My wife thinks I am nuts .. but I only have 9k miles on my R/T and it was in not too long ago due to over heating and they said my radiator cap was bad. Yet when I am stopped at a light or just idling in a parking lot after driving around, the temperature will shoot up to 222-224 .. and sit there ... and then slowly back down to 214ish range.



My service adviser has told this is "normal". Is this normal?! When I start up in the morning I want to say I catch a whiff of coolant, but the level looks fine ... I also see puff of white smoke sometimes coming out of the left tail pipe ... ?!

 

There is a recent tsb for the white smoke out the tail pipe, they replace the oil pan. Not worth it for me because it will probably leak after they replace it and it will be a hassle. The puff of smoke at start up hurts nothing and has been around for years. My temp in FL runs just like yours with no issues.

http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_0900213.pdf

 

Thanks for the response ... I guess that makes me feel a bit better

 

No problem, if the smoke bothers you you can install a catch can or have the tsb done. A LOT of people have done the catch can, a google search will show many many results.

 

Thanks for the catch can suggestion, I might have to go do that. Btw, it turns out my thermostat went bad ... temp was going up above the half way mark 10k miles on a brand new Durango and I have had it in 5 times for various service related items. I am starting to get a bit worried that I bought a lemon

 

If it still gets hot I would have a competent independent mechanic check it for a leaking head gasket.... Drove mine around in 90 degree heat all summer and never saw the gauge get as hot as that... Shouldn't be puffing smoke at start up either, which could be coolant leaking... keep an eye on your coolant level and don't trust the dealer...

 

Yeah even after the thermostat change sitting in traffic it goes up to just below the middiel .. but goes right down once I start driving. I can smell coolant on startup in the morning .. I will keep an eye out on it. Thanks for the advice.

 

I wonder if maybe your low speed fan isn't working. That would explain why you don't see a temp drop at idle until it gets above 220 and then doesn't come all the way back down. After it gets hot, park it while it's still running, listen for the low speed fan to kick on after the high speed shuts down. Could also be a blockade somewhere in the cooling system or that second tstat is a dud too.

 

Bring it back it isnt sounding good...sorry
STEVE

 

Like most modern vehicle the anolog temp gauge is just there to make you feel better. It's not accurate at all. The digital gauge is accurate however and 225 degrees is at the top of the normal range for the hemi. They tune it this way to burn off hydrocarbons that get trapped in the semi hemispherical heads for emissions compliance.it is absolutely unnecessary to run this hot. The reason is the hemi fails the " unmaintained HO EPA test". This is where an engine is tested at 100k miles with original plugs, wires air filter etc. Effectively having zero maintenance must pass an emissions test. To help the hemi pass it requires an elevated engine temp and dual spark plugs among other tricks. That's why we have a 30k mile spark plug interval. Anyways I personally feel that 225 is way to hot. Mine 13' ran at this temp consistently in traffic. It would heat soak and feel like it was loosing 25 + hp. I swapped out to a 185 thermostat and it solved all of my issues. Passing smog will not be an issue since the engine will eventually reach the fan on threshhold and I maintain my vehicles. I run 195 in traffic now. Your stock thermostat
Doesn't even start opening until 205. Which is what it's rated at. Odd that your original unit failed but you will continue to see 210-225. In slow/ stopped traffic.