HI all,

I've been trying to figure out my overhearing issues with my 13 Ecoboost. Doing a lot of research this seems to be a common problem with the Ecoboost. I'm trying to isolate the issue if it's related to the radiator, size of the fans, crappy stock intercooler, etc.

I figured I'd see if the 5.0 guys are having issue with overheating as that would tell me if the radiator & fans are the issue.

This is my typical scenario:
-7,500 lb toy hauler (very un aerodynamic)
-6-8% grade, 8 miles long
-95-100F ambient temperature

Within 2 miles of starting this grade my coolant is at 240F and climbing. My tranny soon follows up to 230F. I typically have to pull over and let the engine cool down.

Tried pulling the grade at 35mph in 2nd gear, truck was only making 5psi of boost and it actually overheated faster! Seems happiest pulling the grade around 45-50. Truck can easily maintain 60-65mph up the grade, power is NOT an issue but that overheats it.

Reading around the various Ecoboost forums, many other people are having similar issues. I've gone thru a lot of the normal stuff, cleaning the radiator, checking that fans are on, etc. I am going to try swapping out the thermostat for this coming season and see if that does anything.

Some guys think the upgraded intercoolers will help but I'm hesitant to drop $1k on something that might work.

Truck has 60k miles on it, Crew cab, short bed, 4x4, 3.55 gears, stock sized tires, factory tow package so it has the upsized radiator & tranny cooler, which I'm told are the same as the Max Tow. 7,200 GVWR, 1400 payload rating. Stock tuning.

My gut tells me the fans & radiator are just too small as both of my previous trucks had mechanical fans and never had these kinds of issues. That's where I'm wanting to see if the 5.0 has similar issues or not.

5.0 guys how are you faring with towing in these kinds of conditions?

Side note: My 02 5.4 pulled the same trailer/hill and at 35mph and never topped 215. 6.0 diesel ran max 220F. With both I never had to pull over. With the EB it's at least twice on the hill. So much for progress!

 

So does nobody tow with their 5.0? Only the Ecoboost?

 

I'm interested to hear too. Havent heard much from the 5.0L guys about this.

 

I tow with a 5.0 everything from 6500lb boat/trailer to my Corvette, zero over heating I drive at highway speeds 70-80 mph. I spec'd a high numerical ratio rear end 3.73 (I think) than the standard 3.44.
2013 Super Crew 5.0 F-150

 

That is a lot to tow up some steep grades.

I have an ecoboost too and usually I have 3500lbs between my utility trailer and what is in my bed pulling up 6-8% for about the same distance and my coolant temp is around 215 and my tranny temps get up to 220-230 but usually hover around 220. This seems to be the case no matter the temperature. I have pulled this same route when it was 70 out and 115 and every time the temps stay about the same. My speed is usually around 60 doing this.

I have noticed if I manually go into 3rd or 4th gear it does cool down better.

Also do you have the aux trans cooler?

 

Just out of curiosity have you checked the coolant strength ? I have an 2013 Ecoboost as well and the manual has changing the coolant at 100,000 miles under normal conditions . Maybe it needs changed ? My travel trailer weighs about 6000lbs loaded and I plan on changing coolant and tranny fluid well before the schedule. 42 k miles on it now.

 

I could be wrong, but I think Max tow has it's own larger trans. cooler and radiator. I don't see how a larger CAC (intercooler) is going to help your issue. I think your gut reaction is right, you just don't have enough cooler area to dissipate the heat being generated.

 

I do not know the differences but here is what tasca parts have available. I thought any truck with any tow package got the radiator with super cooling....whatever that means.




EDIT*****
It looks like there are actually 3 models but only the third (not listed here) were available on the 3.7 and 5.0 non towing package trucks.

The two listed here were the only options for the 6.2 and 3.5 and you only got the non super cooling if you did not get any type of tow package, so if you have a tow package you have the super cooling one from ford.


If you want a better radiator it looks like you will have to go aftermarket but I bet if you switch thermostats you will be good.

When the coolant is already at 195 normally, going up to 220 is pretty normal. If it starts out at 175 or 160 then it has 20-35 more degrees to increase.

 

Last summer, on the hottest weekend of the year, I towed a loaded 7x16 enclosed trailer and had my family in the truck with the A/C on high up and down the hills of Kentucky and never got the truck too hot. It runs like a sewing machine.

When you've got two turbos compressing air into a small engine, obviously it's going to run hotter. It sucks that you're having that issue.

 

AFAIK, the only equipment difference between Tow and Max Tow is that the Max Tow includes the telescoping mirrors and the Ford trailer brake controller. Tasca lists the same single part number for the transmission cooler for the EB35, 5.0, and 6.2, at least for 2013.

 

Truck has the standard tow package so big radiator and aux tranny cooler. I've added the tow mirrors & brake controller so I'm almost a max tow minus the 3.73 gears and higher GVWR.

The thought on the intercooler was cooler inlet air (IAT2) = cooler combustion = less heat to the cooling system. I think the intercooler has more to do with the engine cutting back power when the inlet air temp (IAT2) gets too high. Power is not the problem I'm not pushing it anyway near it's limit. I've never felt it cut power, which is why I'm thinking the intercooler isn't the issue.

I will be doing stat & coolant this spring before the towing season and we'll see if this helps.

Lower temp stat wouldn't help me as just getting to this grade I'm doing climbing thru the foothills with a few short 6% grades to get things warmed up. The coolant temp is usually already at 220-225 when I start the hill.

My house = 220ft
Bottom of the big hill = 1800 ft
Top of the big hill = 4500 ft (2700ft of climbing in 8 miles)
Camping spot = 7500 ft

Once I get past the big hill the terrain gets less steel and the air temp starts dropping which helps. Although I have had it his 240ECT/230TFT climbing to the 7500ft ridge.