Coolant temps got me concerned
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
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From: Circle City
Coolant temps got me concerned
Today I noticed a 30+ degree variable while truckin through the hills. Yes it was 95-100 degrees out, and pushin' 65 up some hills completely empty however I saw 230* and was strictly stock tuned!
It was real easy to see my autometer coolant temp gauge go up a good 30* or better. Hot enough to hear the engine fan to kick in. I just don't get it?
I even lifted the hood once out of the hills in the parking lot to see any puking issues or coolant level changed in the degas bottle, nope. It just got hot or I have never noticed that type of temp change before. The egt's were nominal, usually from 1000 to 1200 peak as I pressed up a grade but I thought for sure that the coolant system would be rock stable and large enough to compensate for the power demand and outside air temps. since I wasn't towing or "pushing" my rig (at least this is my thinking) I noticed once cresting the long grades/hills that the temp would peak close to 225-230 then go back down fairly quickly to 200*+ .
P.S. My autometer gauge shows a nominal cruising temp/ normal temp of 200* and I didn't expect it to budge.
Is this normal? no wonder the coolant in the egr flash boils, sheesh!
It was real easy to see my autometer coolant temp gauge go up a good 30* or better. Hot enough to hear the engine fan to kick in. I just don't get it?
I even lifted the hood once out of the hills in the parking lot to see any puking issues or coolant level changed in the degas bottle, nope. It just got hot or I have never noticed that type of temp change before. The egt's were nominal, usually from 1000 to 1200 peak as I pressed up a grade but I thought for sure that the coolant system would be rock stable and large enough to compensate for the power demand and outside air temps. since I wasn't towing or "pushing" my rig (at least this is my thinking) I noticed once cresting the long grades/hills that the temp would peak close to 225-230 then go back down fairly quickly to 200*+ .
P.S. My autometer gauge shows a nominal cruising temp/ normal temp of 200* and I didn't expect it to budge.
Is this normal? no wonder the coolant in the egr flash boils, sheesh!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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I have seen mine hit 220 while towing about 3-4k in 110 degree temps. My normal empty cruising temp here in the Vegas heat is 200-207. My fan will kick in hard when I get to 215-218 but then it cools down within 30 seconds.
Although, yours sounds a little high it wouldn't bother me too much since it goes down quickly. If it is getting hot on the flats or down hills then worry. Also if it's not cooling down when the fan is kicking on. How big are the hills?
One thing to look at is maybe your thermostat isn't working correctly?
Although, yours sounds a little high it wouldn't bother me too much since it goes down quickly. If it is getting hot on the flats or down hills then worry. Also if it's not cooling down when the fan is kicking on. How big are the hills?
One thing to look at is maybe your thermostat isn't working correctly?
Last edited by Mwachel; Aug 24, 2008 at 10:18 PM. Reason: grammar
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Circle City
The thing is that I'm unladen / empty.
BTW, Trans temp wasn't out of order either running at 180*-185* So it was workin' but not pushin' it IMHO.
(I usually see about 160* around town)
the "hills" I speak of are average long grades where speeds of 65 aren't uncommon.
Also the nominal temp of 200* is what I always see flat ground most of the time ( I think it's factory set a tad high) . I just never thought I'd see such a swing in temp.
BTW, Trans temp wasn't out of order either running at 180*-185* So it was workin' but not pushin' it IMHO.
(I usually see about 160* around town)
the "hills" I speak of are average long grades where speeds of 65 aren't uncommon.
Also the nominal temp of 200* is what I always see flat ground most of the time ( I think it's factory set a tad high) . I just never thought I'd see such a swing in temp.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 466
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From my experience with my 2005 Excursion 6.0 and my 2005 F250 6.0 I agree that it's a little high. At least is was only peaking at those temps and not holding there.
Do you have any warranty left on your truck? Might be worth taking it in to have it looked at. Or at least asking Ford what they consider normal temps.
Do you have any warranty left on your truck? Might be worth taking it in to have it looked at. Or at least asking Ford what they consider normal temps.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I have been thru triple digit heat, doing 70 with moderate hills and I might see 10-15 degrees difference(mainly 10 though).
Something somewhere isn't working just right. I would have added checking your gauges, but since you said you heard the fan kick on then it's something more to do with the truck in some way for sure.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Henderson, NV
30 degree swing in my experiance is not normal for a stock tuned truck or hell even running a hybrid race tune with my truck would get me to a 20 degree swing doing 90 mpg though.
