Overheating while towing
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Overheating while towing
Last year while towing a new 5th wheel, our '05 F250 SD Crew started running warm as the hills got steeper in TEXAS. In the mountains of New Mexico, it was positively steaming. Climbing long grades in 95º temps the coolant gage kept going up, the fan speed kept going faster and faster.
Pulled into an Allsups parking lot in Española and changed the coolant. This gave a little relief from the high temps, but only a little. Trip home was better as there was more downhill than up.
Read a thread here about coolant filters. Is this where I'm at, in addition to a radiator flush. Heading to the mountains again real soon...
Richard
Pulled into an Allsups parking lot in Española and changed the coolant. This gave a little relief from the high temps, but only a little. Trip home was better as there was more downhill than up.
Read a thread here about coolant filters. Is this where I'm at, in addition to a radiator flush. Heading to the mountains again real soon...
Richard
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
Welcome to FTE. I'll assume you have a tranny cooler on your truck. Do you have a set of guages, or are you relying on the idiot gauge on the dash? Diesel or gas motor?
I'm used to hearing these symptoms on an older diesel truck where cavitation on the blades is causing the water pump to fail.
I'm used to hearing these symptoms on an older diesel truck where cavitation on the blades is causing the water pump to fail.
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Yes, to the tranny cooler. It's a 6.0 Powerstroke diesel. At the time it had 69,000 miles on it, now it's got 86,000. I've only got the idiot gage, but the fan was increasing speed to match the rise, so I spect the heat is really there.
Richard
Richard
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
I wonder if the water pump is included in the 100k warranty? I don't know of any way to test the water pump, or maybe a thermostat acting up except for pulling them out. Maybe someone else has some ideas.
I will say pulling a trailer in 95 deg heat shouldn't cause your motor to overheat. The radiator on your truck is plenty big enough to handle that.
I will say pulling a trailer in 95 deg heat shouldn't cause your motor to overheat. The radiator on your truck is plenty big enough to handle that.
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Did your truck really overheat? Or did it just get HOT?
How high did the coolant temp get, did the rad overheat?
just because the engine fan kicks in and goes faster, well in 95 degree heat it should when it's working like towing a trailer,
Unless you "boiled over" or a warning light came on, I wouldn't worry too much about it, the fan should come on, and the harder the engine is working the faster it will go because the hotter the engine is getting.
How high did the coolant temp get, did the rad overheat?
just because the engine fan kicks in and goes faster, well in 95 degree heat it should when it's working like towing a trailer,
Unless you "boiled over" or a warning light came on, I wouldn't worry too much about it, the fan should come on, and the harder the engine is working the faster it will go because the hotter the engine is getting.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
Check to see if you can see through your radiator. Mine made the gauge move once going up a hill with the 5er in tow and a dirty radiator was the problem. I pulled it out and power washed it. It was amazing the crap that was in there. The cooling systems on these diesels very effective. If your getting hot it is more than likely something more than just coolant IMO.
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I'm gonna check out the radiator today.
Never actually boiled over or pegged the needle, but being a shade-tree aircraft and auto mechanic all these years I'm not about to let it get that far.
If the radiator is clogged after only 69K miles in a non-dusty enviro, I'd have to lean toward poor design, as all my Cummins-drivin' buds are quick to point out...
Never actually boiled over or pegged the needle, but being a shade-tree aircraft and auto mechanic all these years I'm not about to let it get that far.
If the radiator is clogged after only 69K miles in a non-dusty enviro, I'd have to lean toward poor design, as all my Cummins-drivin' buds are quick to point out...
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Coolant is not the best conductor of heat- water is. If I read your post literally, it looks as if you using 100% coolant, and that may be the culprit. Coolant does several good things of course; lubes the water pump, raises the boiling point, inhibits rust. Follow the coolant/Ford's recommendation for mixing (I seem to recall it is 50/50). It's a sealed system, so dust/dirt won't get introduced to it.
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No probs around town and in the flat, only towing in the Foothills/mountains.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Peoria, IL
If you didn't have a check engine light, and your needle didn't go into the danger zone I would not worry about it. The fan on your engine has a clutch and is designed to work harder as the engine gets warmer. Many 6.0L owners have mentioned how loud the fan can get, but it is just doing it's job.
If you are really worried about it, get some add on gauges so you can really see what the coolant or oil temps are doing. The gauges in your dash cluster are barely more than a dummy light.
I have been very impressed with my MSD dashhawk, and it is very easy to install if you don't want to mess with adding analog gauges. Here is a thread with a lot of discussion on the Dashhawk, as well as some pictures.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...e-display.html
If you are really worried about it, get some add on gauges so you can really see what the coolant or oil temps are doing. The gauges in your dash cluster are barely more than a dummy light.
I have been very impressed with my MSD dashhawk, and it is very easy to install if you don't want to mess with adding analog gauges. Here is a thread with a lot of discussion on the Dashhawk, as well as some pictures.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...e-display.html
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Thanks, LagerMeister, I'll check on the gages.
Now, time for "Stump the Dummy":
1) What's it take to get the radiator out of an '05?
2) What're those 2 nasty-looking metal pipes screwed into the bottom? Can I safely disconnect them or will I get a faceful of freon or some-such lethal gas?
Richard
Now, time for "Stump the Dummy":
1) What's it take to get the radiator out of an '05?
2) What're those 2 nasty-looking metal pipes screwed into the bottom? Can I safely disconnect them or will I get a faceful of freon or some-such lethal gas?
Richard
Especially in a diesel