Gentlemen, 

I have done a few searches and I just want to be sure: That these Cummins engines are the coolest running motors around.  I have driven this truck about 500 miles since owning it and I have learned it takes forever to warm up, and when it does, a red light will knock the gauge back down to lower normal. I think its great, and though the wife wants the heat on full blast in June, once the truck warms up to mid gauge, the heat is HOT HOT HOT!

I already made some homemade winter fronts to fit in the grille with some custom cut black acrylic sheet, so I'm asking- This is normal or no?

AP

yes that seem normal. your temp shouldn't go much above the 200 mark., if it's fluctuating alot then you might do a radiator flush and a T-stat.

change the oil puke bottle, Moparman has a mod here about a way he did his. the back side of the rad might be plugged up with oil.

That's the first I have heard of an oil puke bottle?? Elaborate?

http://articles.mopar1973man.com/2nd-generation-24v-dodge-cummins/26-engine-systems/42-crankcase-vent-mod

Once your engine gets up to temp it shouldnt drop sitting at a light. It takes a lot to get the heat out of the engine

http://articles.mopar1973man.com/2nd-generation-24v-dodge-cummins/26-engine-systems/42-crankcase-vent-mod

Back of rad is clean, first think I looked at before buying- puke bottle is wet but not destroyed. I wonder If I should to a T-stat just to be proactive. The gauge will fall some on a normal temp day, but that day was like 9 above F, normally once its warmed up it stays there. I would say by only 3 drives to work it usually is leveled off as I'm parking. That's a 10 mile commute with 8 being highway.

Thanks

AP

Edited January 14, 201411 yr by AGPTurbo

Oh the crankcase vent...

It should sit right at 190 degrees regardless of temp. If it's fluctuating you likely have a flukey stat. Once warmed up my truck will sit right at 190 whether its 40 degrees or -10. Aftermarket units are a crap shoot at best, you would be money ahead to buy a Cummins stat once and be done with it.

In 10 miles my truck won't reach temp on cold days. Never see 190, when it's cold. And if mine does say on a longer trip and I sit at idle to long it'll drop to 180.

But mine will go to 205-210 warming up.

Thinking about it maybe I need a new t-stat also.

On a day that is well below freezing I'll drop to about 180 fairly quickly, thermostat is a 190, depending on how many flaps of the winter front are closed.

Even when mine was new it was hard to warm up in cold weather. I have sat at lights and watched t drop 20* rather quick in really cold weather. On short trips to work in the morning(10 miles of less)with stop and go driving I would never see 190*. The only way I found to get up to temp was to drive on the highway and eliminate the stop and go. This was without winter fronts and below freezing. It is not uncommon to see this.

Edited January 14, 201411 yr by dripley

Between the cam, turbo, coolant filter, and manifold blankets my truck is really slow to warm up. It can take 8-10 miles of cruising to go from 80 to 190 on a cold day.

Even on a cold winter day I can hold 193-195*F worth of coolant temp and very steady.

I can hold it, and with the winter front stop lights doesn't make as much of a chane as it used to without the front. Without the front it would drop to 180 coasting.

If you lose heat at a stoplight, I would agree with the thermostat. If you want to heat the truck up quicker, you can always get a high idle switch... Hint hint. http://www.dieselautopower.com/product-p/high-idle-switch-98-02-cubby.htm

 

Ed

If you lose heat at a stoplight, I would agree with the thermostat.

Ed

Not always. At an idle if I have the fan switch on high it will col my 2012 WV TDI down real quick sitting still. Even our Cummins have that problem.

Sitting still, yes. At a red light, no.

 

Ed

Sitting still, yes. At a red light, no.

 

Ed

You don't sit still at a red light?

You don't sit still at a red light?

 

Sitting still, yes. At a red light, no.

 

Ed

 

 

Preparation H?

Edited January 15, 201411 yr by hex0rz

I just have never noticed a change in temperature ar a red light. If you let the truck just idle for a while, sure the temp will go down. But, you could also select 6 Cyl high idle for that situation Hint hint...

 

Ed

Not always. At an idle if I have the fan switch on high it will col my 2012 WV TDI down real quick sitting still. Even our Cummins have that problem.

I agree to both 100%. I could loose 5-10 degrees at a light on a really cold day. And I have a new cummins stat.