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Mine never overheated until it finally blew enough coolant out that the motor GOT HOT. First time I heard my fan come on it took 3 gallons of coolant to fill the bottle. It also took numerous degas bottle caps and 10k miles worth of trips to the stealership before they diagnosed it as a bad head. Had blown coolant since new. Only thing that had been done was to replace the egr cooler tube that leaks when cold weather sets in. I now have a new left head and the newly designed head gaskets and NO MORE WHITE SPOTS. My "gauge" runs just a needle width under halfway--it NEVER moved til the fan came on and then it went immediatly to the red.
You should NOT be experiencing overheating with the loads you are pulling. If anything, the heavier the load is, the lower your top speed will be up inclines, but the truck should not overheat. Are your trucks stock? If not, what do you have done to them?
LB
Only things motor wise that I have done to this new truck are - Predator in tow-safe mode, downpipe, and exhaust.
Temperature Gauge Reads Hot, 05 F-Series:
Some trucks built before 12-10-04 may have a temp gauge reading at the top of the green normal band or into the red hot band, with normal coolant temperatures. If no overheat condition is present, the instrument cluster should be replaced. If there is a code in the engine computer for ECT over 240 degrees, or if coolant is being expelled from the degas bottle, do not replace the cluster. Diagnose the overheat condition.
TSB 05-1-2
I have a friend who pulls a 5th wheel with his 2005 F350 and he had the exact same thing happen, so the dealer replaced his instrument cluster. I haven't seen him yet to ask if that fixed it.
I'm curious what 'reads' means because it does more than just show hot, it kicks the electric fan on as well (which freaked me out the first time it kicked on... I thought I'd broke something for sure...nope just the bug grinder in the fan )
Mine is an '03 and I tow 20,000 with it and have never seen the temp gauge even move, it always run about halfway up.
Me too. Towing the trailer up the passes the gauge never passes half way. That's with my foot in it hollerin to Scottie to give'r all she's got. Dillithium crystals glowing red hot. (May Scottie rest in peace.)
I don't think I've ever heard the fan kick on. -Steve
If i put my foot in it which kicks it out of overdrive and the boost jumps it won't get hot its at that point when you are climbing but not hard enough to drop out of overdrive that it gets hot.
blueovaltech,
My 05 is bone stock. She will climb in temp, on grades pulling approx 7000 lbs, to just below the hot line. The fan comes on then and she will drop back down where the needle normally sits. This will occur repetitively throughout the grade. I assumed it was normal as it never actually rises above the climax hot line.
Am I correct or is this something I need to get checked out at the dealer?
I would definately take it to the dealer have them check it out. That way you'll have something in writing to support possible future related problems.
I have an 05 PSD FX4 also and I'm getting ready to buy a 5th wheel. I will also be traveling up the Cajon pass, I hope I don't have heating problems - I paid a lot of hard earned $$$ for this truck!
the strange thing is, that it never makes it above the operating temp range, however does go way up within the range when towing. I would think it would do this by design but??? I'll call the dealership and post what they say.
Just called dealership. I will be bringing the truck in to see if there is a problem. I guess pretty good fluctuation is normal but mine may be too much. Could be a sticky thermostadt. Wont know until I get her in there to get checked out.
No hurricanos where I am thank goodness. My truck is box stock except for a 3 " lift and bigger rubber. The water in the boat weighs 320 LBS, the motors weigh 1350 LBS, the gas weighs 2100 lbs, the darn boat is 8500 lbs and the trailer is 1500 pounds. All in all quite a load. I haven't had any coolant boil out, so maybe it is a gauge problem, but it will heat up around 65 or 70 and cool down if I back off. I show over 20 lbs of boost, so I know it's making a lot of HP, and that makes a lot of heat.
Okay guys, I never made it to the Ford Dealer to have this looked at but did go on a trip to one of the local lakes for mass quantities of beer and a sun burn.
While driving to and from, I noticed the temperature going way up, like I described earlier, up to just below the hot line (red). I am planning a trip again here soon, so I called my buddy at the Service Department to try and schedule an appointment before going on my trip. He advised me of a Technical Service Bulletin he received since my last visit, which describes to a nat's rear end this problem. He said that it is a faulty instrument cluster remedy. The tech service bulletin is #TSB050102.
With mine, the temperature gauge goes up to just below hot, does not barf any coolant, and the reservoir stays full.
Thought you all would like to know. Sure am glad to hear that I aint overheating and damaging the engine.
Last edited by olfordsnstone; Jul 25, 2005 at 10:27 AM.
Bricot: I find it strange that your temps. increase if you don't kick it out of overdrive. The temps never change on my 6sp., summer, winter, empty or hauling my 30ft 5th wheel or 24 ft car hauler. I've hauled up 7 mile grades, in the heat.cold, rain, snow, you name it the temps never change. There is a 9% hill about 1/2 mile long near home that I hit the bottom at 75,mph and crest at about 65 mph, in 6th gear, just to see the looks on the minivan drivers faces as I pass them. It is the same with both trailers. Don't know if this helps or confuses the issue even more.