1990 Ram 50: in the HOT desert - which radiator cap?

[ChristopherASA]

Summer approacheth in the Mojave Desert and it will regularly get upwards of 118° ... or higher. Need a radiator cap and Haynes manual says 12psi to 15psi for my vehicle. Which psi rating would be "optimal," considering the temps to come?

Thank you all. And there are only 217 shopping days till Christmas!! :)

Christopher

[royster]

I would think the standard 13 psi should be fine. As long as your overflow bucket is in good shape, it's gonna do what it's gonna do.

[geezer101]

Don't go to high PSI rating caps, especially if your engine is going to experience stress from high temperatures. I'm an ignoramus on the cooling system in the gen 2 trucks, but if it is running a water pump pulley driven clutch fan I'd be upgrading to an electric thermo fan. If your engine is gonna bake, it will do it while sitting in traffic as the fan will only flow air at low speed. Easy to set up, cheap to buy, frees up engine bay room, way more efficient, saves your water pump bearings and will yield an improvement in throttle response.
What's not to like? :thumbup:

[ChristopherASA]

Yes, I think you're right. Thanks!


I would think the standard 13 psi should be fine. As long as your overflow bucket is in good shape, it's gonna do what it's gonna do.

[ragragtimetime]

http://www.rocky-road.com/louver.html

[geezer101]

+1 on that idea. If your engine is getting hammered from heat continuously venting the hood will make a big difference. I'm not a fan of rivetted look of those louvre vents - I preferred the method Merill used to vent his hood. IMO it had a much cleaner look to it.

[claych]

ChristopherASA (http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/member.php/1907-ChristopherASA),
Just curious, Your engine is listed as ' other ' ?? as in not a 4g64 ?
Thx .

[LSR Mike]

Well, I'm going the other way...I used a 15 Lb cap when I was Racing because the higher pressure raises the boiling point. I agree on the electric fan being easier on the water pump, but the Mojave Desert doesn't have a lot of Traffic to get stuck in unless your headed El Mirage dry lake on a Race Day :-)

[geezer101]

lol I know Mike but if it's gonna cook, it'll do it somewhere where you least want it to. I would've steered away from a high pressure cap unless I was confident all my hoses, radiator and even the heater core weren't looking 'iffy'.

[LSR Mike]

Well I get your point, I was making assumptions on maintenance, My radiator was a new fluidyne and what's a heater core :-)