I just completed a 900 mile round trip towing my 5th wheel camper (I think it is about 14k lbs). Traveled from Mass to Carlisle, PA via Rt 84 to Rt 81, very hilly and heavy truck route.

Truck towed like a bear, however I did see what I think are elevated oil temps. The truck runs about 9 degrees different unloaded around town. When towing the spread is 13 - 15 degrees typical, I saw an occasional 15 - 20 degrees different.

Worst was twice after pulling a loooooong grade 5th gear, torque converter not locked (I think that is what happens when RPM changes but gear doesn't????) 2800 RPM or so at 60 miles an hour. When coasting down the other side I saw a 30 degree difference as the water cooled MUCH quicker than the oil. Oil got back down in a couple minutes....

Am I OK? Do I need an oil cooler? Loved the Scangauge II for monitoring these things.

Thanks!!!!

 

What was your highest oil temp reading?

 

This sounds to me like your truck is okay for now. The oil temp is a little high, but your pulling a lot of trailer, and a key point to me is that the oil temp drops fast once the hard pull is over. That means you are still getting oil and coolant flow, and heat transfer is taking place as it should.

One thing I would question is when the oil was 30° higher than coolant. That is a rather wide swing in my experience. So I wonder what the actual temps were? Is your coolant thermostat in proper range? I don't normally see 30° swings in either oil or coolant temps. The T-stats are prone to weak springs in this engine, and then they open too early.

 

Oil temps got into the 230s briefly, as did water temps. The big delta was when the water was coming back down quicker than the oil (coasting downhill). When working hard the deltas were 15 to 16 degrees.

Typical (unloaded) is 8 to 9 degrees delta in the high 180s

 

I think that's fine. Your oil cooler is not april fresh and new, but it is still doing its job.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have read that the delta between the two temps, should NEVER be greater than 15 degrees, that is why I am concerned.

 

Moved to the 6.0L Power Stroke Diesel forum.

 

Nothing more than 15 degrees on flat level ground. Your delta coming down grade means absolutely nothing at all except that the coolers are working as designed. Your cruising temps appear to be fine.

 

Thanks, I feel better about it now!

Sorry I posted this in the wrong forum!