How to keep the engine cool uphill while towing?

[evldsl]

What can I add to my 4. 5 3500 to keep the engine cool while towing uphill? I don't want to fry my cylinders.

I was thinking a water spray system?

 

[brianv31]

How hot does it get? Are you fueling with more than the Juice?

 

[berman2000]

couple things...

spearco makes a intercooler. my friend has one on his 06'; has noticed a reduction of about 200 degrees lower. he pulls daily. he also uses i believe it is the bd boots for intercooler, uses turbo wrap, and has been really happy. he runs the bully dog triple dog.

 

[Edgemann55]

Smarty Jr lowered my EGT's from 150-200 degrees.

 

[BigEasy]

The easiest and cheapest way is to make sure you're in a gear that you can accelerate. If you're using 100% of what you have, and the engine is lugging and slowing down, you're going to have heat.

 

[Grizzly]

Turn your AC off and any other electrical accessories off. Turn your heat temperature all the way up to circulate extra coolant. Don't try to take the hill too fast, but keep your RPM's up at a comfort zone.

 

[SSalzer]

Water/methanol, cold air intake/filter & exhaust, intercooler..... all quick bolt on items that should help bring down your EGT's

 

[DMcGalliard]

hello bellyscraper,
I added a switch to turn the fan on, it causes the fan to come on full and it cools down quick as well as exhaust temp. Only leave it on for a minute or less depending on the load and cycle it if it is a long hill. The ac will cause the fan to come on too, but not full.

Dave Mc

 

[fox]

Do you have a pyro? It needs to be reading cylinders 5-6, they run the hottest.

What trans are you using? If it is an auto, you want it locked up so the converter isn't adding heat to the coolant. what gear is it pulling in when it gets hot?

 

[MPerez]

I am not sure why you'd be overheating, my 06 with Smarty REVO software on level 5 with timing at 4, stock torque management and stock rail pressure has no heating issues - neither EGT or H2O. That's when towing 39 foot toy haulers at 90-107 degrees air temperature. I rarely need to shift down, though if I do have to shift to maintain speed I have to watch that I don't overtemp the EGT's as I can on level five. When I forget to change the Smarty to Level 5 from 1 (running empty) I actually see higher EGT's when hauling the heavy stuff over hills. I've yet to see the H2O temperature go over about 210 and the full cooling fan almost never engages. I haul RV's daily, and do watch the gauges a lot.

If you're having problems with a stock truck I'd say to ensure that your radiator, intercooler, condensor and transmission cooler are clean - I debug my condenser at least once a week using a comb made for that purpose and wash the whole engine at least once a month to clean dirt/oil spills (since it doesn't YET leak) so the dirt can't act as an insulator (plus I can see any problems before they get bad). I've also been known to wash the rad/cond/oil cooler from the back to try to get them to breath better.

Of course if your truck is modded, none of this may apply, the mod choices themselves may be leading to the high temperatures...

 

[MountainMan1]

Try a product called Water Wetter by Red Line - Red Line Oil: Coolants and Others. It'll reduce the water temp by about 8-11 degrees F. I use 2 bottles in my 05. It does work.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Take the lead out of your right foot!!! Seriously make sure your rpms are high enough by down shifting to lower gear.

Backing off the go peddle will help too.

 

[jelag]

I have several stock 3500's and pull a 20K lb trailer... We see the temp gauge in between the 2 and first 0 most of the time... . in the center of the first 0 on very hot days and in the center of the second 0 on 6% grades on 105* days... the exception is when we follow closer than 50-75 ft to the next truck... . than the gauge will go higher... .

We've never had an overheat issue, we usually set the engine between 1700 - 1850 rpm in the gear that pulls the hill and just go up it... the fan will cycle on and off but never has stayed on...

If the fan stayed on... I'd think the engine was hotter than it should be... . but with the fan cycling I assume the cooling system is working the way it should... .

 

[JStieger]

I have several stock 3500's and pull a 20K lb trailer... We see the temp gauge in between the 2 and first 0 most of the time... . in the center of the first 0 on very hot days and in the center of the second 0 on 6% grades on 105* days... the exception is when we follow closer than 50-75 ft to the next truck... . than the gauge will go higher... .



We've never had an overheat issue, we usually set the engine between 1700 - 1850 rpm in the gear that pulls the hill and just go up it... the fan will cycle on and off but never has stayed on...



If the fan stayed on... I'd think the engine was hotter than it should be... . but with the fan cycling I assume the cooling system is working the way it should... .

By any chance, do you have an aftermarket oil pressure gauge installed? If so, what pressure does it read?

 

[jmccart]

Howdy neighbor. P. M. sent.

 

[AABEN]

Take your foot out of it down shift works good for me