alright, my 97 ram 318 4x4 is having another issue. a few days ago the plenum blew. not much of a problem, and just got done fixin it. but during the repair, my temperature sending unit (i think thats what it is called) broke and went a head and replaced it. now the temp gauge reads at almost 250 degrees, and im very worried about it. any info would be appreciated. also replaced the thermostat as well, and it doesnt move from that 245 until your driving, then it goes down to 220 or so. any info will be appreciated.

 

Was the temperature reading fine before the plenum blew? If so, you likely have air in the cooling system. After the engine cools off real good, check the coolant level at the radiator and add coolant, as needed. What temperature thermostat did you install?

 

Almost sounds like a blockage in the system as well as a bad clutch fan.

 

You have air in your system. Park on a slight incline, facing uphill. Undo radiator cap, and burp it.

If you have the ***** you can rev it and let your temps build up and the thermostat to start to flush, this makes things faster. All depends on how close you dare take it to the overheating mark.

Did you pour coolant into the intake before you put the thermostat in?

 

atomicdog, it was reading just fine before the plenum blew. Dodge dude94, the clutch fan is completely fine, but i do remember that the bypass hose might have kinked itself. thats my project tomorrow. ham bone, no i did not pour any into the intake, but i have gotten all the air i can out. as for more info, it also has more pressure than normal, enough when hot to spew out the cap. it holds under reg pressure, so i know its high.

 

Water pump good?

Do you have heat?

 

How old is your coolant? Good radiator cap rated 16 lbs at least? Thermostat bad, opening late?

 

Hate to even ask, but you didn't by any chance put the thermostat in upside down did you?

 

coolant is brand new water pump is great and there is heat. now the thermostat is another story. my friend put that on and he put it on spring side up, whih i believe is backwards. would that make the thermostat to malfunction? also the cap is good. had it tested.

 

installing the stat backwards (which it sounds like it is) will most certainly make it not work right. Fix that. Should help quite a bit.