Radiator Fan Shroud - 2017 3.6L

[ELMO4635]

My truck is overheating, replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, oil cooler (Dorman), spark plugs and coils. And my mechanic asked about my Fan Shroud...is ther one that fits over the electric fan? I have searched for hours and get conflicting info, even the 2 dealerships gave me 2 different answers. Can someone with a 2017 1500 3.6L show me what you have attached to the radiator. Any other thoughts?

 

[Ken226]

My truck is overheating, replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, oil cooler (Dorman), spark plugs and coils. And my mechanic asked about my Fan Shroud...is ther one that fits over the electric fan? I have searched for hours and get conflicting info, even the 2 dealerships gave me 2 different answers. Can someone with a 2017 1500 3.6L show me what you have attached to the radiator. Any other thoughts?

According to the schematics @ MopartPartsGiant, your electric fan has an integral shroud that is built-in, as part of the electric fan assembly. #15:




I'm assuming your truck is electric fan only? No clutch fan? If I remember right, the Pentastar trucks are electric only.

 

[RamDiver]

.

 

[ELMO4635]

Yes, it has the electric fan. Just doesn’t look like it is close enough to the radiator.

 

[Ken226]

That looks normal

First, define "overheating".

What temps is it reaching and under what conditions?

Examples:

Climbs to 250° when idling at stoplights, but normal at highway speeds?

Hits 240° while cruising down the freeway, but back to normal when putting around town?

Normal for a Pentastar would be 203-210° highway, then cycling up to 225-230° in town and at stoplights.

The pwm electric fan starts to come on at at reduced speed around 220°, then goes to full speed around 230° ish. It's unfortunate, but the manufacturer intentionally runs these things hotter than back in the old days, for mileage and emissions reasons.

 

[pacofortacos]

Most likely a head or headgasket, 3.6 goes pretty quick after the first overheat or if driven low on antifreeze.

 

[ELMO4635]

So,it apppears it was low on antifreeze. Added some to top off the radiator, and it drove fine while I was out on Saturday. Mechanic told me to bring it by on Monday and they would run a pressure test. Is there any way to determine a head gasket leak, without taking it down to the heads? Anything else I should be checking?

It always heats up to 230-235ish when I am stopped in traffic. But I hear the fan and it always goes down into the 220 range. When it was low on antifreeze it stayed in the 230-236 range, even driving.

 

[Ken226]

So,it apppears it was low on antifreeze. Added some to top off the radiator, and it drove fine while I was out on Saturday. Mechanic told me to bring it by on Monday and they would run a pressure test.

Is there any way to determine a head gasket leak,

One way is with the pressure test mentioned above. If it the cooling system won't hold pressure, and there are no outside leaks, the a head gasket is one suspect for the internal leaks.

without taking it down to the heads?

Yes, a block test. The kits are cheap on Amazon, at a Napa or O'Reilly's. But, if your mechanic is doing a pressure test, he should be doing the block test as well.

https://www.autozone.com/p/oemtools-engine-combustion-leak-test-kit-57145/391378?spps.s=4121&cmpid=LIA%3AUS%3AEN%3AAD%3AALO%3AGOO%3ATRS%3ASHO%3AOTE%3AGEN%3ANA%3AALA%3ANA%3ANA%3ANA%3ANA%3ANA%3ANA%3ANA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22356757832&gbraid=0AAAAADkcoVuhbeVE8ZMcjaf9dRz0BF0k7&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkrzPBhCqARIsAJN460l79cg9JBXrn93t40Hj7unQJQggmIKRxjyeLxc69SOa94XwajBB9R0aAtfiEALw_wcB&new_store_set=true

Anything else I should be checking?

Your coolant and engine oil. More often.

It would suck to overheat and, warp the heads and toast the head gaskets, $ thousands in damage by letting the coolant get too low.

 

[Markw]

If it’s overheating when sitting in traffic it’s more than likely either the electric fan, fan clutch or both. You could have a clogged radiator too. A couple of years ago my truck started heating up in traffic and it was a bad electric fan. Replaced it and no more overheating. I have a HEMI and on 100° days it wouldn’t go over 208° in traffic with the AC on. Since then I have replaced the leaking radiator and fan clutch with new antifreeze and sitting in traffic on a 90° day with the AC running it only got to 203°

 

[Raildog262]

My truck is overheating, replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, oil cooler (Dorman), spark plugs and coils. And my mechanic asked about my Fan Shroud...is ther one that fits over the electric fan? I have searched for hours and get conflicting info, even the 2 dealerships gave me 2 different answers. Can someone with a 2017 1500 3.6L show me what you have attached to the radiator. Any other thoughts?

 

[Raildog262]

I had the same issue with my 2019 1500 3.6L Everyone I talked with at multiple dealerships gave me different advice. Radiator replaced, water pump replaced, Thermostat replaced, still at times temp would run 230 which I don’t care what anyone says that’s too hot. Finally saw the info on the automatic shutters in front of the radiator. Who came up with that idea??? I took 8 zip ties tied four of the shutters open and problem solved. Don’t touch the very top one or the very bottom one or it will throw a code