just curious on your thoughts, having issues with getting hot on long grades. was thinking if I converted to an external oil cooler not in the radiator then I wouldn't have the added tax on the coolant therefore keeping coolant temp down. id imagine the long pull is getting my oil hot, therefore having extra heat in the coolant. thoughts?

 

you can add a cooler no problem

 

I did this on my HD bought the Lingenfelter adapter and ran AN fittings and hose to the biggest earls stacked cooler I could find and fit and mounted it above the power steering cooler. I have a gauge hooked up to it and it stays within 180-220 even when pushing it. Also I bypassed the oil warmer in the radiator since I'm in Florida anyway.

 

You can add an external cooler no problem, but im not sure how much that will help you from keeping the engine from overheating.

 

I was going to use the factory lines and use some AN adapters and go to a external cooler. Way i figure it if that heat is transfering into the coolant then its heating it. I do pull alot in the winter so that is a concern for getting too cold but i can get a grille cover like the diesels use to block some air flow.

 

What oil do you use? How often do you change the oil?
Have you tried running a cooler thermostat?

 

5w30 mobil 1. Stock is 187. And i dont really think it will help in this situation. Because it is over working the cooling system, at 230 degrees both thermostats would be open. Only advantage would be the lower initial temp so maybe it would take a minute longer to get hot

 

I still think your problem lies elsewhere, is anything blocking the grille? What speed are you going when its overheating? Are your fans working properly?

Also, if the oil is cooler than the coolant, then removing the oil circuit from the rad will actually make your overheating problem worse.

 

nothing blocking, 45-50 mph, 3500-4500 rpm. fans are working. i do agree it is something else, i think its the radiator, from what ive gathered from a few friends is that all of there silverados get hot going over the same hill. i just dont like it, one guy says he rides his at 250ish all the way up the hill

 

What coolant are you using?