I dunno if this was the cause, but I had noticed a little more smoke than usual lately, so I checked the air filter. It has only been about 10k on this filter, but it was filthy. I'm wondering if this restriction maybe was raising engine temps a bit, because today with the clean filter the car didn't get over 80, and made less smoke. Who knows. I'm not going to tear anything apart or mess with it unless I start seeing abnormally high temps.

Gilly, do you have any idea what might make these cars reach slightly higher temps as they get older, as Rick posted above?

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2004 Ram 2500 Cummins HO
2000 Jetta TDI
1999 E300 (sold)