Hello, I am a new member so forgive me if I do something wrong. I have a 2004 4.7L RAM 1500 Quad cab. I live in PA and like most of the country, it has been super cold lately!

One of the first negative-degree nights, my truck started overheating on the way to work. I found the coolant to be slushy/frozen. It was mixed to be good to -7F according to my guage, but that wasn't good enough. Anyway, nothing froze enough to break, but even after getting my mixture corrected, the driver's side foot heat is poor and I feel like the radiator and lower hose isnt heating up properly. Even after a half hour drive, I can remove the radiator cap, there is little pressure and most of the RAD is cool to the touch.

Ive tried bleeding the system on an incline and running at 2k rpm. There is no overheating, no coolant loss, it runs good. The heat is my main concern becasue it has been so cold. Keep in mind that everything started the day the coolant turned slushy so I doubt it is blend doors or a RAD cap etc.

thanks for any help!

 

I would let the truck sit at idle with the heat on full blast at the foot setting.

Driving gets cold air circulation and limits heat and the heater core is in the cab so it's not getting engine heat other than the coolant, but if you think it's frozen.....

I'd keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't overheat. I wouldn't trust the temp gauge.
Lastly, keep the hood closed while your letting it idle. I would idle it for a good 30-45min.

Moved to Tech area for ya.

 

I would do a full flush and fill of the coolant to be safe, but driving around is just going to make the heat colder... sit the truck at idle for awhile.

As long as the truck isn't over heating you will be okay... I live in Norther NJ so I know all about the cold weather lately, and my heat has been acting kinda funny too lately, but it's mainly just b/c of the cold weather. I will prolly flush my system and put in fresh HOAT coolant pretty soon anyways.

 

Thanks dirtydog... It's supposed to warm up this weekend so I'll drain everything and start fresh. The Radiator and thermostat were replaced this summer and everything was flushed then.

Izero, I'll try the idleling the truck first for a while with the hood down and heat on. The coolant should be good now, I just dont understand why the heat is good everywhere except the driver's foot vent.

 

Make sure to use distilled water for the mix----just a reminder

 

I don't know why you would chance it knowing it was only good for -7. The norm would be -40. Hope you didn't ruin anything.

 

I read the gauge wrong at first. I was looking at the Celsius reading. I rechecked when i had issues and realized it was only -7F.....

 

I wish we could all agree to abolish the metric system!! I don't know why it never caught on in America.

 

No prob, but you got us backwards..haha.

Def use distilled water. You can buy a couple gallons at the grocery store.
OR, just overpay and get the 50/50 pre mix from the parts store.

Why abolish?
The USA is one of 3 countries in the world that doesn't use the metric system. Liberia, Myanmar are ther other 2. ALL others use metric. So, we are odd men out.
ALL Major Institute's use the Metric system and are all based upon the Metric review. Again..USA is odd man out.

 

Sorry- i was at work and was writing as i was doing a bunch of other nonsense. Ill keep this updated if i figure anything out.