I have been having a mild overheating issue for a year or so . The truck gets above normal when driving on the hwy. It does have a coolant leak probably in the radiator. I have to add about a quart of coolant every 3 or 4 months so I know this isnt the issue. The leak is so small I cant get to show or lose pressure with a pressure tester. I am assuming maybe one of the tank seals is seeping.

However, even with the radiator completely full it starts to get hot on the hwy. The only think I can think of is that the fan clutch may not be working properly. The truck is a 96 model with the 7.3 and that part hasnt been changed since I have owned it all the way back to 2002. These parts are a little pricey and I would like to know how to test it instead of just buying one if I dont need to.

Thanks in advance for all of the help!

 

if you are overheating running empty you have bigger problems than a fan clutch.
several people run with out a fan and don't have heating issues.

 

Such as????

 

plugged radiator, worn pump impeller, loose belt tension wrong mix of coolant, severe cavitation of cylinders from lack of SCA, collapsed bottom hose or missing spring


I just changed my radiator and could believe the gunk on the bottom of it

 

I would guess the radiator. I can drive my truck in 95* heat all day with no fan and it will not over heat. Just put my fan back on after more than 3 mo with no heat issues like said above. ( Put my fan on for AC. )

 

Are you going off the dash gauge? I've always been a bit leary of trusting those too much.

Red

 

As mentioned, I would probably verify operating temps with a gauge then to from there. These things are really overbuilt on the cooling side. If you really are having cooling issues running empty then you probably have other issues. Radiator would be my first choice

 

Radiator could be an issue
It is factory from 96. I did put an IR thermometer on it and the top hose was hotter than the bottom hose. I have also run a bypass filter on it for a few years.The gauge could be wrong. However on the hwy it runs at about 70-75% meaning by the "a-l".

 

What part number or core dimensions should I be looking for to get a replacement radiator?

 

Also if I were to run a remote gauge for temperature where would I tap into?

 

Mishimoto has a grate all limiting radiator for a very cheap price.

 

I think what Adam meant to say was Mishimoto has a great aluminum radiator for a cheap price.

Red

 

I hate this stupid phone, auto correct is set for some other language or something.

 

Haha yeah I don't think limiting radiators would be too good. I've gotta say, I think my auto-correct has gotten worse over the years. It seems to want to "correct" things way more often, even if they aren't wrong. It's pretty annoying. Then again, it's nice to have it on for when I don't want to have to be super precise for hitting the keys.

I wish they had a semi-auto correct.

 

I put mine in the 1 right by the thermostat. That 1 runs the gauge the other 1 on the front of the block I guess reads for the computer or something.