Underlieing Issue or Just to Damn hot out?

[truckin151]

Trying to figure this one out. Lately my truck seems to be "over heating" but not by over heating standards. I have a 180* T-Stat in there now, normally the truck runs right around 185*-188* (via my AI monitoring the coolant temps) on my trip to and from work but never goes above 188*, stop and go traffic, sitting at a light, romping on it for data log runs etc. Lately though on my ride home it has been hitting up to 208* in stop and go traffic, and when stopped them temperature keeps going up again until I start moving. Its not a rapid increase in temperature but sitting at a light for a few minutes will make the temps jump 5*-10*.

Now I know this is not a huge deal, and definitely not what you would think when someone says they are over heating but its just seems off to me that its now all of a sudden doing this.

What it might also be from (and I am not to sure if this would cause it or not) but its been getting in the 100*+ range for the past few weeks now hitting in the 110-113* range this week so I am wondering if that would have any impact on the temps I am reading with the AI. When I drive the same distance, stop at the same lights etc. in the morning when its in the 80* outside, the temps never go beyond 188* and thats driving around 80-85mph all the way into work on the highway and then sitting waiting for lights.

So should I chalk this one up to the outside temps being so damn hot? or is there a more major problem I need to be looking at like a new T-stat or water pump?

 

[KGBIGCOUNTRY]

My guess it just the outside temps are so damn hot. Mine has gone up a few degrees also on the 100 degree day we had.

 

[truckin151]

Should also note that the temperature will drop back down to the 185-188* range after I start moving for a while. So its not staying that high the whole drive home. but when traffic gets bogged down or sitting still at a light the temps creep up.

 

[truckin151]

My guess it just the outside temps are so damn hot. Mine has gone up a few degrees also on the 100 degree day we had.

Yeah but this is jumping 20* or more at some points, I could see instead of running at 185* like normal, it creeping up to 190* or a few degrees, but to jump 20*+, it just seems like something is off there. I mean looking at the needle on the truck, the temps are going past the halfway marker by quite a bit. Its in no way in the red zone or anything but it just doesnt seem quite right.

 

[KGBIGCOUNTRY]

Hows the clutch fan on your truck? If its bumper to bumper for awhile you have an increase in temps well over 100. The Jet has a fail safe I think where it will stick open correct?

 

[RubberFrog]

The radiator was designed to provide sufficient cooling for the stock tstat on hot days. Mine does the same thing when it hits 100+. Like you said, you're not overheating within the parameters the truck was designed for.

 

[HemiBabe]

Hmmm.... I have heard that the Royal Purple Ice significantly reduces the operating temps... thinkin about addin it to mine. Here's the test they did you might could try that?

Royal Purple Radiator Additive

 

[truckin151]

The radiator was designed to provide sufficient cooling for the stock tstat on hot days. Mine does the same thing when it hits 100+. Like you said, you're not overheating within the parameters the truck was designed for.

Very true, Im still going to keep an eye on it, I just havent seen it jump that much since it was put in last year. Even with the stock T-stat the highest I have seen it hit since I bought the truck driving in the same conditions has been 208* and thats only 5* higher than the stock T-Stat operating temps. So for the 180 to hit that high and higher its got me questioning the cause.

 

[RubberFrog]

It's easy/cheap enough to just replace it for peace of mind.

 

[dth418]

more than likely its the outside temperature. Mine used to do the same thing when i lived in the desert in California. It would typically do it in the middle of the afternnon when the temps were well over 100 degrees. I did a complete coolant flush and it helped out a good bit, and i didnt add anything special, just regular old 50/50 and my temp gauge went right back to where it should be. Also in those extreme temperatures your oil life gets reduced a little bit so its good to keep an eye on that to.

 

[capsalot]

I doubt it's the water pump. Outside Temp most likely. I had a water pump go out in my car in the winter time. It would no **** overheat at a dead stop, but when I was driving it would drop back down. Water pump in 100* weather would definately overheat anytime. I would suggest a coolant flush if you haven't already tryed that.

Edit: Just saw that you lived in AZ, that's kinda evidence that it's the outside temp. I lived it AZ for 12 years and I go back pretty regularly, it gets hotter than hades there man.

 

[TonkaTruck]

Other than a coolant flush if your running an electric fan if your not already doing so, try running it on the high side. Down in NC the last couple of weeks with humidity its been around the 105-110 range and mine sits at 180 all day long with the fan on high side. I should also mention with base traffic i sit in traffic for atleast 20-30 minutes each way.

 

[sullivan]

Hmmm.... I have heard that the Royal Purple Ice significantly reduces the operating temps... thinkin about addin it to mine. Here's the test they did you might could try that?

Royal Purple Radiator Additive

I wouldn't run anything in your system except Dealer fluid or recommended fluids. Right now the only non-dealer antifreeze for rams is Zerex G05. If you use anything else it will ruin the cooling system.