Radiator performance? Life expectancy?
Just thought I'd put this out to you guys, since you are all so smart!! :B Truck in sig, getting old. 393,500 K on the odometer. (244,509 miles) I noticed while towing 8000 pounds of trailer in ...
Forum Discussion
The times I have had cooling issues with an older truck it was the fan clutch twice and the thermostat once. I did replace the radiator due to a leak but it wasn't causing a heating issue.
On my daily driver car with a plastic aluminum radiator the plastic developed a crack. I was able to keep up with the water leak for a few weeks while I looked for a replacement radiator. One day while driving to work the temp gauge pinned hot. The radiator still had plenty of water. The thermostat had stopped opening.
So I would check the operation of your fan clutch. It may be coming on but not strong enough under load. And make sure the thermostat is opening or not clogged.
There is a product be RedLine called "Called Wetter Water" I used it in my truck and it kept the temp 20 degrees lower while pulling my 5th wheel up a grade that we travel often. It works as advertised.
On my daily driver car with a plastic aluminum radiator the plastic developed a crack. I was able to keep up with the water leak for a few weeks while I looked for a replacement radiator. One day while driving to work the temp gauge pinned hot. The radiator still had plenty of water. The thermostat had stopped opening.
So I would check the operation of your fan clutch. It may be coming on but not strong enough under load. And make sure the thermostat is opening or not clogged.
There is a product be RedLine called "Called Wetter Water" I used it in my truck and it kept the temp 20 degrees lower while pulling my 5th wheel up a grade that we travel often. It works as advertised.
