So I found out it was the Radiator..... When it started running hot I felt the radiator and the bottom of it was not hot and the top of it was to hot to touch. So Im gonna put a new radiator in it this weekend. Glad it wasnt something serious like Head Gasket........... Thanks for all the help guys!!!

 

^hold on - that's actually normal. it indicates that the incoming water temperature is hot, and the outgoing water temperature is cool, and the radiator has done its job.

upper radiator hose temp, as measured by an infrared temp detector, should reflect engine temp on the gauge. 195-210.

lower radiator hose temp, should measure somewhere in the 130-150 range.

if the lower radiator temp was still 160-180, (too hot to touch) then the radiator is not doing its job.

 

Well there are some cold spots located in the upper part also. In the middle of the upper it is cold and I can keep my hand there. If I move my hand to the right it is Very hot.

 

but think about it - what do you expect the radiator to do. cool the coolant right.
and how cool can it cool it? somewhere between hot and ambient temperature.

if its only cooling from 210 to 180, that's not enough. if its cooling down to 120-130-140, that's probably about the best its going to get, or at least its normal.

tomorrow i'll try to remember to get a temp test on my hoses.

 

this isn't real accurate, but here's my temperature measurements from an infrared thermometer. this is after driving about 7 miles, and getting truck up to normal temperature (180* t-stat). 55 degree outside temperature. No AC or Defroster on. After driving, the radiator was pretty cold, so I let it sit and idle for about 5 minutes. this is the temperature of the hose itself...

top hose at t-stat - 175
top hose at rad - 150-160
bottom hose at rad 100-110
bottom hose at waterpump 120


edit - also, the transmission cooler is bypassing the radiator.

 

Im going to buy an infrared thermometer and check it.... It hasnt ran above 210 the past 2 days. So im starting to really think it is the Rad. Im going to change the Rad and thermostat this weekend and see how it does.

 

Just yesterday I replaced the water pump and fan clutch on my 98 so I jumped in and fired it up and it heated up to where it was before just below 210 no change. Then it dawned on me that the radiator cap was much easier to get off and put on than it was before so I changed it, started it up now the temp is perfect.

as absurd as it sounds it's just a thought and something not to be overlooked.