Truck running hot
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Fitchburg, MA
my truck is at dodge for wheel hubs and a problem with it getting hot, we had a heatwave recently and anytime i turned the ac on it would go up about 3/4 of the way on the temp gauges, ive never seen a truck get that hot. Im hoping its not a head gasket problem, ive got 67000 on the vehicle. Theyre checking it out,
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Not sure actually. When the hose was replaced I think they put in just antifreeze, it was one gallon. I think they added 2 more gallons when they installed the radiator. I have thought that that could be the problem.
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I had the same problem. I replaced the radiator, thermostate. water pump, fan clutch. By the way their are 3 differnt radiators listed for the Dakota.
Turned out I had a blown head agasket, # 8 cylinder. When the head was removed the spot the gasket blew ate away at the head. I had to have the head welded then resurfaced. I was told by a Dodge mechanic after the job was done that they never machine or repair cylinder heads the issue just comes back. He said they always replace with a new head.
If I was to do this again I think I would just replace the Engine. This happened @ 79K miles by the way.
How convienient for Dodge after the warranty expired!
Turned out I had a blown head agasket, # 8 cylinder. When the head was removed the spot the gasket blew ate away at the head. I had to have the head welded then resurfaced. I was told by a Dodge mechanic after the job was done that they never machine or repair cylinder heads the issue just comes back. He said they always replace with a new head.
If I was to do this again I think I would just replace the Engine. This happened @ 79K miles by the way.
How convienient for Dodge after the warranty expired!
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Salem, MA
I'd start with the easy do at home stuff to eliminate. Get a hose flush kit and flush the cooling system. Rent a pressure tester and check system pressure. Test cyl pressure even, if a head gasket is blown at least 1 cyl should be noticeably low. Maybe it's not something that happens as much as I thought but the oil should be milky with a blown head gasket, or sweet smelling exhaust. If none of that shows anything I personally would just replace the water pump with a high flow one, blown installed one of these in his supercharged truck http://www.racepages.com/products/?D...Ntt=gmb1204350
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If the head gasket is blown, won't there be coolant in the oil? I had the problem with a previous truck, but can't remember which gasket caused it. There isn't any coolant in the oil, or oil in the coolant.
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From: Salem, MA
I've always been taught/told yes but I have worked on vehicles that have had a blown head gasket with no coolant in the oil which is why I suggested checking for compression and cooling system to see if it holds pressure.
If none of that shows anything I personally would just replace the water pump with a high flow one, blown installed one of these in his supercharged truck http://www.racepages.com/products/?D...Ntt=gmb1204350
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Fitchburg, MA
and if it is a blown head gasket do NOT go putting that autozone stop leak sealant stuff in. Ive seen people do that and it just makes things worse, sorta like putting FixAFlat in a leaking tire... bad bad bad.
I think if I was faced with having to spend $$$$ to rebuild a motor (and I did not have that kind of money) or spending $10 for a can of head gasket repair, I would chance the head gasket repair stuff. What do you have to lose? You going to have to tear it apart to fix it or replace the motor anyway.