I have been thru triple digit heat, doing 70 with moderate hills and I might see 10-15 degrees difference(mainly 10 though).
Something somewhere isn't working just right. I would have added checking your gauges, but since you said you heard the fan kick on then it's something more to do with the truck in some way for sure.
I have been thru triple digit heat, doing 70 with moderate hills and I might see 10-15 degrees difference(mainly 10 though).
Something somewhere isn't working just right. I would have added checking your gauges, but since you said you heard the fan kick on then it's something more to do with the truck in some way for sure.
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i've made some pulls with our 11K# toy hauler and seen 236* on my scan gauge which reads from the OBD2 port...fan kicks in around 226* and screams by 232*...this is with stock tuning, high ambient temps(110+), the A/C on full blast, and a headwind...held like this for about 20 mins once until I started downhill...
temps never got higher as the truck started to pull out fuel...
temps never got higher as the truck started to pull out fuel...
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 393
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From: Bountiful, Utah
Mine did the same thing
My truck used to get really hot, my temp almost hit the red zone pulling heavy loads over steep climbs. I changed my Turbo Up-Pipe with the EGR blocker plate, no more heating problems ever. Now my Fan hardly comes on. I pull a 10K boat with A/C @ 70 MPH and needle never moves, My max EGT's are 1200 and I get 11 MPG up from 9 MPG. The EGR is a built in engine destroyer and robs Fuel.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
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From: Circle City
thanks that's what I wanted to hear.
No, really.
it seems we have no choice but to mod the egr cooler.
What I am realizing is that with the stock tune I "reconnected" the egr valve unawares.
And if you are at 226* when the fan starts it's business than my gauge is about 4-5 * off.
I was reading 230 when I could barely hear it starting to cycle.
As I was babying it close to the peak of the hills as it was hot, I did notice a slight defuel or thought I felt it starting to take my go pedal from my control.
I just never experienced that before and most likely it's because I never used the stock tune. I had just re installed it because of overdrive shifting issues running the Hybrid Race in the mountains so we stopped at a mountain town and I erased the pcm and installed oem forgetting all about the egr valve.
doh!
I just hope my cooler is uncracked and still in tact
No, really.
it seems we have no choice but to mod the egr cooler.
What I am realizing is that with the stock tune I "reconnected" the egr valve unawares.
And if you are at 226* when the fan starts it's business than my gauge is about 4-5 * off.
I was reading 230 when I could barely hear it starting to cycle.
As I was babying it close to the peak of the hills as it was hot, I did notice a slight defuel or thought I felt it starting to take my go pedal from my control.
I just never experienced that before and most likely it's because I never used the stock tune. I had just re installed it because of overdrive shifting issues running the Hybrid Race in the mountains so we stopped at a mountain town and I erased the pcm and installed oem forgetting all about the egr valve.
doh!I just hope my cooler is uncracked and still in tact
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
I wonder if your EGR is stuck a bit open, jammed open. My Bully Dog monitor registers highest temps and i currently show 228 F as the highest coolant temp and that is pulling 10,000 in 110 temps this summer. I am stock.
I see you are SCT Xcal'd. Sounds like you were working things hard and got hot before. maybe you cracked the cooler.... (not trying to fear monger here but as you describe the temps it seems possible)
I see you are SCT Xcal'd. Sounds like you were working things hard and got hot before. maybe you cracked the cooler.... (not trying to fear monger here but as you describe the temps it seems possible)
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
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From: Circle City
Crawled under the truck and found black soot permeating from the right bank of the exhaust manifold.
This black carbon was squeezed out where the head and manifold meet. It's noticeable on all 4 ports, especially evident on the exhaust ports closer to the front where there is more need for this pressure to escape.
It's obvious the exhaust can't get out fast enough with that stupid egr scoop in the up-pipe. This is restricting the flow to the turbo big time.
It's no wonder why I had an high temp situation.
A Word to the
; ...drive your truck with moderation until you eliminate the egr scoop in the up pipe, or else.
This black carbon was squeezed out where the head and manifold meet. It's noticeable on all 4 ports, especially evident on the exhaust ports closer to the front where there is more need for this pressure to escape.
It's obvious the exhaust can't get out fast enough with that stupid egr scoop in the up-pipe. This is restricting the flow to the turbo big time.
It's no wonder why I had an high temp situation.
A Word to the
; ...drive your truck with moderation until you eliminate the egr scoop in the up pipe, or else.