Questions and Answers

Dodge Dakota Oil Pressure, Overheats Q. My 1994 Dodge Dakota is having engine cooling problems. The problem occurs as follows, when I drive in a hilly area, as you know hills are rare in most of florida but we live up on the Georgia border and do have some hills, the oil pressure will drop, engine will start to heat up. If I reduce speed to below 45 mph oil pressure will return to normal and engine will began to cool, but once this has began it will continue intermittently until truck is allowed to set for a while and cool down.

I have a new oil pump and engine cooling fan has been checked and is working normally. Do you have any ideas?

• 1994 Dodge Dakota
• 2.4 liter 4 cylinder
• Manual transmission
• ABS
• 180,000 miles

A. Whenever a vehicle has cooling problems such as this, I first suspect that the cooling system efficiency is reduced due to hard water calcification and corrosion buildup in the radiator. Often the problem can be solved by proper utilization of commercially available cooling system cleaners which circulate through the system and dissolve the buildup. Recommend you purchase one and utilize it per the manufacturer’s directions.

I normally verify this by feeling for hot and cold spots across the surface of the radiator (sometimes I have to unbolt the top mounts and tilt the radiator back, being very careful not to let the radiator make contact with the cooling fan). Additionally, renewal of the thermostat with a high quality aftermarket unit is always a good step in preventative maintenance.