Nope - My put-putting around is up to about 200-300 miles per day (on a bad day) - through city-traffic (Dallas, Tx area) - making my way to and from honeybee removals from peoples homes/businesses. It's very much a city-driver truck.

I know there's some green weepy spots on the radiator tubes/fins - so I've already contacted a local repair shop that still does radiators. Looks like if the radiator survives the acid-bath and cleaning & any minor repairs - then my outlay will be about $63.25. If that doesn't do the trick, then it'll be a new radiator. (The one in there says "CSF Radiator" - so I know it's an aftermarket one that's been installed.)

I *know* there's a lot of buildup in the tubes that I can see below the radiator cap - so I can only presume that the rest looks similar.

Thanks folks!
Rex

 

Pretty much any radiator you get is aftermarket. Not sure that Dodge even sells oem radiators.

The radiator you have probably has plastic tanks? I don't think I'd bother having it cleaned if it's blocked. You can get a decent replacement for about $100. Two row, even.

I know I'm a broken record, but don't get premixed coolant. It's a sucker offering. You end up paying like $10 per gallon of distilled water--you can get a gallon of regular antifreeze and cut it with a $1 gallon of distilled water. Never use tap water in your radiator--the minerals tend to concentrate & block the radiator tubes.

 

My handy laser-thermometer is a cool tool! The thermostat housing stays at a pretty consistent 185-190 deg. F. Upper radiator a bit warmer (i.e. 200-220 deg. F - depending on where I'm scanning the metal) , lower radiator - QUITE a bit cooler - but the signal was going through the wind of the radiator fan... so it may have been distorted.

Rex

 

Sounds to me like you don't really have an overheating problem at all. I would replace the radiator and hoses, install a mechanical temperature gauge, and call it good.