Cool this baby down!

[frogwash]

I just purchased what i consider a quality thermostat. It wasn't inexpensive but I didn't want to go cheap. I am going for a flush also. I have not had this truck a long time, and I never have had it flushed. It has 80k miles. Tomorrow... I remove the shutters except for the top and bottom, install the 180 t'stat. Temperatures are pretty chilly around here so it will be a while before I really get to test it my efforts. I like the remote oil filter setup. I have built a few Harleys with their crate motors and always mount a remote oil filter setup. Manufacturers don't really consider the oil filter mounting for access or other things for that matter. I appreciate ALL the input and will update with results at a later date..!

Thanks all...

Frank ... in Twin Falls Idaho

OOPS... forgot to ask about the coolant best for a 2017 1500 5.7l RAM..!

 

[grizzstang]

IMO use the OEM purple 10 year coolant. It seems to be good stuff but it doesn't like to be mixed with other random types of coolant.

 

[Wild one]

I just purchased what i consider a quality thermostat. It wasn't inexpensive but I didn't want to go cheap. I am going for a flush also. I have not had this truck a long time, and I never have had it flushed. It has 80k miles. Tomorrow... I remove the shutters except for the top and bottom, install the 180 t'stat. Temperatures are pretty chilly around here so it will be a while before I really get to test it my efforts. I like the remote oil filter setup. I have built a few Harleys with their crate motors and always mount a remote oil filter setup. Manufacturers don't really consider the oil filter mounting for access or other things for that matter. I appreciate ALL the input and will update with results at a later date..!

Thanks all...

Frank ... in Twin Falls Idaho

OOPS... forgot to ask about the coolant best for a 2017 1500 5.7l RAM..!

Make sure you check the thermostat in a pot of water on the stove,to make sure it's opening at the rated temp Frank.

 

[frogwash]

checked the t'stat out on the stove with a thermometer... checked out great.. thanks

 

[EdGs]

IMO use the OEM purple 10 year coolant. It seems to be good stuff but it doesn't like to be mixed with other random types of coolant.

68163848AB is the part # for the OAT concentrate. It's about $22/gallon on Amazon. Buy 2 gallons and 2 gallons of distilled water at your local grocery store, and you'll have 4 gallons of 50/50 once you mix it.

If you only drain the radiator, you'll get less than two gallons of old coolant out. Removing the block drains will get most of the coolant out. Pull the grille to remove and empty the reservoir (I found what I believe to be casting sand in mine).

You can run some extra distilled water through the heater core and rad to get leftover coolant out.

When I did my cam/lifter job, I pulled my radiator, block drains, reservoir, and heater hoses. It took almost 4 gallons of 50/50 mix to refill it.

Theres a bleeder screw on the water pump as well. I used a coolant funnel that attaches to the radiator to refill it while the system was burping.


After filling, it might take a few heat cycles and adding small amounts of coolant each time to get the last bit of air out (unless you have one of those fancy vacuum-fill devices, which I do not). Nose-up on an incline helps, too.

Good luck.