the system, add a little dye like Dilligaf suggests and it should be pretty easy to see with a black light.

Thanks! Will do

 

[HuskerRam]

Thanks! Will do

When you do that, it would be worth the trouble to get a pressure tester from Autozone/Oreilly to help find the leak. Just spitballing here, but does the fan have any coolant residue on it? Another thought is there could be a leak on the backside of the radiator and the fan is blowing (pulling) it on the front of the engine. With the shroud on, it's a bit of a pain to see the back of the radiator. A little dye and a blacklight will help you pinpoint it pretty quick.

 

[Tominator223]

The water pumps usually have a weep hole or 2. Most of the time it’s on the bottom behind the pulley. Some you can see some you can’t .

 

[CanuckRam1313]

And, pressure test the rad cap, too!
This was the case with my truck; the rad cap was ever so slowly leaking.
New OEM rad cap and all is good with my cooling system at this time.