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See attached photo. Was towing a 7500lb trailer. I would notice my temp would be steady on flats but would start to increase up moderate hills to about 114-115 celsius ( 237-242 faranheit) but then cool right down as grade got easier.
I also noticed the actual temperature readout wouldn't display until I hit about 109-110 celsius and then disappear as it cooled down.
Try a lower gear when towing up those hills and those temps will likely drop. The turbos are producing heat faster than the coolant is removing it. You need to get the water pump speed up if you don't want to reduce boost and speed in that gear. Farther the lower gear will often make the required power with lower boost and fuel consumption
The truck will go into reduced power mode if the temps actually get to high. You are just getting into the.caution zone where the temp comes on to warn you the engine will derate if you continue to gain temp.
Try a lower gear when towing up those hills and those temps will likely drop. The turbos are producing heat faster than the coolant is removing it. You need to get the water pump speed up if you don't want to reduce boost and speed in that gear. Farther the lower gear will often make the required power with lower boost and fuel consumption
The truck will go into reduced power mode if the temps actually get to high. You are just getting into the.caution zone where the temp comes on to warn you the engine will derate if you continue to gain temp.
Hmmm ok good to know. I just assumed the tow mode would be smart enough to do that lol.
Next time I'll drop gear down. What do you guys suggests ? 7/6?
I usually lock out 9 and 10 when towing a heavy trailer. I also downshift before the hill, I think the transmission waits too long to do it automatically.
I have the same truck. We pull a toy hauler which is about 8,000 LBS. loaded. Never noticed it the the first year I had it, but ever since then I do have temps raise when climbing hills. Display pops up at 225 degrees F, and comes down once you level out or start to descend. Highest it ever hit was 242 F. Truth be told, it happens mainly when traveling on Interstate 77 through the mountains of WV, NC and VA, so to be expected.
The last trip this Summer I locked out 9th and 10th gear and it was a little better, and I got almost a gallon better on fuel mileage. I have driven from NE Ohio to the Carolina's quite a few times, as well as Florida. Truck runs like a champ.
This is pretty normal for my 2014 with max-tow once temps get hot outside. I would say anything over 85°F and I have to start watching my coolant temps pretty closely.
My truck has been in the 240's many times. I even had it go into limp mode once of twice when I first started towing and didn't realize how sensitive it was to ambient temps. No amount of downshifting saves it, I usually just have to let out of the throttle and slow down.
Altitude is a large factor as well. Higher elevations mean the turbos are making more heat to get the air in the engine, and at the same time you have less cooling mass flowing through the radiator. Its a double whammy.
Last edited by mass-hole; Jul 23, 2020 at 05:18 PM.
Climbing a grade at something above 65mph, with a load both significantly heavier and larger than your truck. Are you trolling, or just don't know engines use a lot more gas and generate a lot more heat to get weight like that up a hill?
Temperature while towing...is this too hot ?
