Anyone having overheat problems while towing
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Mililani, Hawaii
Anyone having overheat problems while towing
I have been talking with a fellow at work who is in the market for a new diesel. He goes out to the desert a lot to play with his sand toys and has been telling me about a lot of people overheating while pulling their toy boxes, fith wheels, etc. I told him I have not heard of this being a problem with the 6.0 but wanted to find out from those of you who pull fairly heavy loads. I am very interested to hear from those especially in hotter environments. 
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The only time I had a problem with over heating is when towing with an SCT tow program pulling a 6000# TT in Montana. Switched immediately back to the stock program and haven't had a problem since, that was 30K miles and 11 months ago with trips to AK, Canada and points south in the lower 48.
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From: SoCali!!
Hey Danny I think some people are confusing trucks building pressure in the cooling system and blowing coolant everywhere because of EGR coolers and Head Gasket problems with overheating.... I have heard this before and I wonder if this is the case with your coworker. My truck kicked the headgaskets out of it and I never saw it get warm once.
Tim
Tim
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Southern California
Mine over heated twice, but it was not under normal circumstances. The first time I was towing over the Grapevine when it was 105 F but after I got back from my trip I took it back to the dealer and they said it was missing half of its coolant. I had a leak off of a heater tube. The second time was after I had the head gaskets replaced. I was towing a 13.5k trailer up Cajon Summit on the way to Stoddard Wells. The overflow cap popped off and spewed coolant all over the inside of my engine compartment. The Dealer still hasn't been able to figure that one out.
Other than those two times I have not had a problem. I have towed my trailer through Fresno in 115 F heat several times and it didn't even budge. Hopefully that helps.
Other than those two times I have not had a problem. I have towed my trailer through Fresno in 115 F heat several times and it didn't even budge. Hopefully that helps.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Mililani, Hawaii
Hey Tim, I think what he was saying was an actual overheat with indications on the gauges. They would pull off the road with steam coming out. I didn't think this was a big problem with the 6.0's and considering the number of trailers I see heading to the desert every weekend about 80-90 percent of them are 6.0s. I am very interested in hearing from those of you who pull often also. Thanks for the responses so far.
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From: Virginia Beach
I tow 8,500-9,000 lbs quite regularly, shortest trip is 500mi. up and downhill - no performance enhancements on the truck...yet. 
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I towed my 13.5k toy hauler through some big hills and the temp raises but didnt get close to hot. 7% grade for 7 mile and that was just one hill, tons more like it. Truck did outstanding with egt's at 1175-1200 with the pedal to the floor.
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I've towed to the desert several times with no problems (over heating), but have puked coolant a few times. I have noticed that with no tune/tow settings, I didn't puke any coolant this last weekend on a trip to Glamis with my 8000 lbs 5th wheel.
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From: SoCali!!
Ok Danny just a little input about my towing. Before I had any performance stuff on my truck I would tow a 7000 lb. boat in 95 to 115 degree weather, including Chiriaco Summit, and 9900 and 11,000 lb. trailers in all types of weather, and all types of grades, including Cajon and Baker, never built indicated heat, but would blow 1/2 to 1 Gal. of coolant out on hard pulls. After determining we had a headgasket problem I flogged the crap out of the truck with an SCT Excalibrator and an Edge Juice stacked, both towing and light, and would never build indicated heat, but would blow coolant like Old Faithful while towing, and occasionally when just driven hard. Also, my fan is quite noticeable when engaging, while some trucks I have driven/worked on are barely discernible... although I have not personally ever heard of any TSB's for fan/clutch
issues.
have a great day!!
Tim
issues.
have a great day!!
Tim
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Other side of the sunrise
The only time my gauge showed high temps, it turned out to be a faulty gauge cluster. There was a TSB for it and Ford replaced my instrument cluster based on it. The gauges read where they should now since the cluster replacement.
I've never had coolant barfing out when towing or otherwise. Just high temps shown on the gauge when towing. Hope this helps some folks.
I've never had coolant barfing out when towing or otherwise. Just high temps shown on the gauge when towing. Hope this helps some folks.
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Towed 14,000# fiver over 11,000 miles last summer including the Rockies on I-70 and the Grapevine in 90+ temps with stock 05 w/torqueshift - no high temps, no blowing coolant. When fan kicked in temp gauge dropped noticeably.
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From: SoCal
Only time the temp gauge came up was pushing the hill from Bishop the Mammoth with my foot planted on the floor. I was driving it harder than I normallly do just to see what would happen. If you think about it, what does it matter if its 4th gear and 65mph or 3rd and 50. They both get you to the top. Get over the ego issue and move on to having fun on your trip!!