Thermostat Stuck Open?
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Thermostat Stuck Open?
I've been keeping track of this problem for a while lately, and I *think* this is the culprit. My stock temp gauge (dashboard) doesn't move. For a while, I had assumed the gauge or sensor was broken, but lately, its started to move again, and mostly towards hot. This had me thinking that my thermostat has been stuck open for a while, and it somehow closed and now won't open again. I don't have an aftermarket gauge set (yet) so I can't measure temperature accurately, but I wanted to make sure my reasoning sounded plausible.
I've also noticed I've never replaced my thermostat before, in the 7 years I've owned the truck, so that also has me leaning towards thermostat.
I've also noticed I've never replaced my thermostat before, in the 7 years I've owned the truck, so that also has me leaning towards thermostat.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
I'm guessing you never replaced or charged the coolant either (assuming it's not ELC). If not, you may want to....
Might I suggest you get an IR gun? They are not expensive, and knowing the temperatures of everything from coolant, to brakes, to exhaust manifolds at idle is extremely helpful with a 15-year-old diesel truck.
- Order a thermostat housing and a thermostat.
- Download Gooch's coolant flush directions.
- Sweep the supermarket shelf of distilled water and buy 4 gallons of quality antifreeze.
- Perform the coolant flush and install a new thermostat.
Might I suggest you get an IR gun? They are not expensive, and knowing the temperatures of everything from coolant, to brakes, to exhaust manifolds at idle is extremely helpful with a 15-year-old diesel truck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,458
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From: Sedalia, CO
Mark
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
At idle, it only really warms up during the "jet" phase. This is when the idle revs up and the Exhaust Back Pressure Valve closes to make a jet sound out the exhaust. If you are at low idle, the engine never really gets all that warm. This doesn't mean you don't have an open thermostat on your truck, it just means don't expect a fire breathing dragon to leap out of your heater until you're on the road.
Saying that - I know from experience that a "full heat" reading on the temperature gauge is maybe just enough to get past the 140-degree mark on the Engine Oil Temperature.
Saying that - I know from experience that a "full heat" reading on the temperature gauge is maybe just enough to get past the 140-degree mark on the Engine Oil Temperature.
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