killerbee
PHOENIX USA, Never hot
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Joined: 03/03/2006
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siliconjunkie wrote:Fan clutch will normally not have any impact on temp at highway speed. The fan is there for when you are idling and don't have 60 MPH air blowing in to the grill. Think about it, with that much wind coming at it, do you really think the fan is going to make any difference? Sure it may engage if the temp is hot enough, but that is just a function of how it works, not that it's needed.
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If you think your radiator is seeing 60 mph on a highway cruise, guess again. If you have a turbodiesel, your throughput ambient velocity with me 20% of cruise speed, tops with the large mult-layer stack resistance, and facia. Actual unassisted velocity at that speed is always under 15 mph, and more like 10 mph.
And yes, the fan is very capable of nearly doubling stack flow, even at highway speeds.
That big ass noise you hear, is a hard working fan. If it was just windmilling with so much kinetic airflow, it would make no noise.
Every on of these vehicles would overheat at 70 mph towing heavy on grade if not for that fan.
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Intro to TURBODIESEL INDUCTION OVERHEATING
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joshuajim
Mojave Desert
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Joined: 04/29/2006
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As you diesel guys know (while responding to gasser question), is that while the engine temperature may not go up much going up hill, those brakes sure get hot going down!
Touche!
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mhoefer
BC, Canada
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Joined: 03/19/2006
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agree with folks you probably need to wash the radiator and tranny cooler to make sure you are getting all the cooling you can. But I DISAGREE with using high pressure. This will fold over many of your rad fins and cause less efficiency. Use a straight hose at full flow and point from engine side out front and wash it. You could even soak with soapy water and then re flush. The reality is a gas motor this small is going to heat up when its working. To really address the issue, you likely do need a larger radiator as you are not able to get enough cooling capacity to keep up to the heat you are generating while towing.
Diesels have huge cooling capacity thats why we dont overheat. We cool the coolant, the tranny fluid, the air going into the turbo.
Oh yeah, and our brakes dont get hot going down hill because we have engine braking and trannies that help slow us down without heating. In fact, when going downhill, especially the tranny gets cooled down. Some even have exhaust brakes as well.
If you do upgrade to a Hemi 1500 size truck, be sure to order with towing packagge with larger radiator, tranny cooler ect. You will experience less mpg but I believe the newer ones have displacement control which would keep your mileage close? If you go diesel, you are looking at a much more expensive vehicle but with the towing you do, could be worth it.
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ve7prt
Ucluelet, BC, Canada
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mhoefer wrote:agree with folks you probably need to wash the radiator and tranny cooler to make sure you are getting all the cooling you can. But I DISAGREE with using high pressure. This will fold over many of your rad fins and cause less efficiency. Use a straight hose at full flow and point from engine side out front and wash it. You could even soak with soapy water and then re flush. The reality is a gas motor this small is going to heat up when its working. To really address the issue, you likely do need a larger radiator as you are not able to get enough cooling capacity to keep up to the heat you are generating while towing.
I might look into that in the next couple days. And I do realize the engine is going to warm up when working hard. That's a fact of life. BUT, it should not bury the temp gauge when climbing a hill.
Quote:Diesels have huge cooling capacity thats why we dont overheat. We cool the coolant, the tranny fluid, the air going into the turbo.
Hehehehe, I bet a diesel truck has probably the same sized rad as my 1/2ton. Maybe a bit bigger, but not by much. There just isn't that much room under the hood - even with a bigger truck. They DO have lots more coolant in them, though.
Quote:Oh yeah, and our brakes dont get hot going down hill because we have engine braking and trannies that help slow us down without heating. In fact, when going downhill, especially the tranny gets cooled down. Some even have exhaust brakes as well.
My brakes don't get that hot either. I don't require an engine/exhaust brake, I just take my foot out of it, and downshift a gear. Engine cools down REAL quick. Tranny doesn't get cooling - it's a stick, therefore no cooler for it.
Quote:If you do upgrade to a Hemi 1500 size truck, be sure to order with towing packagge with larger radiator, tranny cooler ect. You will experience less mpg but I believe the newer ones have displacement control which would keep your mileage close? If you go diesel, you are looking at a much more expensive vehicle but with the towing you do, could be worth it.
