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Old Sep 26, 2021 | 03:02 PM
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Towing/overheating

Ok. 2016, 3.5 ecoboost, ive noticed that when getting closer to the weight limit, or trying to run the speed limit with even half the weight limit.... well, it gets cranky, temp goes up, and power reduced to protect engine message comes up....generally, if i slow down, sometimes just 5mph.... temp drops to normal, and all is well..... so, on my powerstroke, one of the biggies, in this type situation, is larger exhaust pipe, better air filter. More air in, easier air out. This feat of modern engineering...... yeah, i dunno. But, the cats are out, needing replaced, so i am teying to figure out if i should just be replacing the entirw exhaust, or not. Frame, 120k, engine, 10k.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2021 | 06:09 PM
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Your cats probably had a lot to do with it.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2021 | 07:30 PM
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I am assuming the cats are a contributing factor, 100%.... the question remains, fix the cats, and be done, or step the entire exhaust up when i fix them.?
 
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Old Sep 26, 2021 | 07:56 PM
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You could go with aftermarket downpipes with high flow cats and a full exhaust. Then you would get significant heat reduction. It would also allow an aftermarket cold air intake to actually do it’s job. Top it of with a larger throttle body and a tune to tie it all together. Then you would have a tow monster.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2021 | 08:49 PM
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Some other folks have had the same problem. Nothing specific as I can recall regarding the problem. Some replaced thermostat, radiators, etc. I'll look for the other threads.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...en-towing.html
 
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Old Sep 27, 2021 | 02:21 PM
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94 pages of reading... https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads.../#post-1186946


Mods if thi sneeds to be deleted since it points to another forum I understand.
 
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Old Sep 27, 2021 | 10:59 PM
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Nope. It’s good.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2021 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by scott91370
94 pages of reading... https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads.../#post-1186946
Mods if thi sneeds to be deleted since it points to another forum I understand.
In those 94 pages, did they find a solution?
 
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Old Sep 28, 2021 | 09:01 AM
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It's only 94 pages, get to reading...

One thing seemed to work for one person and somehting else for others. At one point someone suggested making it a sticky - I countered with making only the solution posts stickied.
I think the biggest thing that worked was a good coolant system flush and replacement t-stat.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2021 | 09:08 AM
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That would be a better idea. Extract the useful solutions to have a compact source for others trying to find a solution.
94 pages isn't helpful because it is information overload and a lot of extraneous info.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2021 | 06:41 PM
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I changed the coolant and thermostat at 50k miles. I nothing is lifetime on these, unless you expect a short life for the truck. 100k miles is stretching to far in my opinion. You will make it there, but there will be more repairs required.
 
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Old Sep 29, 2021 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by JKBrad
I changed the coolant and thermostat at 50k miles. I nothing is lifetime on these, unless you expect a short life for the truck. 100k miles is stretching to far in my opinion. You will make it there, but there will be more repairs required.


I hadnt thought about a coolant flush and replace... mostly because i figured when the new engine went in, theu would have gone back with new fluids.... i suppose i need to check and see how the fluid looks.
i usually try to heavy tow with my 7.3.... but, in the middle ground red riding hood (3.5) gets nominated often, because its got better radio. And tint, so the family is more comfortable, in some ways
 
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