Really low temp

[1979C20]

My truck normally runs between 180 and 200. I took my truck through the mud pit at the bogs last night, made it 25 feet and got stuck but still had fun. But after then my temp doesnt want to go over 160. I havent driven it today, just last night when it was about 55 out. But before the mud, it was 190. Shut if off, it cooled for an hour, warmed it up in the line at the sand drags, it only went to 160. And 160 and lower all the way home, 9 miles freeway and 2 miles city. Its never ran that low, not even in 33 degree weather.

[txchainsawgogi]

its like in predator, when arnold coats himself in mud so he cant be seen in thermal imaging. ITS EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

[1979C20]

I havent looked where the mud is yet. On the block itself or the radiator or where would it be to make it cooler?

[thirsty]

Maybe there is mud on the clutch fan keeping it engaged.

[bake74]

its like in predator, when Arnold coats himself in mud so he cant be seen in thermal imaging. ITS EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

      That would only make sense if the heating agent is on the outside and you are shielding it with a coat of mud, say like a 120 degree day outside.  But you said it is very cold, so if you think of it people used to put wood or cardboard in front of the radiator in winter on these trucks to keep them warmer not colder.  (a coat of mud would act as insulation and make it hotter if anything)
     I would say go to a car wash and wash very good including the radiator and see what happens, remember this is a closed system (supposedly) and mud should not get inside the system.  If anything I would say your thermostat for some reason got stuck open.

[Grim 82]

its like in predator, when arnold coats himself in mud so he cant be seen in thermal imaging. ITS EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

LMAO

If you knocked a ground wire loose or got some mud in the connector for the temp sensor it's possible that it would give you an incorrect reading.

[Irish_Alley]

its like in predator, when arnold coats himself in mud so he cant be seen in thermal imaging. ITS EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

lol
i think he was joking about that. but the past two post seam to be heading in the right direction. Stuck thermo or bad connection might do it

[1979C20]

Its a manual gauge, so not a bad connection. Ive never had a problem with the temp, could it be coincidental that it acted up the same time I went through the mud? And the tstat is new, bought it in april of last year, during my rebuild.

[Irish_Alley]

Ive seen t stats go in a month or less not saying it your problem but it would think it’s the first thing I would check if it was me. If you had a 160 t stat it would be reading the same as your describing. That’s what points me that way. Never heard of mud causing a fan to not disengage but just to make sure try to move it by hand "with the engine off"

[1979C20]

Okay! Got it figured out. Well, I think. There was such a large amount of mud caked on the bumper, front crossmember, core support etc, that it was acting as an air dam. I knocked it all loose and drove around town hitting big bumps and what not and its running where it should now.

[Lt.Del]

if it appears again, change your thermostadt.  they are cheap and should be replaced regularly anyway. They take all of 15 minutes to change.  It sounded like it was stuck open, not causing the eninge to warm up correctly.

[1979C20]

Thanks for the help guys. Best part about it, when I went to tge sand drags I got matched up with a songle cab long bed 3in lift dodge ram cummins. He was dumpin black smoke and had a bigger turbo than stock. I beat him pretty dang good with a cold engine. Haha. I got the slip from the track in my truck. Ill snap a pic.