Temp gauge

Hey guys. As of lately my taco’s temp gauge has been fluctuating. Here is what happens.

i live in south america. It is very hot here. Lately i have noticed that if i come to stop in a lot of traffic or go through a drive through my temp rises. Now my gauge normally is slightly below half. It fluctuates. Never reaches the red zone buy goes up around the three quarter mark. When i start to drive again it goes back to normal.And the are times it works perfectly fine. Why is this happening?

Where do i start. Should i start at the thermostat, radiator, water pump, fan clutch?

I already serviced the clutch. It does not even spin thrice when the engine is hot.

Can someone shine some light on this for me. I am lost.

 

Are you saying the fan never spins?
Or that is doesn’t spin when hot?
I don’t understand what you mean by- “ It does not even spin thrice when the engine is hot”

 

I am saying it spins how it should. Even with a hot engine when it is off it does not spin more than three times. You know a normal test with your hand for the fan clutch. Get it?

 

All sounds normal to me.

Engine temperature should rise in stop-n-go traffic or sitting in a drive-thru during hot weather. Then the engine temp should fall when the truck is moving again.

I'd say check your coolant level or possibly change the coolant as a maintenance item.

 

Make sure your coolant is at the proper level and check and clean your radiator for dirt and mud. The fan clutch usually turns on when you turn the truck off for a 1-2 min and turn it back on. You should be able to hear it spin.

 

Ok guys thats for the fast replies. I will give all the options a go and update back.