Burned rear bumper

[Bickford]

Hi all,

Has anyone else ever noticed a discolored blue to black Exhaust burn mark on the right rear corner of the stock Chrome Bumper? Kind of looks like a 1970's discolored / blue burned chrome header pipe on a BMW motorcycle. The Blue Burn / Heat Mark measures seven inches across by four inches deep.
While on a New York to Florida fifteen hundred mile trip. Towing a empty twenty five hundred pound Trailer at around seventy five miles per hour. With less than one thousand pound load inside the Truck. I noticed the check Gauges light would flicker on for a few seconds then go off. I stopped and checked all of the Fluids which were fine. Then double checked all of the Idiot Gauges and Lights which were A / OK. I previously had the Speedo / Dash cluster replaced under Warranty >>> The Transmission Temperature Light would flicker on and off at the five hundred mile mark.

The only odd thing that I have noticed is that my electronic engine temperature gauge at times only rises to the one quarter temperature range.( when the Truck is running in eighty five to ninety degree Florida heat). This Truck has had the Fuel Filter changed less than two thousand miles ago. The Engine Oil and Oil Filter has been changed every four thousand miles. Now at eighteen thousand miles the Truck seems to run better all the time.

Any ideas or concerns with the rear Bumper?

Could my AFE drop in Air Filter be causing a lean Fuel to Air Ratio?

2003 Dodge HO CTD 3500 six speed SRW LWB SLT Black four door AFE drop in air filter ARE topper. loud Clutch Disk replaced, leaking rear axle seals replaced, leaking third brake light RTV resealed, Otherwise 100% stock.

Take Care and God Bless, Earl