Why is my truck knocking loosing power backfiring and over heating

could we extract your trouble codes, either an auto parts store or obtain a scanner of ye very own for less then twenty dollars~

I have a feeling that OLD coolant, started making rice pudding out of your ethylene glycol...a coolant flush from an environmentally friendly garage...New thermostat and measurements at key points on your radiator with a lazer temperature gun may tell you that it is time for a new radiator~

If it runs ok when first started with the engine cold it is probably a coolant/coolant system problem. Remember: Full strength coolant can be had on sale for about fourteen bucks. For less than twenty bucks and about a half hour cleaning you cannot beat it once every two years.