My Ram has been running hot over the past few weeks. My temp guage has 130 on the low end, 200 in the middle, and 260 on the high end. The needle has been sitting slightly higher than the middle, at about 210-215 I'd say.

It's December, and it's been in the 30's and 40's here the past few weeks, so I'm worried about what will happen in the summer, with 90+ temps. This happens during both city and highway driving.

I was going to try the thermostat first, since that's the least expensive, and seems to be pretty easy. I wonder if it's not opening all the way.

Does this seem like a good idea to try first? Any preferences on t-stat brand, or is this something like a pcv valve, where OEM is best?

 

That may be normal. That's about where mine sits, even with a new thermostat, regardless of outside temp. The gauges aren't the most accurate things in the world.....

 

Yeah, I've read here several times that our guages aren't terribly accurate. I had a 1999 and a 2001 Ram, each with the 5.2L motor, and neither one ever got to halfway on the temp guage, though.

Then again, the truck seems to be running fine, there's no loss of coolant, and it looks bright green, with no deposits or anything in it. Maybe I should just leave it alone?

 

It's probably good. If you need to verify, you can get a gauge from a parts store and hook it up and compare the reading to see how close you are. I have a spare on in my toolbox to check vehicles on occasion. Think I have about $15 invested. Don't use it very often, but when I suspect a cooling issue it comes out.

If you aren't losing coolant and everything looks good with no overheating, you are probably good.

 

My 94 runs in the same place, just above the 200* mark

 

I guess I'll leave it alone for now, and just monitor the temp guage when the weather gets warmer in the spring. thanks guys, as usual.

 

I just had an over heating problem with my truck last month. We left home on a trip pulling a fifth wheel trailer. The first grade we came to the temperature alarm came on, wow I had never heard that before 220-230 degrees. Pulled over and let it fast idle about 1200-1300 rpm to bring the temp down. Checked it out later and this is what I found. Because there are so many coolers up front, trans,engine oil,air cond, and radiator. I looked down the front of the radiator with a flash light, there is a gap of about 1-1/2 inches. Mine looked like it was coated with a real fine grey power in a circle where the fan pulled air through from the other side. So I pulled the radiator out and held it up and could not see the sun through it. It also seemed to have a light coating of oil on it in places. I think from that stupid little oil catcher mounted on the front of the engine. Anyway I brushed the radiator with some white gas and ran water over it from a hose followed it with soapy water and the hose again. Repeated this two more times. Then I let it dry out. After it was dry I held it up to the Sun again and I could see real good through it. Put it back in the Truck (2000 Ram 2500 Diesel) No more heating problems. My wife and I were quite relieved.

 

Glad that a good cleaning did the trick. I think a lot of people (myself included) sometimes overlook something this simple!

 

A bit of a thread bump here.

I ended up changing out my thermostat and flushing the coolant. Truck runs cooler now (about 20 degrees cooler). It wasn't running poorly, but I didn't like feeling that it was running hot. So now I have a little piece of mind with the cooling system.

 

keep in mind many code readers will give you a more accurate temp reading than the gauge... its really just for reference if it reads different than usual.