Over heating only when towing

montanacw · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:29 AM

About 2 months ago I noticed my truck would take a long time to reach normal operating temp, then one day the check eng light came on, I pulled the code and it said collant temp out of range, so my first thought was a stuck open thermostat, however after a few more days of driving it never did it again.

This last wekend I took some horses over to eastern Oregon, up over Mt Hood, my temp guage pinned itself on HOT and a message came up that it was over heating, I slowed down and it cooled off fast. Then going down the other side the temp went all the way to cold, now I am sure I have a stuck open thermostat.

On Monday I take my truck to the dealer and tell them all of this and remind them it only does it when I have a load, so they "check it out" and of course, it's running to specs. Even though you can clearly see all the coolant that sprayed allover the hood, DUH the dang thing overheated.

So I take the truck home and pull the thermostats out, not too hard just time consuming, and sure enough one of the thermostats was broken inside the housing.

Techs these days scare me, if the computer they hook your truck up to can't tell them what to do, they are dumbfounded.

Just picked up two new thermostats, $24.00 and new gasket going to put it all back together tonight. I love working on my expensive new truck thats under warr.

senix · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 11:59 AM

I would take some pics and submit a claim directly with ford along with the service order from the dealer.

Yes it is piss poor, computers only get you in the area of concern. After that you need to engage the brain.

CampD · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 03:51 PM

Whatt?? Huaa?? engage the BRAIN!! you must be kidding
JK

Greyman · #4 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 08:10 PM

The tech's nowadays should be required to work on a rig with no computer for the first year in the shop. No diagnostics, no code reader, just hands on, with the oldest fart they can find helping them.

Greg B · #5 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 08:31 PM

Make that the grumpiest old fart they can find. You know, someone with Coach Bob Knight's pleasant demeanor. (chucle-chuckle)

sbaset · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 09:06 PM

Looking forward to your final towing test, to confirm everything is OK now.

Hdfunone · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 10:35 AM

Have the same thing happen to me.....took it to the frist dealer and put a new radaitor in it. Left for the the race in Dover, De. and it did it again..took it to the dealer in Dover and he also said everything show fine and put new radaitor caps on.....coming home it still give me over heating lights but it wasn't over heating...took it to another dealer and he put in new termos. Problem solved...will carry extra from now on.. good luck

montanacw · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 11:06 AM

I finished the install last night of the new thermostats, not that bad, sure looks hard becasue of all you have to remove. I hooked up my trailer and am headed back home to Montana with a load of horses, I will fill you all in on how it goes. So far though it runs great, it gets up to normal operating temp in just a few blocks now and stays right at 198, where befroe itt would ride at 208 to 220.

Happy Fourth!!!!!

senix · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 11:45 AM

hope it works out well for you.

Don't know if this is a trend or not, but as far as I know only two people have had broken thermostats.

Hdfunone · #10 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 12:33 PM

For all you 6.4 people..if you hear a funny noise from the right front, stop and open your hood. If you have a problem there will be white anti-freeze all under your hood. Good luck...Hdfunone

maytag03 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:44 PM

I did not have a broken thermostat but had something like gasket material that held it open. During towing the truck would run hot but empty it would not ever get to normal operating tempture. It running cold all the time stopped my regens which in time plugged my DPF so bad it had to be replaced. Over the past month Ford has replaced the intercooler,both thermostats,the air filter housing,one turbo housing and the DPF. Thank God I am under warranty at 16900 miles.

montanacw · #12 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 05:29 PM

Just came back from a 2,5090 mile or so trip to my home in Montana with the LQ trailer and 5 horses NO OVERHEATING infact the temp guage never moved and no more blow off from the degas bottle under the hood. I have a feeling those thermostats where bad from the get go.

senix · #13 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 06:19 PM

great end result! Just a shame that most techs have forgotten the basics and just wanna hook it to a computer so they know what to do.

waverunner800 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 06:23 PM

Glad everything worked out for ya montanacw...too bad you had to do the work yourself though. I'm not too impressed witht he delaers service on these trucks. See my post on "Jerk at Takeoff." I still think something is wrong, but these city dealers only seem to know how to work on cars and light trucks...

jonesy302 · #15 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 05:39 PM

i have seen dozens of broken thermostats, some extended some make a hammering noise, when bouncing off the front cover. My sources say there is a new part being developed to fix this problem as well and rad issues. Most of these bad stats are seen in f450 with 4.88 gears