3rd Gen Dodge Temp Question

John B.

John B.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Location
Claremont
I have had my 2005 Dodge / Cummins / 2wd / 6spd for about 1year now and this past weekend was the first tow up any mountain when I went to Mtn. City. I've only done flat ground towing previous to this past weekend.

I am curious as to what mountain towing temps you other folks are seeing. Of course I don't have an exact reading since the gauge only shows 140 / 200 / 245 but I am estimating it got to between 215-220 degress with an ambient air temp of 87 degrees towing 7000 lbs. It would immediately cool back down to 200 (normal for me) during one of stair steps in the climb and once I reached the top.

At what temp does the fan clutch fully engage? I did hear temporary slight engagement but not 100% sucking a midget thru the grill engagement.

Oh yeah...the truck is bone stock except for 4" exhaust.
 
this past weekend going to mtn.city mine went about 1/16 inch past 200* pulling about the same load. i dont think i heard my fan clutch at all,and same thing coming back up oldfort mtn. balls out,ac on running 68mph just to see if it would do it up the mtn.
 
That is alittle higher than normal. I tow 15 to 20k regularly and rarely ever see temps above 210. I will say that you are not hurting anything and that you are still with in the safe limits by quite abit. I would not sweat it at all. If you start to see thoughs temps not go down immediatly then you may have a thermostat sticking. I would not hesitate to keep driving the piss out of it. Buy the way my truck is an 06 3500 4x4 6spd. just for reference.
 
That hill is tough on my truck too. Normally my engine temp stays right around 190 towing. On that hill I have to be easy on it and I still reach 200. I have a digital engine temp read out on my pulse so I can keep an eye on it. My box will shut off and stop fueling at about 203.
 
novacayne75 said:
my 03 has always run just under 200* so i assume that were everyone else is at and my hot tow is about 210* am i correct with that.
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I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, but it sounds like your truck and mine are running at about the same temps solo and towing.

Like I said in the original post, it's hard to determine actual temp since the gauge only shows 140 / 200 / 245. After looking at it again, i would say the truck was running around 210 because it was no were near half way between 200 / 245 on the gauge assuming that half way would equal 222.5 degress. I've been doing some research and it sounds like that is nothing to worry about but I am going to wash out the Radiator fins from the fan side forward, clean the bugs out of the condensor and strighten out some of the fins on the condensor. that seems to be the simplest things to do for preventive maintenance. I did check the clutch when I got home from work yesterday and it had plenty of resistance with the engine off at normal operating temp. Also have read that the thermostats on these things are bad to stick or not fully open. May change that for safe measure also.
 
John, a couple years ago I dumped a gallon of Greased Lightning into the weed/garden spray and shot it through the whole radiator/cooling area. I sprayed about a third of it, waited 5-10 minutes, sprayed another 3rd, waited another 5-10 minutes and sprayed the rest. I waited another 5-10 and rinsed it thoroughly with the hose and hot water. The crap that came out was unreal, and it did help me some with my cooling issues. I probably already told you that, but here's a reminder anyway. :)
 
My 01 model will get up to about 205 (I am guessing) while pulling long grades such as the one on 421 on the way to Mtn City.
 
Granny said:
John, a couple years ago I dumped a gallon of Greased Lightning into the weed/garden spray and shot it through the whole radiator/cooling area. I sprayed about a third of it, waited 5-10 minutes, sprayed another 3rd, waited another 5-10 minutes and sprayed the rest. I waited another 5-10 and rinsed it thoroughly with the hose and hot water. The crap that came out was unreal, and it did help me some with my cooling issues. I probably already told you that, but here's a reminder anyway. :)
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Yeah I remember you doing this but had forgotten the garden sprayer tip. Thanks for the reminder!
 
I can hit 220 on my digital readout of my attitude monitor pretty easily going up 421. Your temp sounds normal compared to my truck, 190-195 normal running and can spike to 218 or 220 pulling up the grades.
 
Glad to hear that from someone that has a temp gauge with real numbers. Thanks
 
John my edge's alarm went off at 220 going up 421 friday. It will usually sit right there and not climb any higher though. I may try washing everything out to see if it will help. Good idea!
 
90xj said:
John my edge's alarm went off at 220 going up 421 friday. It will usually sit right there and not climb any higher though. I may try washing everything out to see if it will help. Good idea!
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Good luck...it's a royal PITA without taking anything off!

I had a bunch of bent fins on the condensor from my short ass having to stand on the front bumper to check anything so straightening them probably helped more than washing out.
 
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