I have a question for all you PSD experts. I have a 2005 4X4 PSD that overheated this summer pulling my 5th wheel (approx 9k lbs) uphill in 90+ degree temps. I drove it around town without the trailer for a few weeks with no overheating problems. As i was planning another trip involving pulling up hill, I brough the truck to the dealer to check. The dealer diagnosed blown headgaskets and replaced them. The next time I pulled uphill (in cooler temps) there was no problem. I recently pulled uphill again at 90+ degrees and while I't did not get into the red, it got very hot (according to the stock temp gauge). There was no loss of power or coolant puking. I took it back to the dealer who found "no trouble". I asked if they had a means of replicating the condition. (pulling uphill) and they said they did not. They basically told me to go pull my own trailer and see if it happened again. I'm sure I'll just overheat again and be right back where I started. My questions are: 1) Do dealers have any way of replicating this condition?? and 2) Has anyone experienced the same and have some advice. Thanks folks

 

First off welcome to FTE

One thing I would ask is when the head gaskets were replaced did they also replace the EGR and oil cooler?
It has been my experiance that most over heating conditions are being caused by one fo the two or both. Howevere there does typically tend to be some puking along with that. Not always tho.

Are you able to find that information out? If so post your findings and well go from there.

 

kinda the same situation for me...the dealer wants me to bring by the truck with my toyhauler attached so the tech can hook up his computer and go for a drive...but I need to take half a day off work to make this happen...

after they did my HG's and installed the ARP studs I had to go back a week later because it was still overheating but not puking anymore that time they did the oil cooler but said the egr cooler was fine...I think my problem has to do with the EGR cooler but that is only from what I have come to the conculsion from what I have read online...I want to delete the EGR, but good ole Cali. is going to be doing smog testing from what I hear next year so not sure what to do now...

do you hear your fan coming on alot when towing and/or running empty on hot days?

 

When pulling long steep grades in hot temps. with a load behind you, drop it down a gear and let the gearing do the work. Sierras have an 8 mile 7% grade that I was pulling in 100 degree temp with 13,000 pounds of 5er behind me. Temp. started climbing and i dropped a gear and slowed to 50 and the temp. gauge dropped to normal in about 10 seconds. You have those gears for a reason. Pulled the remainder of the grade with no problem. In fact I engaged the cruise and sat back and relaxed.

 

CJ hit the nail on the head. Its actually pretty easy to overheat these trucks if you are not sensible or paying attention. There are plenty of "well I just towed 20k uphill at 60 MPH with no worries in 100 degrees". To ALL of those stories I say total BS
The 6.0 will pull a hefty amount of weight uphill, but as I said you have to be sensible. You may end up doing 20 MPH to make it, but you will make it.

 

Your right Heavy but, 20 is stretching it quite a bit. I haven't found a grade or temp yet that she won't hold it at a min. of 40 to 45. And the Sierras have plenty of steep switch backs and do get warm in august.

 

I dont dis-agree with that observation. I use the 20 MPH example because that what I had to do to get my truck and heavy trailer up a very long and steep grade this last summer. The truck would have gone faster, (its not like it was maxed out), but the temps were right at the point where any faster and it would have overheated. However, it also seemed like it would have pulled that grade all day if I needed it to. Ironically, a new 6.4 dually pulled the same trailer and load on the same route and overheated!

 

Same happened to me. Took to shop with 5th wheel (15K) attached, tech hooked up computer, ran the crap out of it all day long, said temps and everything were ok, plenty of power, no puking. So, against his recommendations and after reading all the issues on here, the EGR valve connection "accidently" fell off after I cleaned the valve and I haven't had any overheating problems while towing since (about 3k miles and counting)

Towed last month, fan came on about 7-8 times, temp gage never moved.

 

Just curious. Does anyone know what the actual temp is when the gauge is at the upper line?

 

Thanks for all the info. This is a great forum.
Jason, The head gaskets were replaced at 79k (I currently have 80K) They did not replace the EGR or oil cooler. Unfortunately, I didn't know about the ARP studs at the time.
JLmotox, Yes!! The fan comes on frequently when towing. rarely without trailer.
69cj, You're absolutely right. When it gets hot, I drop a gear or just slow down and I can cool it off. The problem is I never had to do this before

I called the Ford customer care center yesterday to set a fire under the dealer. I think they should at least replace the oil cooler or EGR as a precaution instead of just giving it back to me after a week saying nothings wrong. I wouldn't have brought it in if there was nothing wrong!!

 

Lab2v,

You have gotten some solid info from these guys. I can only speak from my experience and so far I am still leaning toward oil cooler and EGR cooler. My 06 cycled the fan allot before I did the delete and when all apart the oil cooler was restricted quite a bit. This was on an otherwise good running truck. The dealer insisted that everything was OK and I should just take it out and drive it like I stole it and it would clear up on its own.

This is when I took matters in my own hands and got some great input from guys here and locally. I ended up giving up some warranty time (as I didn’t trust the local Ford dealer anyway) and replaced the oil cooler and welded the ERG cooler shut. Installed larger exhaust and now...... My truck runs much cooler I am not putting down dealers as a whole just the one I am limited to deal with.

Once I had my top end apart I could see the damage the EGR system does to our engines with my own two eyes. I could not believe all the soot and grime in the intake because of this system. To give others a fair shake fuel quality and maintenance has something to do with this also.

I would be willing to bet dimes to dollars that with that kind of mileage you need an oil cooler replacement and IF you are willing or able an EGR cooler delete. With proper tuning you will be very happy with the result. My truck smokes less now than before I got rid of the EGR system and runs way better to boot. You will feel like you got a new truck.

Please keep us informed as you move forward with this so we know how it turns out for you.

 

Thanks again Jason. I now have some ammo when speaking to the service advisor. I'll ask about both the EGR and oil cooler. Being in california, I'm hesitant to delete the EGR but I wish I could.

 

Just some random thinking outloud..... Take it or leave it

End result I would be looking for then would be, New oil cooler and if that does the trick..... SCT X-3 tuner and 4" exhaust. This will allow you to add a light HP tune that will stop the EGR function and when its time to get tested you can put her back to stock program and everything should be fine

 

Gotcha.........Thanks again

 

Well, Simi Valley Ford basically told me to pound sand. Service manager was supposed to call me yesterday and this morning and he didn't. I've already referred the matter to the Ford Customer Care Solutions Center. We'll see if they give a f%$#. Anyone got advice on how to get FMC's attention on this. I'm not going to let this go on until it's out of warranty.