Stuck in Mexico Again, Help
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2008
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I have the fan locked on my truck cause if I don't she'll try to overheat on me even while idling in my driveway at 20F outside, I have two braces (thin flat steel plates) running from water pump bolts to the blades of the fan, but I used a Dremel to grind the holes through the blades. The chisel thing, that could work, I guess, cause the clutch has aluminum housing, but I'm not sure if tis a good idea to be hammering on the end of the water pump shaft. Also, taking the thermostat off requires taking the fuel filter tower off, kinda labor-intensive but can be done with a bunch of sockets and wrenches.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Never tried it on a 6.9 though.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Southern Oregon USA
I think everybody has removed the thermostat in an emergency and it will run cool (according to the gauge), but it is not sufficiently removing the heat from the engine.
Jason
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Mexico
I have the fan locked on my truck cause if I don't she'll try to overheat on me even while idling in my driveway at 20F outside, I have two braces (thin flat steel plates) running from water pump bolts to the blades of the fan, but I used a Dremel to grind the holes through the blades. The chisel thing, that could work, I guess, cause the clutch has aluminum housing, but I'm not sure if tis a good idea to be hammering on the end of the water pump shaft. Also, taking the thermostat off requires taking the fuel filter tower off, kinda labor-intensive but can be done with a bunch of sockets and wrenches.
I am also not sure if removing the t-stat is the correct thing to do. I would think that it needs to close so the coolant will get a chance to cool down. No offense rupejosh.
I really appreciate all the quick input I am getting. This is a great forum with great members. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Thermostats serve a dualpurpose keeping the motor warm enough to operate and cool enough if he was getting the unburned fuel smoke the engine was obliviously too cool not just the water. It was probably in cool weather because I have seen several motors run hotter without a thermostat than with one.
There is only 2 bolts on the alt 2 bolts on the vacuum pump 2 bolts on the fuel filter housing these need a wrench as backup and 3 bolts that hold the alt and fuel filter bracket and 2 bolts on the thermostat housing so you don't need a lot of tools to change the thermostat. it is fairly easy I changed mine last week but because it was running too cool to burn the fuel properly.
There is only 2 bolts on the alt 2 bolts on the vacuum pump 2 bolts on the fuel filter housing these need a wrench as backup and 3 bolts that hold the alt and fuel filter bracket and 2 bolts on the thermostat housing so you don't need a lot of tools to change the thermostat. it is fairly easy I changed mine last week but because it was running too cool to burn the fuel properly.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Mexico
I thought I was getting the black smoke from running to hot. The temp gauge was at 220.
After 2 Red Bulls, not eating, 12 hours driving on Mexican roads and a ton of stress, I need to close my eyes for a couple of hours.
thanks everyone and I will check up on this in a couple of hours.
After 2 Red Bulls, not eating, 12 hours driving on Mexican roads and a ton of stress, I need to close my eyes for a couple of hours.
thanks everyone and I will check up on this in a couple of hours.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2008
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It warms up just fine. My thermostat is good, so it does what tis supposed to. That, and I got a grille blanket, and good 2/3 of my radiator's front surfaces is blocked off too 
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Ok now I see how it warms up My detroit a couple years ago the fan switch messed up even pulling a load It would not warm up at -20 even with the insulated winterfront zipped completly up.
Last week the thermostat messed up in my 6.9 it would not even heat enough for the heater at idle omly 130 on the highway until I put cardboard in front of the radiator then 150 on the highway.
Last week the thermostat messed up in my 6.9 it would not even heat enough for the heater at idle omly 130 on the highway until I put cardboard in front of the radiator then 150 on the highway.
Lead Driver
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Postmaster
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Our trucks ise 7-blade fans so no two blades are perfectly against each other, but after you turn your fan a few times you will notice that because one of the distance between two of the 7 blades is wider than between the others it is possible to have the braces pretty parallel to each other even tho the blades will be a bit off. One end of the brace goes to a water pump bolt, the other end goes to the fan blade, you'll need to drill holes on the blades for that - I used a dremel tool cause I did it ith the fan still on the engine, it's a bit hard but tis definitely doable. This is a front view by the way, if you could see through the radiator that's what you'll see in my truck - this way the braces work in compression during startup and revvup (not much force then), but in tension upon shutoff (lotsa more force from the fan inertia), use grade-8 bolts and not too thin braces (not sheetmetal, but not 1/4" either) and it works good.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Southern Oregon USA
Caterpillar calls them regulators, which is a good definition of what they do. Allows the engine to warm up to temperature, and allows it to stay cool at a predetermined temperature.
Jason
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: back in SE Iowa
all my buddies run their 4x4 play trucks with no thermostat and they beat the crap out of them and rarely have motor issues.if that was the case they would all be blowing head gaskets right?
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Southern Oregon USA
Jason