Overheating but can't figure out why

[Rob Bradley]

I have a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 4.7L, 180,000 miles. I've only had the truck for a year (50,000 mi) but the entire time I have battled overheating problems. First it was the heater core, had that and the thermostat replaced. Then the radiator so I replaced that and threw in another new thermostat. Now it overheats while idling, the fan runs so I ran a bottle of Blue Devil through it incase it was a head gasket but it had no effect. Truck still overheats but I can't stop driving it because it's a work vehicle, I just pull over and turn the truck off around the 3/4 mark on the heat gauge. My mechanic swears it's not the water pump. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated guys.

 

[JAMMAN]

Re examine the head gasket theory. This happens to a 4.7 at around 165,000 miles.

Take it to a shop that has a kit (a good one, lots of sloppy kits out there for doing this) to tell if there is exhaust gases in the coolant.

Oil does a lot of the cooling also, have you been losing oil pressure at idle?

 

[Rustycowl69]

I don't understand replacing the heater core when you have cooling issues. how does that help? I can't speak to head gasket issues on a 4.7, but generally I think that's kind of a reach. I had an intrepid which would overheat at idle, and it turned out to be a backwards thermostat. are the electric fans working properly?

 

[R.L.K.]

Wow ! Change the water pump NOW ! LOL !
And change your hoses as well , your hoses are probably collapsing due to being hot so many times . Make sure you get the replacement hoses with the spring metal on the inside . Don't get the cheep ones .
Oh and when pull your waterpump take a picture of the old and new and post up here , I bet you have less than 25% of the impeller on your installed pump . You won't believe the difference Sir .

Oh yeah do a complete flush and use non silica coolant ( this stuff eats waterpumps ) and the # 1 thing put RMI-25 8 -12 Oz in with your new coolant, you won't regret it .

If your not familiar with RMI-25 , Google it , I buy mine from amazon .

Subscribed for photos !

Hope this helps !