Engine overheating?

When at idle truck does excellent. When driving hard like on the interstate, or pulling a small empty utility trailer. That is when it runs about 225 degrees. I have new radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses, and fan clutch. All Mopar parts. Could exhaust be the issue? Fuel mileage is real poor twelve mpg.

This overheating began almost a year ago. The local Dodge dealer had the same diagnosis. I had the head gasket job performed and after $3,000.00 the problem is still there. I have an appointment on Wednesday to have the exhaust check for blockage in either the catalytic converter or the exhaust. Great truck 97,000 miles not a flaw in the interior or exterior, drives great and rides really great, not for all this I would not even try to find out. Thanks for your consideration, thoughts and comments. If I find out anything definite I will post it.

My truck has been at the shop for two days. My mechanic says he tested the back pressure from the front O2 sensor port and the pressure was almost 0.5 psi at 2500 rpm's. I have had a head gasket replaced and heads resurfaced on both heads and tested for cracks. We are to get together after the holidays and connect my truck to his laptop and pull a small trailer with a somewhat heavy load and check the temperature of the transmission in the process of towing a heavy load. I will let you know what the outcome is in a couple of weeks.
It is a nice truck, everything works fine, looks great, drives great, and rides like a charm. Just need to get this thing of overheating resolved. Thanks for your input and patience. I will be in touch.

I have a 2004 Dakota with the 4.7 engine --the engine runs very hot after 20 minutes of driving -blows out coolant from the reserve overfill hose-- coolant remains in the resevoir and nearly all the other coolant in the system is lost. When things cool down, I add coolant to the system-upto a gallon. It works fine for 15-20 minutes of driving and it blows out again and the engine gets very hot again. I replaced the following: 195 degree thermostat( three times as I thought it was defective each time), the water pump-( after removing the old one-I saw NOTHING visable to point to a defective pump-NO bearing play, or leakage, NO broken or worn impeller blades). New radiator hoses were installed and even a new coolant cap. The lower radiator hose is always luke warm and the upper hose when the engine runs hot is always so hot -U can't keep your hands on it. I even tried running the engine without a thermostat and the engine still gets hot and blows the coolant out. I back flushed the radiator--it did NOT appear that there was an obstruction-the water flowed out consistantly. Can U help me?

So I have an issue with overheating. Now we have had it at 2 diffeent mechanics, one being the dealer and the other being a regular mechanic. They can't find anything wrong with the vehicle. It only overheats while driving on the highway at above 60 miles an hour or if you punch it to merge onto the highway. City traffic it does fine. I'm all out of options, the mechanic at the dealer orginally changed the thermometer, for 3 weeks it was fine. The next mechanic looked through the radiator, can't see anything wrong with it. His only suggestion was to replace the radiator and hope that fixes the problem. Any suggestions?

In December of 2007 I had my dealer perform the 90,000 mile maintenance on my 2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup, ever since then I have had intermittent overheating. Most of the time I only drive short trips of about 10 to 20 miles but even on those short trips the truck has overheated about a dozen times. Most of the overheating occurs after about 15 miles and then I run into slower traffic when I have to slow or stop and then accelerate. I have had it into the dealer twice and they have never been able to get it to overheat. The last time it overheated was when I was takingt it about ten miles to have the dealer check it again after it had overheated the day before. I was about 4 miles from home in about 50 to 60 mph traffic when it first overheated (temp gauge in the danger zone and warning light comes on to "check gauges". The traffic was slowing and then speeding up, once I got to where I could keep a constant speed the check gauges light went off and the temp went down to normal. When I got off of the highway and had to slow down at lights or for traffic the check gauge came back on when the temp got to the danger zone again. Once I was able to get a constant speed (about 40 mph) the check gauge went off again and the temp when down. When I got to the dealers and parked the temp went back up and the check gauges came back on again. I had to turn of the engine and when the mechanic tried to get it to overheat it would do it. There is some coolant overspray on the right hand side of the radiator and hoses that indicate it has really overheated and that it is not just a gauge or lights issue. The mechanic has found that the left side of the radiator seems to stay cool while the right side gets hot, but he has never seen the engine overheat. The engine never overheated before the 90,000 mile service. As part of the service they some how cleaned the fuel injectors and also did a back flush of the radiator. Also, when it has overheated and I stop the truck it smells like it has overheated. Please help this is driving me, and the mechanics, crazy.

Rick Johnson

I think I am having the same exact problem as you. My Durango is at 70k miles and is overheating when I'm driving slow in town. It seems to be just fine when I'm driving on the highway over 55mph but when I get back into town it heats up. I have found the temporary fix involves opening the bleed and taking the cap off the hose and topping off the coolant and then letting the engine idle for about 30 minutes to clear out the air bubbles. I have done this twice and it kept the vehicle from overheating for a week. I just can't figure out where the air in the coolant is coming from. I've been told it might be a cracked head gasket but the engine runs great and doesn't overheat for a week at a time. I will let you know if I get it figured out. The only maintenance that was done on my Durango before it started overheating was replacing the spark plugs. Was that done when you had your durango serviced?

2003 dodge dakota 4.7L v8 4wd gets hot driving highway speeds but tends to be fine in town

My engine overheats about once ever other month or so. If I forget to check the level and it goes down I notice my heater will blow cool air and my engine will overheat.

My radiator fluid will deplete and overheating occurs. However, I cannot seem to figure out why it is being depleted. Often it seems like it is blown out the overflow. However, lately it seems like it is not circulating as the radiator hose from the radiator to the engine is completely empty; yet the coolant reservoir is full. Once I fill the hose it will not overheat for a long while.

There is no coolant in my oil.
The thermostat is brand new.
The Filler neck cap is new.
The Water pump is new.
Coolant system has been recently flushed.

I’m having issues with overheating, my vehicle maintains a constant while driving. But as I go the coolant boils over and out the over flow. It first happened while highway driving after having the A/C on, I lost a bunch of fluid before I realized what was happening. I stopped driving with the A/C on to no avail. So I let it cool down and put in a jug of 50/50 and got myself home. The following day I topped off the coolant and proceeded to drive for approximately 9 hours. The boiling over only occurred for the last 20-25 mile. Now It seems to be intermittent it boils up whenever it feels like it. So question, is it the thermostat: water pump: fans: head gasket: ext. Please help. My truck is the only way I am able to get to my daughter 4 hours away.

My truck is overheating and I can fiqure it out. Is there anyway of knowing if is the thermosatat without taking the thermostat out. Ity was envolved in an accident and threw the serpintine belt. Can you offer any suggestionn on what to do or how to don it. How would I know if the radiator was n't working correctly.