Radiators and Cooling In Old Kenworths

The older mack's have big radiators. The 93 is a lot bigger than the plastic one in the 99. Coolant on the 99 runs around 195-200, the fan comes on somewhere around 210-215. The 93 has a 170 stat and even on a 90 degree day pulling a long hill the highest the coolant will go is about 200. Same with the oil maybe 210 working it hard

Emissions is why the newer stuff runs hotter

 

Well…. On the Big Cams there are 2 different water pumps that will fit. The difference is the diameter of the belt pulley.

The smaller belt pulley will turn faster, and can at times push the coolant through the radiator fast enough the radiator can’t really do its job.

@jldilley , I’ve driven a lot of Cabovers in the last 35 years. My 1st truck to own was a 1973 K model with a 335 Cummins / 9 speed.

As far as overheating goes…. the only Cabover I had overheating potential with was Mr. Power’s moms truck. It was a big bunk Freightliner Cabover with a very hot Big Cam Cummins!

I took it to Massachusetts on a run while my truck was being serviced. You had to drive it like I drive my W9 today…. with your toe not your whole foot lol. The gauges were a must in that Cabover. Coming west up out of Cumberland was the only time it really tried to get warm on me, but dropping a gear and watching the temp / pyro will keep ya rolling.

The maroon / silver striped aerodyne had a 420 small cam in it. It was a glider originally bought new by Mr. Homer Wetherholt who owned H&W Trucking here locally.
I ran it to Houston and back weekly for a good while, no issues at all.

The white / blue striped 362 Peterbilt Cabover had a 310 Cat so hot it would actually roll flames out both stacks on a hard pull, you really had to drive that truck, no lounging!
Never once had an overheating problem with it.

My W9 had a 5 row radiator when I bought it, and I tried to find another but was told it was replaced with a 4 row. They said the 4 row would handle a 500 horse engine….. seen a few times I’d like to have that 5 row!!

From what you are describing, if everything is in good shape, you should have no problems with it overheating…..

 

Is this your horse…?

 

Well I see no reason you shouldn’t look cool on your stool steer’n & gear’n that horse up and down the asphalt trail….!! Hope ya get it leased on and get to enjoy working it…..

 

With that one I wouldn't worry about it too much. They had a lot better radiators then than in the 80s. I don't know how much difference there is between a K and W9 radiator but my 97 W9 with a decent powered Cat doesn't get hot unless it's real hot and you're getting stupid pulling hills. I was heading east out of ABQ a few weeks ago trying to hold 70 or better up their little hill there and only hit about 215, that was about 79k gross.