Coming back from the lake towing my 5000lb travel trailer and running the AC the coolant temp got to 238*. I did not hear the fan come on. I stopped and the fan turned with little resistance. I think my clutch is bad. What do you think? What should my temps be running? Btw it's was a 90* day. Thanks for the help.​

 

Normal running temperature in a fault free system is 195 to about 210 max.
You can test for Fan clutch operation by using a timing light connected to any cylinder as long at the light will pulse.
Flash at the fan blades for a few minutes after the motor is up to temperature.
At some point the blades will strobe to a visual standstill then go out of sync as the clutch works sensing the temperature change. If not the clutch is faulty.
Use a Scanner to look at the actual system temperature and range.
After you see what is happening then decide what to address.
Maybe its the Thermostat.
Remember the transmission is also adding heat as well as air conditioning Condenser to the coolant..
The system has to be up to spec or you get overheating problems under load.

Good luck.

 

Little high, but not critical in my opinion, considering the factors. What speed were you doing and were you pulling a grade when you noticed ? If you were running down the road at 55 or 60, you had more air going through the radiator than the fan could ever supply. When is the last time you sprayed out the radiator core ? You'd be amazed at the crud that gets lodged in the fins especially at the bottom. Use a pressure nozzle on stream.
When was the last time the system was flushed ? Might look into that and make sure to use Ethylene glycol coolant.

 

The only reason I think it's the clutch is two things. You never hear it engage and when the temps were around 224 the fan turned freely. I am using a scanner to watch ect. Turning off the AC does help tremendously. But it still runs in the 224 range. Thanks again for the help.

 

Yeah, 238 is too high and extended operation operation at that temp will cause damage. Since you're towing you need to be concerned about the transmission temp too.

When I drive with the AC on in 90+ degree temperatures and heat the engine up I can definitely hear the fan when I get of the highway and start accelerating on the side roads. I don't have a real temp gauge, but the dummy gauge never says it is over temp. If your engine is getting that hot and you can't tell if the fan is working then it probably isn't.

Replace your fan clutch and add a transmission cooler.

 

I found a clutch on eBay for $30. Will I need a special tool to remove it?

Also I am going to replace the thermostat too. Question is what temperature stat do I need?

 

You want the 195 degree.

 

AutoZone & Advance Auto loan out the tool to replace the fan clutch.

 

What does the tool do? Is it just a big wrench? Are that reversed thread?

 

I don't know the answers to your questions. Sorry. I've never removed a fan clutch.

Here is a link for the tool.
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...7&showTitle=no

 

The fan tool just helps hold the pulley still while you wrench the fan off. Without the tool there is no good way to hold that pulley while you crack the fan loose. Fan is regular thread (you can double check by looking at the threads on the new one).

 

When I am towing my boat to the lake, I need to go up a 7% grade for about 2 miles. About 1/2 way up, the temp hits 212 & the fan clutch engages (its loud), dropping it to about 108, then it releases. This will happen about 3 times up the hill. If I remember, one day over 100 deg I saw it go to 215.