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I just bought a 2008 F-250 6.4L and know very little about diesels in general and I plan on towing my 5th wheel. So my Gas F-250 I had ran pretty cool for the most part even while towing. My concern is my 6.4L may be running hot with no load at all. The needle on the gage is straight up, 90 degrees. So is that the normal running temp on this or should I take it in. Worried that once I introduce a load it will get toot hot.
Mine sits just left of center. That is 194F for me. It is normal the guages are really just idiot guages. Just broad numbers so to speak.
Don't worry about it. Even towing you should have no problem. When the motor needs it the clutch fan will engage. Usually around 220F that will happen.
clutch fan engagement will sound like an airplane.
Even with heavy towing up long grades and my left foot down like Fred Flintsone 230F is the most I have ever pushed engine temp wise.
Straight up center for me and its at 194 degrees using a Scangauge II. Don't worry to much, the rads on these things are pretty big and efficient. Just got back from pulling my 5er and never reached 205 degrees even on long pulls and ambient temp was about 65 degrees.
The above replies are correct, nothing to worry about. Your temp gauge will read the exact same whether you're at 195° or 220°; the only way to notice the difference is when your cooling fan comes on or if you monitor the actual temp with another gauge.
It's a glorified idiot light.
Straight up = NORMAL
A bit to the right = GETTING HOT
All the way to the right = Something's WRONG.