Bought a used '97 RAM 2500 with 5.9L & auto trans. Truck has about 89K miles. It seems to run quite warm, about 215 - 225 deg. according to the dash temp gage. I replaced the 195 deg. thermostat with a 180 deg. t'stat. The truck now runs cooler when empty, but when pulling my 24ft. 5th wheel camper, it still runs well above 200 deg. The truck has the factory towing pkg. but the radiator is only about 1 1/2" thick. Does Dodge (or an aftermarket supplier) offer a heavier-duty radiator for this truck? What about a radiator for a Diesel? ()The mounting ought to be the same, but the hose locations may be different. I've also heard that a higher capacity water pump is available for the 5.9L. Anybody know anything about this? The coolant looks quite clean, and there was no mud or other crap in the coolant when I drained it to change the thermostat. As I see it, my options are, in order of increasing cost:

1. Try a generic radiator flush product just to see if the radiator is plugged up, but fixable with this stuff
2. Pull the radiator and take it to a radiator shop to have them pull the tanks and check/clean it out.
3. Put in a new, heavier duty radiator, if such is available.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

John in Germantown, OH

 

i dont know if anyone make one. im sure someone has to. or you can just by on from summit racing and make new mounts. thats really not that hard to do.

 

OK, there was only one reply on this thread, so on Friday, the truck is going into a reputable radiator shop for a comprehensive cooling system check. I'll post their findings, what was done, the results, and the cost when I get 'er back and have pulled my 5th wheel camper a bit to see if things have, in fact, cooled down.

One shop told me, "Don't worry about it, they all run over 200 deg." I just don't buy that; it doesn't leave much headroom if the truck is called upon to pull uphill in really hot weather with the air on. My feeling is, if the engine has enough power to do that, the cooling system ought to be able to handle the heat load produced in the process. What's the sense of having 245 ponies on tap if you can't use 'em? We'll see.......

 

I had a Subaru that was running a little warm like you said, I pulled the radiator( what the Subaru people wanted to do for about three fifty except they were going to put a new one in). Any way I took it to an old fashion rad shop (not one that just wants to sell radiators) and pulled the end caps off and soaked it in caustic. Forty dollars and a little wrench turning latter, good as new. Moral of the story; dont just take it to a shop and say fix it or they will just keep changing parts until they get the right one. Oh yea, you will pay dearly for all their expertise.

 

Actually...215 to 225 is normal for summer months.

As far as the radiator, the one you have is better than the 1/2 ton 5.9 radiator. You COULD go with a V10 radiator. It cools the best of the gasser radiators, but would most likely require new mounts as the radiator is larger.

 

Well, as promised in my earlier post, here's the results of my quest to reduce the operating temp of my '97 5.9L V-8 Ram2500

The radiator shop scanned the radiator with their infrared temp gun and found that the topmost section of the radiator was quite warm, but the lower area was much cooler. They suspected plugged tubes, and suggested that a new radiator be installed. I gave them the OK to put in a new one.

They pulled the tanks on the old radiator, and it looked like only the topmost tube was completely open. The rest of the tubes varied from partially plugged (near the top of the radiator) to completely blocked (near the bottom). Not only that, there was a glob of what looked like BarrsLeak laying in the botttom of one of the tanks. The blockage looked like a calcium buildup, so I don't know if the BarrsLeak was a factor in plugging the tubes up.

Three hundred and eighty-nine bucks later, I was on my way. The temp. gage now stays right at 180 deg., which is what my thermostat is rated. It wasn't a cheap fix, but I can now pull my fifth wheel camper without worrying about steam coming out on those hot summer days. The new radiator carries a lifetime warranty, but an annual flush/fluid change (by the shop that did the work) is required to keep the warrany in effect. Take that for what it's worth!

John

 

sorry I missed your earlier post, I would have suggested a good flush or a new radiator. it sounded to me like a plugged radiator. I have a 5.9 QC 4x4 with a 180 t-stat and it rarely gets above 180~190 deg. it stays really cool. you might also consider an aux fan up front since your pulling a 5th wheel...