Topic Sponsor
Towing/ Hauling/ Plowing Discuss all of your towing and/or cargo moving experiences here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Temperature while towing...is this too hot ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-22-2020, 03:23 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
YEGdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 343
Received 73 Likes on 45 Posts
Default Temperature while towing...is this too hot ?

2017 3.5l.eco, max tow with 3.55 gears

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.

Transmission temperature never really budges.

I'm concerned. Thoughts ?

Old 07-22-2020, 03:36 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Meathead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 749
Received 132 Likes on 100 Posts

Default

Try downshifting to bring up the rpms. It will help with temps.
Old 07-22-2020, 03:46 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Gene K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,880
Received 702 Likes on 505 Posts
Default

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.
The following users liked this post:
Kd70qc (07-29-2020)
Old 07-22-2020, 03:47 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
YEGdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 343
Received 73 Likes on 45 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Gene K
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?
Old 07-22-2020, 04:00 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Gene K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,880
Received 702 Likes on 505 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by YEGdude
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?
Just give it a try and see where it's happiest.

If you still feel it's not cooling properly check the inlet and outlet tanks of the Radiator with an IR Gun to make sure it doesn't have an issue.
Old 07-23-2020, 09:00 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Meathead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 749
Received 132 Likes on 100 Posts

Default

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.
The following users liked this post:
Kd70qc (07-29-2020)
Old 07-23-2020, 09:39 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
jrminiquad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

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.
The following users liked this post:
Kd70qc (07-29-2020)
Old 07-23-2020, 10:06 AM
  #8  
dmd
Senior Member
 
dmd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: N. Texas
Posts: 832
Received 301 Likes on 213 Posts
Default

Make sure to run premium when towing too, that also helps.

The following users liked this post:
Meathead (07-28-2020)
Old 07-23-2020, 05:16 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
mass-hole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,977
Received 920 Likes on 695 Posts

Default

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; 07-23-2020 at 05:18 PM.
Old 07-23-2020, 06:15 PM
  #10  
Senior Member

 
Flamingtaco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 9,078
Received 3,166 Likes on 2,195 Posts
Default

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?


Quick Reply: Temperature while towing...is this too hot ?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:38 AM.