That sounds like something I might do after I find out whats causing it to run hot.... Maybe do the electric fan and keep the mechanical fan too. Maybe it will run a lot cooler. But im going to take the serp belt off tomm and see if there is play. Thanks for the help. What if there is no play could there still be a problem with my water pump?

 

other signs of head gasket, or cracked head, can be over-pressure in the cooling system, blowing coolant out in the overflow.

bad head gasket can be confirmed by the symptoms above, combined with a low reading on a compression test.

your description didn't seem like this was the case.

however - continued operation near red line on the temp gauge WILL lead to head gasket failure. or worse - cracked head.

 

this is jumping way ahead and you may or may not need a radiator, but i bought one of these last week and its a beautiful thing. all aluminum, perfect fit, and .....(never mind)..... CSF 2969

edit - never mind. they must have had mine priced wrong at 150. its up to 208 now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CSF-2969-Rad...item564f656aaf

 

At normal operating temp like when it is at 200 I can open the cap and no pressure..... But when it is above 200 like when it gets up to 220 and it does have pressure and does blow back in the overflow.... But again only when it goes above 200 degress.

 

If it is head gasket how much of a pain in the a** is that kinda job on the 5.2? I have always worked on Honda's and I did take heads of a Ford 302 and put new heads on.... and that job wasnt too hard. But for some reason the 318 looks a lil more difficult to work on then a Ford v8, or a Chevy v8. And the fact that this truck sits so High up will also make a head gasket job a pain in the a**

 

i wouldn't worry about that yet. you're jumping way too far ahead with no evidence.

lol - since you own a dodge now - and you're hanging around this forum - you'll be tearing down the top end pretty soon to replace the plenum gasket and timing chain. from ther - heads are only a few more bolts.

16 psi in the system is normal. don't be opening the cap when hot - you'll burn the **** out of yourself.

 

So if the compression all all the cylinders are good.... will that rule out a bad head gasket?

 

yes, unless there is other evidence such as water in oil.

 

I would assume it has good compression because the motor runs strong!! It is running on all 8 with no misfire noticeable at idle or in acceleration.... but ill do a compression test on it tomm. All cylinders ahould be within 100 psi right?

 

anywhere from about 110-150 is ok.
but - you want them to all be within 10-15% of each other.