HIGH TEMPS, I can`t win. 48r, and/or egt`s

[smd]

My last couple of trips towing my 12k 5th wheel with `05 3500 48R , both my transmission, and egt`s where HOT. I kept notes on the last trip, thou both trips the temps where around the low 90`s, 4600` to 7300` alt.

I would hit the tow/haul as needed in the hills pulling 4 to 6% grades. When I would use the T/H my rpm`s would go to 2400, 4% grade at 55, 60 mph. Boost 22-27lbs, egt`s up to 1390, transmission would hit 200+.

If I slowed up then the egt`s would heat up, sped up transmission would heat up.

Plus,

my towing MPG dropped from 15. 1 (2 trips ago) to 10. 4 this trip... I`m at a loss, Please sound off. Thank you, Mark



Last trip Reno to Bridgeport/Twinlakes.

Cool blue hose, cool kit PSM, Amsoil nano, and double deep Mag pan, BD X-monitor, no other mods. Thinking about Genos EM kit.

 

[firemanram]

That's odd. I tow a 5th wheel ( about the same weight) and when I hit the steep hills my temps would also rise, but when I let off both of the temps (trans & egt) would drop.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have a hard time visualizing a 5. 9 pulling 12. 5 k through the Sierras getting 15mpg.

I pull a 25" Airstream,much less weight and air resistance and know what it takes to get 15mpg with my combo.



Bob

 

[smd]

From Reno I went to Monterey and I had 15. 7 mpg round trip towing, then last month we went to Lake Almanor, 15. 1 mpg again towing. Hand calculated of course. I took all of the back packs and Troop cook box up to a BoyScout camp near Mt. Jefferson, past Sisters, OR. and had great mpg at 20. 4... round trip.



I changed my black fuel filter this morning so with some luck my mpg should improve. In the past the filter element color was a light gray.



But my main concern are the temps.

 

[RRees]

Is your air filter clean? - EGT issue.



Is your radiator, heat exchanger area free of dead bugs, dust, etc? - transmission temp, engine temp issue.

 

[ToddK]

I feel your pain! I have an '06 5. 9 with the g56. I don't have the transmission heat issue, but the egt's are ridiculous. I was pulling my tt this past weekend,11. 5k gross, but around 9500 this time, up from the west side of the Eisenhower from Dillon and I couldn't even use all the power of the ctd. I could easily hit 1500 if I accelerated moderately. Not sure how hot it would get past there if I continued to accelerate. This is w/out a programmer, and I have a 5" turbo back exhaust. The truck has the power, it just can't be used. Anyone have any other suggestions,opt's?

 

[Cochran]

I have a hard time visualizing a 5. 9 pulling 12. 5 k through the Sierras getting 15mpg.

I pull a 25" Airstream,much less weight and air resistance and know what it takes to get 15mpg with my combo.



Bob

Heck a 25 inch airstream why don't you just throw it in the bed:-laf

 

[Ross]

ToddK:



I am in the same boat as you. I tow a heavy LQ horsetrailer (>20K). I can't use my cruise control because temps fly past 1400 when the cruise pulls in more fuel for a hill. I take off the cruise and slow down to about 50, and then I can top out while keeping temps in check. It stinks!



I do have some power adders, but they're irrelevant, since I can't even use stock power when climbing. It makes me wonder about the thousands of trucks out there running w/o any pyros, but pulling heavy. Why aren't they melting down? Some have said that the newer trucks have increased cooling jets that allow higher temps, but I'm reluctant to find out. I don't want to learn any more lessons from the school of hard knocks. :{



Folks have told me that towing twins are the only real solution, as the bigger singles have problems of their own, and offer only marginal relief in EGTs. Dropping 5K for twins isn't in my future, so I guess I'll just slow down and miss my old 2nd gen...

 

[ToddK]

Ross,

I hear ya! The first trip I took with the ctd and tt we went from Denver to Utah via I-70. I didn't have any mods or gauges. I was hitting the hills with the pedal to the floor! I don't want to think about what the egt's were. I definitely like this truck better than the '02 psd auto I had. But so far, it doesn't tow as good as all the hype that the diesel shops told me. When I say "as good" I mean that the guys I talked to said that I could run 70+mph through the mountains here in Colorado with my 11. 5k tt.



Have you noticed how hot the egt's are empty? I can hit 1400 under a hard acceleration, not lugging it.



Over all I am happy with the truck. I will be very happy if I can get 300k+ mi's out of it without a major repair bill. I am at 64k in 20 months.

 

[Ross]

Yup, even empty EGTs are high. Dodge has this 325 hp motor whistling through a 9cm straw (exhaust housing). That's real nice for instant turbo spool, but sux for towing in the higher rpms. No wonder the temps are red-hot! I guess EPA standards have really forced them to eliminate smoke.



Oh well, I'll just slow down and enjoy the ride...

 

[cerberusiam]

I would hit the tow/haul as needed in the hills pulling 4 to 6% grades. When I would use the T/H my rpm`s would go to 2400, 4% grade at 55, 60 mph. Boost 22-27lbs, egt`s up to 1390, transmission would hit 200+.

Neither EGT's or trans temp are out of line, and, for the load and elevation look pretty good. Nothng in your description I can see should cause any worries.