I will keep it simple as I have just read about 20 posts on the overheating issue of the 4.7s. So here is what im looking at.

Passenger side of the radiator is quite cool, while the drivers side is hot. The upper radiator hose has barely any pressure in it. And the bottom raidiator hose (does have pressure), when squeezed, I could physically feel myself crushing stuff.... kinda felt like marbles inside, the more your squeeze the more it moves around.

So. Am I looking at the radiator taking a dump, and blocking the flow to the upper? How much of the system can I clean out by removing the bottom hose, because I fear that the pump has ingested some of the radiator material.

 

Ok no response yet, but quick update. Apparently all lower radiator hoses have a coil inside, so that was that sensation. Ran the motor till warm without the upper rad hose on, and I got flow, but it was sporatic.

Air in system, hm?

 

Sounds like it, I'd burp the air out and go from there.

For anyone who has never done it, here's how:

Add a mixture of one-half water and one-half antifreeze to the radiator. Fill it right up to the top.

Fill the overflow/coolant reservoir with the same 50/50 mixture.

Leave the radiator cap off, turn the engine on and let it run until the radiator "burps": You will see the coolant level drop and may see or hear a large air bubble come to the top as the system burps.

Keep an eye on the temperature gauge throughout this process.

Refill the radiator to the top and coolant reservoir as needed.

Note that if the engine runs hot after this procedure there may have been another pocket of air that "burped." Let the engine cool down and then add more coolant to both the radiator and the coolant reservoir. Don't just assume after the first try that you got all the air out...

 

+1 On the air pocket. I had a simular problem with my Hemi and it was just a air pocket.

 

Well I havent been able to touch my truck for a month because my leg has been in a cast. But heres where I am at right now.

I ended up changing the water pump also, just to eliminate that possibility.

Now I have done the "burping" method a few times now, and when I do it, I notice the upper radiator hose isnt as pressurized as I thought it would be (and I mentioned this before, but no direct reply). Thermostat, rad cap, temp sensor, all have already been replaced.

I also tried to bleed from the bleeder valve right before the upper rad hose exits, and I hardly get any air out of there. I dont think I remove it completely, just enough to get bubbles, correct?


And I am STILL getting overheated.

 

First question is how did air get into the system ?
Have you done a compression check and are you burning coolant ?

 

Air got in the system from me initially changing the thermostat / cap. No I have not done a comp test.

 

plugged radiator. lack of pressure in the upper hose says the same thing.

 

Are you loosing coolant at all? Can you get hot air from the cab heater?

 

I literally just had this problem last week, I spent 2 months trying to figure it out. The dealer did a pressure test for me and found the radiator was clogged. I bought a new one from radiator barn for $140, spent an hour and a half changing it out, and now no problems at all.