So today was a pretty warm day in western pa, mid 80s pretty humid. Well i watch my temp with the Edge constantly. Most of the time the truck runs 186-188* and stays there (Its a 04, with a 4.6, 105k miles) Well i noticed today on a 20+ mile drive, when i was accellerating or going up hills the temp would go up to as high as 198* then while going 50+ mph it would fluctuate between 190-196*. Then when going down hills and off the gas it could drop to 188-190*. This just seems a little higher than what it normally ran. Then later i drove it home in the evening, with cooler temps, and it would climb to 196* then fluctuate between 186-192* again depending on if i was accellerating up a hill or off the gas coasting. Bottom line it seemed the temp would climb a few degrees while under load and cool a couple degree while coasting. It just seems off of what i noticed that it normally would run. I know that the temps are in the acceptable range but just seems different. Would a t-stat not working right cause this, or a fan clutch. When the engine is hot i spin the fan by hand I feel slight resistance but not much. Any thoughts guys, or anything i can check out by myself? Thanks!

 

Doesn't sound like anything is wrong to me. I have an EDGE and my truck temp usually stays at 196. It fluctuates between 192-196 depending on temp or terrain. I have a 2005 5.4 FWIW.

Sounds pretty normal, sorry I can't help more.

 

It's probably nothing -- maybe you didn't notice it doing that when it was hot before.

But, it's worth checking the coolant level. Also look and see if there might be something blocking air to the radiator. If the water pump has coolant coming out of the weep hole, I think that means a bad water pump.

If it starts to get worse, you might also check for a small head gasket leak

These are all just precautions -- it's REALLY nothing at this stage.

hj

 

I have the 5.4 and the temp stays in 192 if there are enough air flow for cooling .... I mean on the go, no load and not too warm outside. If the truck carries heavy load or pulling trailer, the temp will go up to 196. If air flow is reduced ( stuck in bad traffic), the temp will go up as high as 204. I checked with my trusted mechanic and he said is fine.

The one temp that I worry more is the Transmission temp. It stays in 152 when "normal" but goes up as high as 201 when the traffic is bad.

Anyway, I think you are fine with the temp.

 

Ok thanks guys, it may be nothing. But this morning when i got in my truck to go to work and started my truck the temp on the edge was reading 80-90* as soon as the truck turned on. I thought that was high since its has been sitting for 8.5 hrs in 60-70* temps. And on my way to work this morning the temps are in the mid 60's here and my temp would initially peak at 192* then with my stop and go driving would drop as low as 182* and go up as high as 190* The change and fluctuation just seems weird to me. My idiot guage just goes straight up and down like normal. The coolant level is fine and the level rises slightly when warm than goes down slightly when it cools down. No leaks anywhere. I just found it weird that the coolant was 80-90* from a dead cold.

 

I have been running a 180 deg t-stat in my truck for the last 3-years with no problems wat so ever... Normally it does not touch 190 but towin my 30 ft camper from Jersey to Florida it did go up to as high as 212... but manily ran between 200 210..... nothing for me to really worry. temp in trans went from 160- to as high as 215 but never for a period of time.

Mark

 

Maybe i just need to shut the temp guage on the Edge off and forget about it! lol

 

Gonna try a new thermostat, the original has 105k miles on it anyway, good time to replace it. i know the temp range doesnt sound out of the ordinary but the way its fluctuating just isnt typical of my truck that ive noticed.

 

Put a new thermostat in drove it around a bit and it running warmer than it was before. Normal driving it would run between 200 and 210. Topping out at 212 once. Climbing temps while going. uphill. And the hills are slight inclines less that a half mile long. Temps here are in the low 80's and rain. It just doesn't seem right. Any more thoughts?

 

Also i pulled up on the Edge the Oil temp and the Cylinder head temp. The oil temp just read 0, but i turned it on while driving so i dont know what that means. The cylinder head temp was exactly the same as the coolant temp, is that normal? Im about to take it to the dealership and let them check it out. I wouldnt think that there would be a leaking head gasket where the exhaust would be getting into the coolant cause wouldnt the temp just keep rising no matter what i did? Or make alot of pressure in the system?

 

Drove the truck for about 45 mins tonight, temps were in the high 60's low 70's low humidity. The truck fluctuated between 200 and 214 depending on the load, seems when under load the temps climb, and again the head temp matched the coolant temp. Tranny temps were in the high 150's to low 160's. So i dont know what to think now. I still dont think those temps should be that high. No leaks, new thermostat, good coolant level. Im at a loss. I might just take it to get it looked at. Im just throwing darts but would a water pump do something like this. I really dont want to think about a head gasket. Im about ready to trade off this money pit.

 

Ok, drove it to work this morning. Again, cooler temps, and again engine temp would spike at 212-214 then drop, so i know the thermostate it opening, then while driving the temps would be anywhere from 200 to 212 depending on load. I just find it really weird that the even with these cooler temps at night and the truck sitting all night that when i fire up my truck in the morning the temp guage on my edge is already showing between 80-90* right off the bat. That seems high since you can touch the block and its cold. The truck sat outside in high 50 to low 60 temps overnight for almost 10 hours, i would think that at least the head temp would be low. Cold steal or aluminum would be lower than 85* after sitting for 10+ hours. Im just wondering if maybe one of the sensors is going bad. Because also what i see is as soon as i turn the truck on the temps start rising almost instantly, i counted seconds in my head from the time i started the truck to 20 seconds as i drove, and the coolant temp and head temps rose at 1* a second, so i climbed 20* in 20 seconds, that seems fast to me.

Anyone have any thoughts at all? Any?

 

What temp was the new thermostat? Sounds like the new one is out of range to me. If you have a 195 degree it should stay within -3 to +3 degrees under normal load at those ambient temps. Just my 2cents.

 

OK this is just me thinking out loud here, but could a complete flush be in order? Might the coolant be loosing some of its integrity and thus the reason for the additional 10-15degrees? I wouldn't rule out a sensor failing either.
Seems like you've hit all the other points.

Sorry I'm not of any huge help.

 

The new thermostat was a 195*, it was a Federated thermostat part#265-195. I had the shop here at work put it in yesterday, im a computer guy for an oil company, and we have two certified mechanics here so i had them do it while i was working. I havent had a flush yet, i was thinking of that though. But it does seem weird that the new thermo made the truck run 10-15* warmer, unless the old one was stuck open, allowing it to run a hair cooler but still warmer than usual due to possible needed flush.

How much resistance shoud i feel on the fan when the engine is hot. I feel a slight resistance but really not alot. But even if the fan clutch was bad, i would think that cruising at 65 mph at 1750 RPMs going down the highway in 60* temps like i did last night would keep it cooler than 206*. Any other thoughts?