F150 Overheating
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F150 Overheating
F-150 3.5L ecoboosts have an overheating problem when towing. I have the heavy duty tow package and mine is mostly OK on the highway but I do a lot of mountain road 15 - 25 mph towing on fairly steep roads with an 800# 4-wheeler in the bed and 23' travel trailer behind. I wasn't paying attention the first time it happened and the truck actually went into shut-down mode - no power, no acceleration. I sat at idle for a few minutes and the heat went down quite rapidly and the truck then seemed to be fine. The engine temp was at hot and the transmission temp was 244 degrees. Since then I've watched it more closely and have been able to avoid shutdown but it still gets hot. Can't see actual engine temp but transmission temp runs up into the 220's on the highway and even higher on the slow mountain roads. The best solution I have come up with so far is to drop it into 4-wheel low so it doesn't work as hard. The local dealership says Ford is aware of the problem but hasn't really acknowledged it or issued any tech bulletins. Any thoughts on where to go with this?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 725
From: Calgary Canada
That transmission loves to run hot, a lot hotter than people think. So 220 might not be as bad as it seems. That being said, I don't have the post from Mark K handy anywhere to check what he said. And clearly if you ended up in limp mode, something wasn't happy.
Don't think I'd run 4Lo for long, that's not a net gain, as your engine will just end up hotter than it needs to be.
No real help, just a few thoughts.
Don't think I'd run 4Lo for long, that's not a net gain, as your engine will just end up hotter than it needs to be.
No real help, just a few thoughts.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,912
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Running with the AC on?
Do you have an electric fan that comes on when the AC runs?
Not a Ford but I had my 02 Dodge run hot when pulling my open deck car trailer, about 5K lb, when running slow or stuck in traffic.
Yes I had the AC on and the electric fan dose run when the AC is on.
Well it turned out the Motor Control Unit failed and would not run the fan all the time and it was needed more in traffic.
What happens when you turn the heat on to lower the temp?
Yes it sucks but you got to do what you got to do to keep going.
Yes that is what I had to do with my Dodge till I could get it fixed.
Dave ----
Do you have an electric fan that comes on when the AC runs?
Not a Ford but I had my 02 Dodge run hot when pulling my open deck car trailer, about 5K lb, when running slow or stuck in traffic.
Yes I had the AC on and the electric fan dose run when the AC is on.
Well it turned out the Motor Control Unit failed and would not run the fan all the time and it was needed more in traffic.
What happens when you turn the heat on to lower the temp?
Yes it sucks but you got to do what you got to do to keep going.
Yes that is what I had to do with my Dodge till I could get it fixed.
Dave ----
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 373
Check the easy stuff
- See if air filter is clogged (like with a mouse nest)
- See if top radiator hose is hot (to verify thermostat is opening)
- Clean the radiator stack by back washing with a garden hose. Even if it looks clean it may be dusty
- Verify cooling fan is operating
- See if air filter is clogged (like with a mouse nest)
- See if top radiator hose is hot (to verify thermostat is opening)
- Clean the radiator stack by back washing with a garden hose. Even if it looks clean it may be dusty
- Verify cooling fan is operating
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
My guess is not the tranny but the coolant is getting too hot. Electic fans.
What does the coolant gauges do? It should move to the right..
cat scales is what I would recommend.
What does the coolant gauges do? It should move to the right..
cat scales is what I would recommend.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
F-150 3.5L ecoboosts have an overheating problem when towing. I have the heavy duty tow package and mine is mostly OK on the highway but I do a lot of mountain road 15 - 25 mph towing on fairly steep roads with an 800# 4-wheeler in the bed and 23' travel trailer behind. I wasn't paying attention the first time it happened and the truck actually went into shut-down mode - no power, no acceleration. I sat at idle for a few minutes and the heat went down quite rapidly and the truck then seemed to be fine. The engine temp was at hot and the transmission temp was 244 degrees. Since then I've watched it more closely and have been able to avoid shutdown but it still gets hot. Can't see actual engine temp but transmission temp runs up into the 220's on the highway and even higher on the slow mountain roads. The best solution I have come up with so far is to drop it into 4-wheel low so it doesn't work as hard. The local dealership says Ford is aware of the problem but hasn't really acknowledged it or issued any tech bulletins. Any thoughts on where to go with this?
- Cab and bed configuration
- Drive configuration (4x4 or 4x2)
- Axle ratio
- Wheel and tire sizes
- Which tow package (53A or 53C)
- Trim level and major options
What else besides the four wheeler do you carry in/on the truck?
Camper brand and model?
Have you weighed the fully loaded truck (with you in it) and camper?
What are ambient temps when your truck overheats?
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,823
From: Wyoming
I would have no issue with running in 4Lo on dirt mountain roads at those speeds. Recently, my F-350 was in 4Lo for almost three hours pulling my bumper pull toy hauler up some rough mountain roads to 9,000' elevation.
For what you're trying to haul, an F-250 may be a better solution.
For what you're trying to haul, an F-250 may be a better solution.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,739
Likes: 1,497
I'm thinking you're on the heavy end for an F-150.
That having been said, the fact that you can solve the issue by using 4-low says a lot.
When you're towing like this, what are your RPMs?
Have you tried to command your transmission to shift down a gear or two from what it wants to do? This would get the RPMs up a bit and make everything happier.
That having been said, the fact that you can solve the issue by using 4-low says a lot.
When you're towing like this, what are your RPMs?
Have you tried to command your transmission to shift down a gear or two from what it wants to do? This would get the RPMs up a bit and make everything happier.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,823
From: Wyoming
@czufelt hasn't been back to the forum since two days after his original post in this thread.
I overheated the transmission in my '91 Ranger because A) I probably had too much cargo in the bed and was towing more than I should have and more importantly B) the transmission fluid was likely below the bottom line on the dipstick. I was spewing transmission fluid for quite a ways up the mountain. Check the transmission fluid level and get it to the upper end of the range on the dipstick.
Using FORSCan, you can enable the numbers above the gauges. That can give an early warning of what the temperatures are doing.
I overheated the transmission in my '91 Ranger because A) I probably had too much cargo in the bed and was towing more than I should have and more importantly B) the transmission fluid was likely below the bottom line on the dipstick. I was spewing transmission fluid for quite a ways up the mountain. Check the transmission fluid level and get it to the upper end of the range on the dipstick.
Using FORSCan, you can enable the numbers above the gauges. That can give an early warning of what the temperatures are doing.
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