Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) towing on steep grades and temps

[jpogue]

Well I took my trailer over tioga pass for the 1st time last week. Not so bad going east but coming back going west on the long upgrade(can't remember the %)out of Lee vining my truck got kinda hot. I was watching the gages close kept egt's at 1050 or lower and the trans never got over 220, but the coolant temp I wasn't watching as closely. When I looked at the coolant temp it was over 200 so I pulled over and kept the truck running to let it cool down,it was a mere 40 deg. F outside. The trailer is a 26 ft weekend warrior toy hauler and I am estimating the weight with all my stuff in it to be at a little less than 10,000 lbs. The rpm's were at about 2 thousand most of the time due to the steep grade and transmission not shifting into the next gear. Should my coolant temp have gotten so hot? It even purged a little bit when I first pulled over. What can be done to decrease coolant temps in this kind of situation?

 

[Macmc01]

Have you checked the fan clutch? Sometimes they get weak and wont enguage fully. Another idea would be to clean the raidiator, intercooler and condeser fins, amasing how much dirt can collect blocking air. My freinds truck had a heating problem, when we pulled the condenser the radiator was packed with dirt and bugs. once cleaned it worked better than he has ever seen.

Mac

 

[Ahopper]

i think they are too high for it being 40* outside. i was having some problems with engin temps also so i replaced the thermostat. i got 110k out of it. if you do replace it i would go with cummins not napa. i have heard horror storie!something with the pins breaking off cant quite remember? hope someone else will chime in. im not all knowing on this subject.

 

[Macmc01]

I knew I forgot something. Thermostat can do it too, if it sticks half way open. Have you had problems with it warming up slow or getting too warm before it opens? being that cool it should cycle between 140 and 190 until completely warm, at least all the ones Ive had did/do. Cummins is a good sugestion for a new one, dodge dealer will call napa or someone else if they dont have one.

 

[Don Tanklage]

... 40 deg. F outside.



The trailer is a 26 ft weekend warrior toy hauler and I am estimating the weight with all my stuff in it to be at a little less than 10,000 lbs.



What can be done to decrease coolant temps in this kind of situation?

i dont know what 'all your stuff' is but i can tell ya that they (wkend warrior) are gettin sued for building them heavy (heavier than the tag says) (a lot heavier). do you have the fiberglass siding? front sleeper?



28' frt sleeper w no water and only 2 bikes in it rolled on scale at over 12k. water is heavy. gear can be heavy. i dont know what you load.



don

 

[John - K5AWO]

I don't think that 200 is too high. You were pulling a heavy load up an incline. The water jacket temperature is going to be at or just above the thermostat's rated value (assuming it is good).

Just because the outside temp was 40*F, doesn't really have a bearing on the engine water temp. That is why it has a thermostat, to regulate the temperature at the designed operating temperature.

Here in Phoenix, we see 200-210 temperatures all the time and that is not abnormal.

 

[Erniek]

I wouldn't be overly worried about seeing 200* water temps, but it does seem with the given outside air temp, you should have been able to keep the engine cooler if the thermostat was working properly.



Quote from earlier post.

"Just because the outside temp was 40*F, doesn't really have a bearing on the engine water temp. That is why it has a thermostat, to regulate the temperature at the designed operating temperature.

Here in Phoenix, we see 200-210 temperatures all the time and that is not abnormal. "



I know for a fact that outside temps can and will make a difference on the operating temp of an engine, or for that matter, anything else that uses a "radiator" for cooling, especially when dealing with a range from 40* to 100*. Yes, the thermostat is supposed to regulate the temps within a certain range, as it is supposed to regulate the flow of water thru the radiator, but if it is very hot outside like say in Phoenix, it is harder for the radiator to do its job of exchanging the heat from the water to the air passing thru it, so the water tends to run hotter. Inversely, if it is cold outside, 40* lets say, the radiator is far more effective at exchanging the heat from the water to the air flowing thru the radiator, and the water will tend to run cooler.

I would check your radiator to see if it is dirty/plugged, then try a new thermostat, (from Cummins)

Just my 2 cents worth, Good luck, Erik

 

[Gene Arnold]

I don't think 200 degrees is excessive considering you have an automatic transmission. Remember, your radiator is cooling the transmission fluid as well as the engine coolant.



Gene

 

[EKlem]

I agree with all of the above posts that your temps were not too high. However, I would still strongly suggest cleaning out your radiator with a pressure washer. Using a hose gets very little of the dirt out so you need something more powerful. Also, if you have been in a muddy environment, it is possible that your fan clutch is full of it so hit that with the pressure washer too.

 

[JTroiano]

Clean radiator also. 200 is not high but it shouldn't be puking anything either.

If that doesnt work, new thermostat next and some water wetter in the coolant.



Back up! do you hear the cooling fan cycle. You should also be able to hear it when it come on.



Jon T

 

[Ahopper]

ill second on the water wetter i did see a difference in temp with it. also i agree with john. here in phoenix i can reach 190-200* without even towing anything and deffinetly going up steep grades ill get hotter but ive never over heated. when i tow a 32ft travel trailer at about 12k going up a 7 percent grade at 4000ft. ive got to 200-210* but once the hill was over it went right back to normal. also my egt were at 1250* the whole way. i dont know if this helps really at all.

 

[Don Tanklage]

i am thinking about building a alum rad for my truck - last attempt to get the coolant temps down

 

[jpogue]

OK,it is a 26 ft front sleeper with fiberglass sides,thanks for the info on them being too heavy Don I am getting ready to take it in for the sealant around the windows running down the side of the trailer. I think i'll ask them about the weight while I am there. It was dry with clothes and food and a small boat and trailer in the cargo area(boat and trailer together not over 300lbs). It did sound like the clutch fan was engaging. It didn't puke much out of the purge tank. Haven't ever replaced thermostat so will do that and clean out radiator and fins. Hopefully that'll work,thanks everyone for the ideas.

 

[Don Tanklage]

they wouldnt fix the stupid windows on mine!



hope they did yours. i have spent 12 hrs on mine and it still is not finished



what a pain - cant believe they shipped them like that

 

[Don Tanklage]

ps - there is a tag near the trash can, see what it says and put the thing on a scale on the way to wkend war



hope yours is not as heavy as mine is. ,. .

 

[jpogue]

:{ Well I just got the class action suit letter against weekend warrior last week. You were right Don my trailer is one of the ones listed. I was wondering why my rear end was missing teeth 6 months after buying the trailer, could it just be coincidental. It looks like they are going to pay for drivetrain repairs as part of settlement and put new tires on the trailer and do some sort of framework. What's wrong with the frame? I will read the whole letter next weekend. I work for UPS and I am kinda busy right now. I think I will sell it next year after everything is fixed and the settlement is over. Does the dealer have any responsibility here? After all they sold me a trailer that could possibly be too heavy for my truck. Well as we all know the squeaky wheel gets the grease #@$%! And after the holidays I will be squeaking.