engine temp questions...

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Apr 17, 2009 | 12:43 AM

jlmotox

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From: Canyon Country

engine temp questions...

Hey,

I just picked up my new toy hauler trailer that has a dry weight of 7,000lbs and on my way home today I noticed that my temps ,mainly water and oil were getting pretty warm...only on hills or acceleration the water was getting up to 220 and I saw my oil up to 225 and the fan was kicking on once the water would hit around 210...is this normal? I wasn't really pushing the truck hard and was running only the economy tune on my banks tuner...during normal driving with no trailer I usually see both temps between 190-205...usually the oil is about 10degs warmer than the water. just thought I would be on the safe side asking this...first time towing anything heavy with the truck and other than the warm temps it handled the load easily!

thanks!

Apr 17, 2009 | 05:23 AM

tex25025

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Joined: Oct 2005

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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

only on hills or acceleration the water was getting up to 220 and I saw my oil up to 225 and the fan was kicking on once the water would hit around 210...is this normal?

What was the ambient temp that day as well? How fast where you going? Fan I don't think should kick on at 210.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

I wasn't really pushing the truck hard and was running only the economy tune on my banks tuner...

Not much of a fan of theirs but I'm off topic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

during normal driving with no trailer I usually see both temps between 190-205...usually the oil is about 10degs warmer than the water.

Depending on ambient temp, speed that you drive and tune that you have loaded in there, that actually sounds about right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

just thought I would be on the safe side asking this...first time towing anything heavy with the truck and other than the warm temps it handled the load easily!

7k really isn't all that heavy.

Apr 17, 2009 | 06:59 AM

69cj

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Joined: Jul 2005

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From: Middle Tn.

Super Duty with a 6.0 probably doesn't even know that 7k is there.

Apr 17, 2009 | 07:37 AM

joe blow

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I notice my fan cycles on @ 206*-208*

Apr 17, 2009 | 07:49 AM

bismic

Fleet Owner

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Engine temperature is not the only parameter that the PCM monitors to determine cooling fan operation. This is the reason that you will see some variation in engine temperature as it correlates to fan operation.

The operation/description of the FSS (Fan Speed Sensor) from the PC/ED manual has a fairly good explanation as to how the system "thinks". This is not your traditional engine hits temp X and the fan clutch locks up. The fan speed sensor is a Hall-Effect sensor integral to the vistronic drive fan (VDF). The powertrain control module (PCM) will monitor the sensor input and control the VDF speed based upon engine coolant temperature (ECT), transmission fluid temperature (TFT) and intake air temperature (IAT) requirements. When an increase in fan speed for vehicle cooling is requested, the PCM will monitor the FSS signal and output the required pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to a fluid port valve within the VDF.

FYI -
The thermostat begins to open at about 190*F to 195*F and is not fully open until about 215*F to 219*F. Engine begins to defuel at 227 deg.

Apr 17, 2009 | 07:57 AM

jlmotox

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Joined: Mar 2007

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From: Canyon Country

ambient temp was in the low 70's and I was driving around 60 mph...

the trailer is a 26' bumper pull...before getting this toy hauler I was just pulling a tiny dirt bike trailer and even loaded down the temps would stay in the normal unloaded range...

what kind of engine temps do you guys see pulling your trailers? and what speeds are you doing climbing hills?

running up hills is it normal to see the water and oil in the 220's? at what point should I get worried and back out of the throttle?

Apr 17, 2009 | 08:43 AM

tex25025

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Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 10,626

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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

ambient temp was in the low 70's and I was driving around 60 mph...

What grade were the hills? You were hitting pretty hot even with 7k back there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

what kind of engine temps do you guys see pulling your trailers? and what speeds are you doing climbing hills?

Hottest day 106, travelling 60 w/ ~16k in horse weight and I was hitting about 210, however there were no hills. Where I travel and hit hills towing, it's cooler so that helps maintain ~same temp, most I've seen is 215 and that was with 3% hills. There are worse, but I don't tow around those, don't have a reason to, no horse shows that I would go thru that area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

running up hills is it normal to see the water and oil in the 220's? at what point should I get worried and back out of the throttle?

I believe it's 225 when water based coolants lose their effective ability to cool. In other words, it takes longer to cool the system down. If your hitting around those temps regularly and there is nothing wrong then I would think about a waterless based coolant.

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Apr 17, 2009 | 10:06 PM

heavyiron

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 410

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From: Las Vegas

This response is straight from my butt because I'm guessing, but to me that's a lot hotter than I ever see even pulling heavy in 110 deg Vegas summers.
I wonder if your "additions" are messing with the PCM, ECM etc?

Apr 18, 2009 | 09:59 AM

#10

joe blow

Logistics Pro

Joined: May 2004

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tex25025,

Call me crazy but isn't 220* coolant temperature WAY TOO HOT for an engine. Water boils @ 212*. In a closed Coolant system w/ proper antifreeze coolant mixture the boiling temperature is raised.....but enough to run 220* without boiling over?

Seems real hot to me.

Apr 18, 2009 | 11:20 AM

#11

dchamberlain

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 8,180

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From: Scio, OR

220* seems hot to me. The default parameters for alerts on my Edge Evolution is 230* on the water and 250* on the oil. However I just pulled a very heavy load, but in cool ambient temps (60-70's), and never saw more than about 210. Running empty, I have trouble even getting it up to the 192 that the thermostat should open at.

I'd have to wonder if you have a stuck thermostat.

Apr 18, 2009 | 11:44 AM

#12

tex25025

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Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 10,626

Likes: 7

From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe blow

225 is what my research has has "said" that you don't want to go above because it's harder for the system to cool as effectively. The hottest that I've seen is about 215, the last time that I saw that was yesterday on the interstate. 76 ambient temp(man I love spring) and doing about 85-90(yes, I know that was stupid and dangerous, you just don't realize how easy it is for my truck to boogy). Coolant temp was actually about even with oil temp at that time.

I also think(and I need to confirm this) is that the coolant that is used for the 6.0 and up is a different type of coolant that enables us to run a little hotter then the regular coolant mixture(I'm sure Bismic knows for sure and hopefully well chime in on that).