Cool on the fan. On the thermostat, now I see the dilemma. But, I never saw those in the GM world (where I came from) so can't offer advice.

 

190* thermostat... https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...pt=2200&jsn=12

Gates 33915 is the p/n, nearly the same specs as whats was OEM in the Ram...

Going to go in this direction vs the 180.


for reference, here is the gates info for the 4.7 https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...pt=2200&jsn=12

 

Ordered up a 190* stat + seal, new rad hoses and an oil pressure sender (since they are reported to leak). Plan to drill my normal bleed hole in the stat prior to the install. Stat is the gates I linked earlier, OEM temp stat for the 2005 Ram 5.9 diesel.

My thinking is if it is running now at ~205* & I want 195~200, I should get that with this stat plus the bleed hole. Plan to do a flush at the same time unless the rad is leaking.

 

Update, 190* cummins stat was a tad bit too large in flange diameter, going to have to get a new t-stat housing, mod the stat and swap it out. later. Picked up the OEM temp stat, drilled my bleed hole and am ready to put it all back together this morning. Then the vacuum leak fixes can resume... leak detection pump hose split.

 

Funny story...

So there I am, got the rad hoses replaced, oem t-stat in there and go to town on all the vacuum lines. Like Dogdevity said, a lot of them are cracked and loose causing evap codes. Found the one under the leak detector had a huge crack in it. So I grab electrical tape to seal them up for now (as I dont have any of them yet), fill up and bleed the cooling system and fire it up. As temps climb up around 190* I start hearing a tick.. WTF??!! knowing there are valve train issues I go poke my head in there and it sounds like its coming from the DS head area.

WTH!... all I did was swap coolant and fix hoses, this was a rock solid motor just the day before...Fine! shut it down and go eat b-fast. Start googling the issue and come up with several of the expected responses, rocker issues, exhaust manifold issues etc. So I go out and check the temp on the scanner and its down to 140ish deg, pop the rad cap and have look to make sure coolant is topped off and it is. Fire it back up and nothing, quiet as can be. So I sit and watch the obd scan tool as temps climb and sure enough, again around 190*... tick tick tick. So this time I poke my head in between the head and fender and huh, not coming from the head, then I realized the leak detector is right there. DOH! looks like I need a leak detector pump now that all the hoses are attached and sealed.

Checked for codes (to early yet for evap codes to pop up) and there were none. Took it for a spin to fill fuel and back, performs as expected. It does look like temps are more stable though, not having bigger swings like the old stat.

 

That's what finally fixed my issue many years back. Replaced the LDP with one from a PT Cruiser.

 

why the pt cruiser one?

 

it happened to be the latest one I could find at the junkyard. It’s the same as the ones in our truck. The LDP is shared across many models.

 

4.7L engine coolant flow...

 

well i get to drain it and pull it apart again, lower hose wont seal