hey yall i got a question,,, my 08 dodge shows very low temp on the gauge when its cold out UNTIL i drive it down the road about 10 or so miles before it starts to move up much, the picture below shows what it looks like after sitting and running for 20 min when it was 30 outside, thats all the higher it got.. it was putting out some heat but not a lot. NOW when the temp gauge gets to the middle where it always runs the heat in the cab will burn you out,

any ideas why it dont heat up good when idling ??? with my remote start it only runs 20min then shuts off and at this rate the truck is still cold.

PS it only has 28000 on it

thanks

 

'Stat stuck open or not there at all.

 

Yep, that would be my guess. The trend among thermostat manufacturers today is to make "fail safe" thermostats, meaning when they fail, they stay open as opposed to the way they all used to fail shut and cause an over-heat.

You can check your thermostat by removing it and putting it & a kitchen temp probe into a small pot of water on the stove and turn on the heat. See at what temp the thermostat opens. Of course if it's completely failed open, it'll be open when you remove it and you'll know right away.

A properly functioning stock thermostat should remain closed until the water temp reaches about 195*...

 

I have yet to find a fail-open for the Hemi. I know they exist, but no one seems to carry 'em.

 

ok Thanks for the replies NOW if anybody can help me with the brake controller post im about to make that would be great.....

 

It could also be that your fan is clutched and always rotating, so when your sitting idle, it's throwing cold air at an engine with no load. My truck takes alooong time to warm up at idle as well. I can hear the fan whirling loud if i start it and drive off within the first few minutes of starting it.

If it doesn't overheat or it does put out very hot heat in cold temps while driving, i doubt it's your T-stat

 

i was kind of thinking the same thing but not sure if they still used clutched fans.

what you described almost sounds normal. i installed a electric fan in my 81 and even after it sits idling for 10 minutes it is only just hitting 140*F but once i hit a highway the temp gauge just jumps up to 200*F.

 

That's true 'dog. You're probably right. I've been running e-fans on their own temp controller so long I didn't even give that a thought...