also, what temp is "hot"? you mentioned that the truck gets hot sitting in park.

 

Ultra gauge is showing temps over 220 and climbing up as it sits. I have seen it get as high as 230 before i cut the engine. Primary fan is going as well as secondary.


Truck made the drive home - 194 the whole time - it is getting flushed and refilled this week. (I followed the if its been 6 months, how bad could 2 more hours be)
Biggest concern right is is that it doesn't seem to be able to idle without the temp getting up there.

I will update with results of the flush and any other actions i need to take.

 

When your dad added coolant, did he bleed the system properly? Because what you're describing sounds a lot like an air bubble.

 

Glad that you made it home, and here's hoping that you're able to recover full functionality and effective cooling.

Out of curiosity, when you say that the two coolants had been mixed for 6 months, was the truck being driven during that time or was it just sitting?

 

it was driven a little each week - maybe 25 miles?

 

Final resolution

full flush
radiator replaced - leak
throttle body heater bypass - leak
Thermostat replaced - 180 degree
non oat coolant swapped in

truck running under 200 now - heat sucks with the 180 stat

 

If the heat sucks, you may still have air in your system. Coolant flows through the heater coil at all times, and I think I remember reading on here that the heater loop is independent of the thermostat.

 

this^^^.

i have the 180 thermostat in all of my rovers and the heat is great down to the low teens Fahrenheit outside.