pick up a 85 4x4 22re yesterday, took a while to find a straight axle 22re truck around here in Kentucky. Took her out today on the trail and overheated. it was pretty hot here today about 98 so I thought well maybe the tstat was stuck so i took the neck off and no tstat was found. no coolant in oil, water pump good, coolant level is fine. Let it set for a hour started it up let it idle for 15 20 mins and the temp was fine got back on the trail and she heated back up? does not having a tstat make a truck overheat? Any suggestions woud be help full. thank you much

 

It can, the t-stat regulates the temperature by controlling the coolant flow through the radiator. If you get too much flow through the radiator, the coolant can move fast enough to not have enough time to transfer any heat to the air. Try putting in a proper t-stat:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...tml#Thermostat
and also check inside the radiator to see if the cooling passages are open or plugged.

 

yup, the t-stat can over heat it, also make sure your fan clutch is good and not slipping.

 

yeah I'd check fan clutch especially, on the trail generates a lot of heat, but the slow going and stop and go doesn't give excellent airflow, i've found.

 

i was having the same problem with mine i just jb welded my fan to lock it and put a 13lbs radiator cap and now its fine and i dont have a thermostat in mine or anti-freeze