Ok so here is the details hopefully someone can help me out. I read a few similar post but nothing was really said or determined to help fix the problem. I have a 02 Ram 1500 4x4 4.7L It drives fine and l love the thing to death but this summer it gave me some problems.All of which seem to be very common on this model. Two of the three I have read about on here and was able to fix on my own saving me lots of cash (emissions leak and a/c condenser fan malfunction) thank you forum! The last is my overheating problem which i can not seem to get fixed. Basically I live in texas and the weather has been 90+ for the past 2 months and my truck runs hot, like 3/4 of the entire temp gauge but only on the highway. Idle or in traffic withthe the a/c on blast it runs normal about 1/2 on the gauge. It hasn't got to the point that it overheated completely or the warning bell and light came on but it gets close which cant be too good. What I have done which has helped but not fixed it completely.
1. Replaced thermostat and radiator cap
2. Flushed radiator and filled with top of the line coolant and distilled water.
3. Replace upper and lower radiator hoses
4. Removed thermostat completely and replaced with gasket
5. Purged system of any air

Im guessing my next step is the water pump or fan clutch. Just wonder what would possible be the actual cause to my problem so i dont have to spend money on both or a new radiator. Any imput would help Im on my last nerve with this thing and dont wanna have to get rid of it for another brand. Thanks Matt

 

Oh also one more thing. I have been told that the cause maybe because of reduced air flow to radiator. I have a Billet grille which is common on the 4.7L the slits in it are alot smaller then the standard hunny comb grille. I dont think this would affect it but a mechanic mentioned it. You would think going 60 mph plus would force enough air through. Just a nother bit of info to consider i guess.

 

did you add some water wetter to your coolant? that stuff will help keep temps down
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...&N=700+115

 

ya , im not sure why this 4.7 ltr model does it ,,. i have 180 thermo and e fan and still heats up (only on the highway 70 + as well) . the first couple of times it did it , i started to question the dodge i bought but i guess itsok now .i would think with the mods i have it should nt get a hot as it does , and yes before them , it was guaranteed 3/4 hot temp at those speeds. i have a 98 durango with the 5.2 that cools realgoodat those speeds even with the temp high and pulling 5000 lbs ! lol my brother in law has the 03 durango with the 4.7 and guesswhat , he cannot turn his air conditioner on cause the mother f**ker get close to overheat temp ! so like i said i dont know about this 4.7 model.....i wonder do the updated 4.7 have this problem?

 

i wonder if they are designed to do that?

 

First off, put the thermostat back in. It works as a restrictor and without it, the coolant flows too fast thru the radiator to properly pull the heat out.

Second, replace the radiator. It is partially clogged. I ended up doing an engine swap on a friends 97 RAM last summer because his radiator was partially clogged(even though it didn't look it) and blew the head haskets twice and ended up spinning a rod bearing.
This was a 5.2L, so I swapped in a 5.9L from a wrecked 97. It wanted to get hot at highway speeds too, replaced the radiator and it never has gotten over 200 degrees since.

 

I had the same issue with my 2014 so I did process of elimination of what change is my wife is driving it My holes came off and the radiator feel leaked out so I replaced the radiator fluid with an orange one for American vehicle Long story short I had to take it out and flush the engine and put the purple one which was for RAM specifically and that took care of the issue along with a new thermostat had to switch it to the 180

 

It's a 17 year old thread lmao.

 

What's with the rash of folks resurrecting threads more than a decade old of late?????

 

that sounds like AI infiltration. The words aren't quite right, and it is the very first post (only post) of that "member"