Hi everyone.

I own a 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 with approx. 68xxx KM

In the last week I started noticing that the guage would read above normal. I thought it was perhaps an airpocket and I took the vehicle in for an oil change and had them look it over, they said the fluids looked fine. That was on Sept 9 2010

After the oil change the car still ran hot, above normal. On the 9th in the evening I booked the car in for Sept 10 2010 at 8am for a lookover. The techs fealt the issue was with the thermostat. A thermostat was replaced and fluids topped up for $200.

After picking up the car it seemed alright for the first 5-10 km. Then, same thing happened again. Car started to raise in temps at a steady pace then all of a sudden drop super quick, then raise again slowly only to drop quick again. A quick stop at the dealership had them saying it needed to be pressure tested (this coming monday @ a cost of $70).

Any thoughts that are perhaps outside of what the dealer may be thinking or perhaps some thoughts on what could be the issue.

I enclose a video of the problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWEZni7pRI8

Next time you go in, have them verify that it truely is overheating. I'm wondering if its a faulty coolant temp sensor or a bad gauge.

Faulty gauge. Changing the thermostat because it'* over heating is a rip off. If the stat is bad it will run cold, not hot. Running hot comes from bad coolant flow, ie clogged passages or bad water pump.

Checked to see if your fans are turing on , srt 8;* run hot my son has a challenger srt 8. Temps. are normal up to 210 fahrenheit. (98.88 celsius) your car is not that far passed 210F.IF the fans are turning on, remove the thermostat put it in a pot of water with a thermometer and boil the water. The thermostat should open at 195 fahrenheit.(90.55celsius) A tune to turn the fans on sooner may help.

my brother had the exact same issue when he 1st bought his 2006 GP */c
i cant remember how he got it fixed.
ill check with him and let you know

i just checked with him
he took it to GM and they also replaced the tstat and didnt do him any good
he bought a new PCM online (overkill) and ever since then shes stable

Depending on the tune of the car, fans don't come on till about 220* or so. So if the car is parked or sitting in traffic it will run hotter then if it'* moving. But as I said, in 40 years, I have never seen a thermostat cause a over heat. They always stick open and over cool. If there'* air in the system and that air ends up at the thermostat the engine will over heat. But that'* not caused by a bad thermostat.

Dan I'm with you on the possibility of air in the system.He should park with the front end up hill over night then check the rad. level. If the level is ok , then warm it up with the cap off and top off as needed.I have worked on lift trucks ,cars etc for 40yrs. and I've seen more than my share of thermostats stick closed, or not open at the same speed as a new one when check in a pot of hot water.Some times you have to do some cooking to see for your own peace of mind that is working properly.

The plan is Monday pressure test and likely a new rad cap.

Then if the issue continues, car over cliff

LOL

Anyhow, it does have a new stat, I mean what are the odds that 2 in a row would stick? The old one stuck and the new one stuck.. hrmmm Perhaps. Hopefully it isn't catastrophic.

Does it get hotter when you pound on it ?

just found this ...