I bought a boat in may of 2014 after having to get rid of last one from a divorce. The boat/trailer weighs in around 12k lbs. I have not towed anything since march of 2013 when I got rid of last boat and it weighed about the same.

During the time period I was not towing I noticed a leak at the top of my radiator. Honest radiator shop told me to drive it and don't worry about the crack. I have noticed my temps are up in the 204, and other day was at 210.

My tuner defueled. I think this crack is causing higher temps because there is not enough pressure in the radiator.

What say you??

 

So when you're towing, which temperature goes up so high? EOT or ECT? If oil temperature is going up while coolant temp remains lower, I would suspect a plugged oil cooler.

 

Engine operating temp

 

Worry about and repair the crack or replace the radiator. The cooling system is supposed to be pressurized which increases the boiling point of the coolant. Besides the increased potential for a boil over event, you are likely having localized cavitation / mini boil events in the engine causing metal errosion damage without even noticing it.

 

Just ordered the mishimoto for $767 from xdp. Luckily the truck is only used to pull my boat. Hopefully this will solve my problems which I think it should.

Wonder if OEM radiator would have held up since it is a newer made one or still the same problems a few years later. $250 vs $767

 

That Mishimoto radiator should be super nice!

 

I don't think the truck would defuel at only 210--either oil or coolant. My '09 defueled at 225d if the fan cutting in did not control it. The oil has been as high as 240. Are you sure about the temps? What about the spread between oil and coolant?
Joe

 

210 does not seem hot to me at all? My 08 while towing my 24' enclosed car trailer through the hills will be up at 220+ at times. I do hear the fans get very loud for a minute or so when it gets that warm, which will bring it down. This was on a 95+ degree day.

 

210 is a joke. His tuner is set too low.


I have towed cross country in over 100F all the way to Colorado and ran 210-225F coolant all day long.


That is why you have the clutch fan.


Set your tuner to defuel at around 235F.


As hard as I ran mine I saw 230F one time.

 

I think I set it at that temp for my peace of mind. Last boat probably weighed more than current and I never saw temps over 199.

My new radiator will be here next monday so I have waiting a new thermostat and also coolant filtration system for the install.

 

EOT is engine oil temp, not operating. FYI..

 

My apologies. Coolant temp

I hope all this will fix my problems and less to deal with. I only have 67k miles on the truck since june of 2007 and drove it 750 miles last year. I'd sell it but need it to tow my boat

 

Honestly you are doing a lot of damage to a diesel with it sitting like that. You'd be better off having a gasser to use that little. Even then, it needs to be run more. Drive that thing once and a while regardless. At least once, twice a month. Get it good and hot. A good 30-45 minute highway drive type of thing...

 

What exactly is he damaging?

 

Sticking turbos, sticky injectors, fuel degradation, moisture build up in cylinders and fuel. Gaskets drying up and cracking, premature wear in other components from running dry at start up.

Some can happen to a gas too, but the engine will handle it better.

Diesel fuel does not age well, and since the 6.4 is so happy to blow up on bad fuel, well you know...

“fine sediment and gum forms in the diesel brought about by the reaction of diesel components with oxygen from the air. The fine sediment and gum will block fuel filters, leading to fuel starvation and the engine stopping. Frequent filter changes are then required to keep the engine going. The gums and sediments do not burn in the engine very well and can lead to carbon and soot deposits on injectors and other combustion surfaces.”