Cold truck
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Moore, OK
Cold truck
Well, it's freeeeezing cold here in good 'ol Oklahoma (around 20 deg fahrenheit). Also noticed the temp needle staying around the low side of the gauge. The needle would not get past the C mark of the gauge. Yesterday, the truck ran fine....needle was at N of NORMAL. Sadly, the truck has been like this since new. The heater did put out hot air, and flushed the cooling system a few weeks ago.
Any ideas on what would make the truck run really cold? Thermostat? I figured this could be killing my MPG. Currently getting around 14mpg.
Cheers,
Dan
Any ideas on what would make the truck run really cold? Thermostat? I figured this could be killing my MPG. Currently getting around 14mpg.
Cheers,
Dan
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
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From: New Jersey
Re: Cold truck
Any ideas on what would make the truck run really cold? Thermostat? I figured this could be killing my MPG. Currently getting around 14mpg.
You might not have enough fluid.. some of the temp sensors are mounted in places where a lessor amount of fluid will cause an incorrect meeting.
Does your interior heater work? If not all that well, thermostat is the best place to start.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Moore, OK
The heater works great. Haven't lost any fluid since I changed the antifreeze/hoses. In regards to the fan clutch, the fan seems to be on all the time. Is it suppose to act like an electric fan, soming on at certain temperatures?
Dan
Dan
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
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From: New Jersey
Originally posted by Bimmer ese
The heater works great. Haven't lost any fluid since I changed the antifreeze/hoses. In regards to the fan clutch, the fan seems to be on all the time. Is it suppose to act like an electric fan, soming on at certain temperatures?
Dan
The heater works great. Haven't lost any fluid since I changed the antifreeze/hoses. In regards to the fan clutch, the fan seems to be on all the time. Is it suppose to act like an electric fan, soming on at certain temperatures?
Dan
Hotter, more friction, fan spins closer or at engine RPM, cold, it kinda just spins at some random speed significantly less than the engine RPM. It will always spin since there is some friction at a minimum.
The electric ones have a temp sensor, which is really just a switch. Over a certain temp, the electric fan gets electricity and spins, below that temp, the electricity cuts out and the fan stops.
Glad you're not losing fluid... depending where the leak is it can get nasty. Maybe you have air in the system? If you hvae decent heat, probably not, it usually collects in the heater core.
Trailering
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
has it ever been that cold there before? did you have the same problem? try putting a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. as you're moving too much cold air is moving through the radiator, not allowing the engine to heat all the way up. the cardboard restricts the air flow allowing the engine to heat up. just remeber to remove the cardboard when the spring comes and don't block the entir radiator- maybe just 1/3.
or maybe the gauge/sending unit is having problems.
john
or maybe the gauge/sending unit is having problems.
john
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Moore, OK
Originally posted by johndem
has it ever been that cold there before? did you have the same problem? try putting a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. as you're moving too much cold air is moving through the radiator, not allowing the engine to heat all the way up. the cardboard restricts the air flow allowing the engine to heat up. just remeber to remove the cardboard when the spring comes and don't block the entir radiator- maybe just 1/3.
or maybe the gauge/sending unit is having problems.
john
has it ever been that cold there before? did you have the same problem? try putting a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. as you're moving too much cold air is moving through the radiator, not allowing the engine to heat all the way up. the cardboard restricts the air flow allowing the engine to heat up. just remeber to remove the cardboard when the spring comes and don't block the entir radiator- maybe just 1/3.
or maybe the gauge/sending unit is having problems.
john
Dan
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