My father recently purchased an 04 2500 CC Hemi and ive been tinkering with it to get the most fuel economy out of her.

But along the way, i noticed that the stock water temp gauge will never really "get up to temp". It will warm up and then stop at about a 60 degree angle, when 90 degres up and down is where most OE gauges sit for normal operating temps.

Now mileage seems great so far as it gets about 14.5 mpg in 90% highway situations. This is after i bought a K&N FIPK intake and BAK tonneau cover for it. I am just curious if i should find out exactly what temp she is running at or be concerned with why its not reading what im used to.

I hope im clear enough in my explanation and i did attempt a search but yielded nothing so far, so any guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Well I have a 180* stat in mine and that's where mine runs all the time. You could check to see if it could be stuck open or if you wanted you can pull the t-stat n see what temp its rated for. But at 180* mine rides right about where you explained.

 

Thanks! I'll have to dig into it to see if the previous owner installed a lower t-stat. Are they easy to remove by chance? I am mechanically apt but my time around the truck can be quite limited.

Thanks again

 

I was also going to suggest checking the t-stat because as Nussdawg395 said, mine also stays at that mark. Changing them is very easy. It takes two bolts removed to change it out.

 

Tstats are easy to remove. It will be located on the engine side of the upper radiator hose. The hose will have probably formed a seal with the intake but you can loosen it with a large wrench. I recommend you replace the tstat, hose and fluid. That should take care of everything and you can be confident that your cooling system is working properly.