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Cooling problems at -30F

2K views 15 replies 12 participants last post by  StarDriver 
#1 ·
I've never seen this on my truck, but I've got a 2004 6.0. When driving into work this morning, the temp on the engine almost went up to the red. The check guages light came on and that's how I saw it. It was -30 (Alaska) on the way in. When I slowed down to below about 40 mph, it went back to normal. It repeated this cycling up and back to normal when i got up to highway speeds and slowed down. Anyone seen this before?
 
#4 ·
the only thing i could think of was frozen too... or a clog.
 
#5 ·
Um no experience with 6.0 but experience with big rigs. Were you getting any hot air out of heater?
 
#6 ·
first thing that comes to mind is the thermostat....
 
#8 ·
I've never driven in that cold of temps, but I'd say with the windchill, your coolant wasn't able to get warm :dunno:. Is this a new problem? Maybe your truck would benefit from a radiator blanket (grill cover)
 
#10 ·
Dieslmaster, no, there was no heat coming out of the heater as well. What does that indicate?
Well, cant be 100% certain, but when the same thing happened on my big rig, it wound up being a water pump that went out. Like I said, no exp. with the 6.0, but when it happened in the big truck it was the water pump. That happened a few times, same symptoms you describe and probably close to same temps.
 
#11 ·
i agree with the thermostat, and check rating on the coolent. was that -30 with the wind chill? cuz we have had -30+ last winter with wind chill and my truck ran like a champ. hopefully you figure it out thou......
 
#13 ·
i agree with the thermostat, and check rating on the coolent. was that -30 with the wind chill? cuz we have had -30+ last winter with wind chill and my truck ran like a champ. hopefully you figure it out thou......
What the heck does that have to do with water freezing?
 
#12 ·
I have been on the highway doing 75 MPH when it was -45 Celsius and my truck was fine.

Probably your thermostat is sticking. Although engine overheat and no heat in cab is weird. Usually a thermostat will fail open therefore cold engine cold cab when it's cold outside. Or hot engine hot cab if it sticks closed. Unless coolant for the heater core comes from the rad instead of the engine. But that doesn't make sense.

A mechanic once told me a properly running vehicle does not need a winter front or rad blanket unless you are idling all day long. But on a diesel high idle will cure that. Because no matter the temperature outside the thermostat controls the engine heat.
 
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