I have a 2006 F 250 PowerStroke. When pulling a trailer about 6500 #s on a grade, I hear what I think is the cooling fan on the engine engaging and disengaging. It sounds like the clutch on the fan is not staying locked, it will go in and out. The noise is a whining noise, like a siren would make. Once, I make it over a summit, it stops and sounds normal. The outside temps are around 70 to 85 degrees. Any ideas?

 

Completely normal. It makes a heck of a roar, doesn't it? The on/off cycle is controlled by the computer, sometimes for very short intervals.

 

It is noisy. Is there a temp. range, where it stays locked. It does go in and out real quick. It does not sound normal, but I have never owned a powerstroke before. Thanks for your input.

 

smith6856,

First off welcome to FTE lots of good people and info around here.

This is all normal, there is no set place where it stays locked all the time. Engine computer determines when to lock and unlock the fan based on several variables, including but not limited to, engine water and oil temp, air temperature, speed and load on vehicle. This is a very sophisticated fan in these trucks.

All is normal, drive and enjoy.

Hope this helps

 

I if you only use 4x4 occasionally is it good to drive around town with it "on" to run the gears, etc.? Say once a month or whatever?

 

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for the info. You have saved me a trip to the service dept. I will turn up the music the next time to fix the noise.

 

Lonewolftx,

I don't think this is where you meant to post this, but i will answer it.

If you can find a dirt road engage 4wd and drive for a few miles every month or so to get the lube moving etc.

If you can't find a dirt road just lock your front hubs in and leave the transfer case in 2wd and drive around on asphalt, this will get the front drive shaft and axles turning to lube those up. Transfer case always had fluid moving in it so this method will work just fine and not hurt anything.

Hope this helps

 

Can yoyu lock the hubs in thru Shift on the Fly? Or does it have to be manual? Also why on dirt road vs. hwy? I meant to post here as a follow up to the driving 4x4 on the hwy part of the question.

Thanks.

 

Lonewolftx,

Some how you got this posted in the "Cooling Fan" thread not the "Towing in 4x4 thread", but no matter answers forth coming.

Okay with ESOF if you turn the **** on the dash then not only do you lock the hubs, but you also shift the transfer case into 4wd. This is fine on dirt or slick roads. On dry pavement, dirving in 4wd will cause the drivetrain to bind up do to all 4 wheels trying to turn at different speeds at the sametime as there is no differential in transfer case. With the drivetrain binding up something will break to release the pressure if the tires don't slip first.

So if you are on dry pavement and want to lube your front 4wd drive components just get out of the truck and manually turn the automatic hubs to the "lock" position but leave the ESOF switch set to 2WD, this way you prevent the drivetrain from binding because the transfer case is not connected to all for wheels in this position.

The 4wd system in our trucks is the standard system that has been around for years, it is different from the cars that come with Awd (All wheel drive) from the factory. Awd cars have basically a differential in the transfer case to allow for slip in the drivetrain to prevent drivetrain wrap up when driving on dry pavement.

Hope this helps