80JD440

Ok, so here's my dilemna. I was on I-94 coming home last weekend, the truck had been running perfect for 2 and a half hours. Then I noticed that the temp got up a little past the middle of the temp guage. It will not "overheat" but it will stay hot. I think my overflow line is leaking coolant, but that wouldn't let it get too low would it? I was a tad low, so I filled it up, but it's still running hot. Could I have a bad radiator cap? Bad thermostat? Help!

ITriumph

sounds like a thermostat. What does your exaust look like? Is it white?
Worste case would be a water pump, or a head gasket, but I would check the thermostat first

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80JD440

The exhaust is normal. No funny smells. It doesn't burn anything either. I was thinking it's the thermostat. Thanks.

G-ForceJunkie

It's odd that it would run for two hours and THEN overheat. Start with making sure you have no leaks, then check the thermostat and rad cap.

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BRANDOB

A thermostat can go at anytime so the running for 2 1/2 hours is not odd. As long as your coolant level isnt going down then 99% sure its the thermostat. The head gasket would cause u to burn coolant and also the coolant would prob mix with your oil. The water pump would also cause the coolant level to go down.

IndianRvrShiver

Might also check accesory drive belt......could be slipping on water pump.

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Cleve

We need more information - what kind of truck and motor is it? How many miles? Does it have a belt driven fan, or an electric fan? Does it have any type of secondary electric fan? When was the last time the coolant system was flushed? Are the hoses good? (a bad hose can, before it actually leaks, compress and restrict the flow of coolant) Any other issues with the truck? If so, they could be related and help diagnose the problem.

And it could be a lot of things - bad water pump, fan clutch, fan relays (for electric fans) clogged cooling system, low coolant, bad t-stat, head gasket, spark timing, etc.

80JD440

Well it's a '94 Ranger with the 3.0 v6. 142k miles. The radiator and hoses were just replaced, along with the coolant. The fan is balt driven. I need to put my fan shroud back on, but I don't think that would make a difference, since it ran cool all winter. I'm going to get a thermostat before the weekend is over. I guess we'll see. I don't think the overflow line would cause the coolant to get low, but I don't really know that much about it.

BRANDOB

I would put the fan shroud back on, that will make a big difference when it gets warmer out. The shroud directs the wind into the radiator with out it the fan does vary little. Still replace the thermostat it should only cost u $20-$40 for the part and its not hard to put in.

80JD440

Just replaced the thermostat. Problem solved. Thanks guys.