I wouldn't do without the tow package. My current truck does have the package as well. As for HEMI mileage, I've been hearing that the engines aren't as bad as first thought, even the first gen ones that came out a few years ago. And with putting out more power, a HEMI might even get somewhat better mileage towing my trailer than my current truck does. Though, I do get up to 14mpg towing my trailer, IF I keep my foot out of it (a little tough to do on our road).
However, if I do upgrade my truck, I will upgrade the size of the vehicle, not just the engine. The back of my current one squats a little much when I drop the tongue on the ball. That rear suspension is a tad soft. 
Cheers!
Mike
Mike Shepherd (CB: The Sheepster / Ham: VE7PRT)
Pulling Power: 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 6.7L CTD, 68rfe, Brakesmart, Edge Insight
Sleeping Space: 2007 Rockwood Cargo-cum-Camper Trailer
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kodiakcanuck
Ottawa, Canada
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Joined: 07/29/2008
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Just an update for everybody. I had the rad flushed and replaced fluid. I also pressue washed the rad (not to close) although after reading some posts, maybe I shouldn't have  Although I didn't wash from the inside out, will try that. I also left the thermostat as is.
There was little change. It seemed to run a little cooler from the gauge position, but still running between the mid and hot point on long pulls up the hills and speeds at or over 60 mph, but never overheats. As you all said, I'd expect it to run a little hotter because it is working (over 4,000 rpm sometimes), but to me it runs a little too warm and can't be good for the engine. I am pulling around 5,000 lbs, hate to see it if I was pulling it's rate 7300 lbs!!!
I suppose I will try the thermo replacement, and get the dealer to test the clutch fan if it's working properly. I would imagine with the HEMI shouldn't have this problem if I upgraded?
Also for those that have their Dodge rear end sagging down, I bought my truck used off a lease, with the 20" rims and noticed that the back end sat up quite a bit higher, at least as high as the 2500. I checked the rear leaf springs and notice they are 2 or 3 more springs than other 1500 RAM. I have the full towing package with the flip up mirrors and all, so I am not sure if this was a Dodge option in 04 or if the original owner added this on?
Anyway it makes a big difference, when I load on my trailer it just barely levels the truck out and I run without weight distribution (the topic of whole other thread I'm sure!!)
2007 Kodiak 214
2004 Dodge RAM 4x4,4.7L - darn, should have had a HEMI
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ve7prt
Ucluelet, BC, Canada
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kodiakcanuck wrote:Just an update for everybody. I had the rad flushed and replaced fluid. I also pressue washed the rad (not to close) although after reading some posts, maybe I shouldn't have Although I didn't wash from the inside out, will try that. I also left the thermostat as is.
There was little change. It seemed to run a little cooler from the gauge position, but still running between the mid and hot point on long pulls up the hills and speeds at or over 60 mph, but never overheats. As you all said, I'd expect it to run a little hotter because it is working (over 4,000 rpm sometimes), but to me it runs a little too warm and can't be good for the engine. I am pulling around 5,000 lbs, hate to see it if I was pulling it's rate 7300 lbs!!!
My thought exactly! My trailer is probably pushing 6,000lbs total weight once we're loaded up (excluding water). ON cooler days it's not to bad, but a warm day can really move the temp gauge.
Quote:I suppose I will try the thermo replacement, and get the dealer to test the clutch fan if it's working properly. I would imagine with the HEMI shouldn't have this problem if I upgraded?
Not sure if the HEMI would have the same problem. In theory, it shouldn't as it does put out more power/torque. But, the problems we are having could be vehicle specific, too.
Quote:Also for those that have their Dodge rear end sagging down, I bought my truck used off a lease, with the 20" rims and noticed that the back end sat up quite a bit higher, at least as high as the 2500. I checked the rear leaf springs and notice they are 2 or 3 more springs than other 1500 RAM. I have the full towing package with the flip up mirrors and all, so I am not sure if this was a Dodge option in 04 or if the original owner added this on?
Anyway it makes a big difference, when I load on my trailer it just barely levels the truck out and I run without weight distribution (the topic of whole other thread I'm sure!!)
I would say that the previous owner had leafs put in. Mine only has 3 leafs in each side, and after I've loaded 2 barrow of firewood, pump box, propane tank, waste bucket, hoses, genset & fuel can, then drop the trailer on the hitch, the rear is sagging quite low. In certain spots where the road surface suddenly changes (bumps, dips, etc) the chains actually drag. If I keep this truck, I may invest in air bags, or similar.
Cheers!
Mike
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