Hi guys,

I just check the top radiator hose with the truck warmed up and it’s cold but the temperature gauge is in the middle and the heater blows hot air. I know this is not normal but I can’t figure out where the problem is. If the water pump is not fully working, the truck should overheat, right? What do you guys think about this?

by the way, it has a 2 month old radiator

thanks in advance

ignacio

 

with the 2.3 it's very possible for the top radiator hose to be cool if it's just idling.

There is a lot of cast iron to heat up before the water gets hot enough to open the thermostat.

If the outside air temp is cold enough, below 50f you may never get the thermostat to open while idling.

 

+1 ^^^

The radiator is there for EXTRA heat generated by the engine, in colder climates it may not even be used in the winter, especially on the 2.3l's

The thermostat is there to keep engine at operating temp, that's usually with coolant temp at 185-195degF
So when its cold outside the engine metal radiates alot of the heat also all the coolant hoses running around the engine bay, and with heater in the cab on its like a mini radiator getting rid of any extra heat

Yes, temp gauge would go up if radiator or its hoses were clogged and couldn't relieve any extra heat

 

Thanks for the info guys. So, as long as the truck doesn’t overheat there’s no problem with the top hose being cold (specially the truck was just idling), right?

 

Right

 

Thanks a lot guys!