hi...so i've been trying to diagnose my cooling system as i am running warmer than normal and I have quite a bit of "fluctuation" with my needle. On the freeway with hardly any load i am running a tick or two above the halfway mark. I know this should be 2 to 3 ticks below this mark as i have a 180 tstat.

with that said...i am seeing slight condensation or drips coming from these marked areas. what is this? thanks.

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here are the steps I have taken so far:

checked coolant mix concentration - it's a 50/50 concentration according to the $3 tester from Autozone

removed about a quart of excess coolant in the reservoir (when engine is hot) - I have not tested the operating temp after this change. I will know if this did anything tomorrow

i checked the reservoir for "bubbles" while the engine is running and hitting the throttle - no bubbles to be seen

i checked the level of coolant in the rad - rad is full

i checked the lower and upper rad hose while revving the engine to ensure they are not "collapsing" - they are not

what else can I do before taking it into a shop?

 

That looks normal. Its the cold side of the a/c creating condensation.

 

thanks wingman. That's good to know :-)

i took as good a picture inside the rad. i can see the fins clearly...but the fluid is a bit "orange". I know it's zerex g05 (or whatever it's supposed to be).

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are the radiator fins clean? Nothing blocking the radiator? Does the clutch fan work normally? Have you ever backflushed the coolinf system?

 

the fins had quite a few bugs and crap on them so i just took a hose w/ a high-pressure nozzle and sprayed them thoroughly.

nothing aftermarket is blocking the radiator

the clutch fan operates on startup and when the truck gets too hot (when this clicks on it cools the engine nicely)

i installed a the 180 tstat about 30k ago and put new coolant in...but never "flushed" it.

 

A flush would be a good idea even if it is for preventative maintanance. A few ticks above half way is still well within normal operating range. With the record temp across the country running a little warmer than usual is bound to happen.

 

ive actually been having the same problem since ive gotten my truck back. when i first got my 180 tstat even on hot *** days it would stay below the half mark, but now its almost always running a little over. makes me paranoid. but i guess like wingman said its just the weather. its time for me to change the oil anyways maybe ill just flush it to be safe

 

With a 180 degree t-stat, fresh antifreeze mine always runs below the center mark in 110 degree temps. While running at 40-50 it runs at about 180, same as in cooler weather. In stop and go, it runs just below the center mark. If yours are running hotter, I suggest that something else is wrong. It's possible that the water pump or clutch fan are not functioning as well as they should.

 

Rick, I agree. I know some say its normal and to deal with it, but I can watch my temp gauge fluctuate from 1/4 when coasting downhills to 3/4 when going up inclines. This is without anything in tow. I think im gonna do a flush and have a shop look at the water pump.