Collant temps while towing

[jbdawson]

Search gets lots of egt, tranny, differential temp info but little on coolant. I towed approx. 10 K to day for the first time. Truck is stock and has 20 K miles. The factory idiot guage never moved but I have a digital guage hooked into the OBDII connector and it read as high as 215 at times. My normal operating temp w/o a load is 195-200. Any one else have any info on actual coolant temps when towing or, for that matter, what temp the factory guage moves from normal to the next level. Thanks

[FTG-05]

Somewhere, I couldn't find it sorry, there is an article written by a guy who actually measured the difference between acual temps vs. what the factory gauge showed. Basically, if the gauge got into the red zone, you toasted the engine.

It's possible it was a tranny oil temp gauge. In any event, it shows that the factory temp gauges aren't worth much.

Al

[lincster]

This was for the tranny gauge.

For the engine, my buddy hooked up an aftermarket gauge to measure engine temp, instead of boost since the factory boost gauge is actually pretty accurate. He said his factory needle moved at about 210 and he heard his fan come on. Factory needle runs in the middle at about 180. Once the fan came on, it pulled the temp down quickly.

[Larry M]

[ QUOTE ]
Search gets lots of egt, tranny, differential temp info but little on coolant. I towed approx. 10 K to day for the first time. Truck is stock and has 20 K miles. The factory idiot guage never moved but I have a digital guage hooked into the OBDII connector and it read as high as 215 at times. My normal operating temp w/o a load is 195-200. Any one else have any info on actual coolant temps when towing or, for that matter, what temp the factory guage moves from normal to the next level. Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Unless something has changed for the 6.0L engine the 7.3L enginef PCM did not have OBDII data element in the data stream for coolant temp. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Larry

[jbdawson]

The device is called ScanGuage and it plugs into the diagnostic port under the dash. It reads coolant temp, intake air temp, manifold absolute pressure (boost minus whatever barometric pressure is for the day), system voltage, rpm, mph, and calculates mpg or gph fuel usage as well as cumulative average mph, mpg, trip miles. miles since last fillup and miles to go as well as a few other little jewels of info. There are one or two other parameters it will read but they are common to gassers. It is digital and you can read any four guage parameters at once. BTW assuming the map sensor is accurate the boost guage is a fair approximation of what the sensor reports. Oh yeah, it also reads and clears codes. Can't vouch for the 7.3 but it works on the 6.0.

[bilabronco]

http://dan.prxy.org/Truck/Owners_man...ng_Gauges.html

Here you go it shows the instrument panel and tranny numbers but no coolant just this:

Engine coolant temperature gauge
Indicates engine coolant temperature. At normal operating temperature, the needle will be in the nonnal range (between "H" and "C"). If it enters the red section, the engine is overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, switch off the engine and let the engine cool.

Hope this info helps

[FTG-05]

jbd,

No price for Scangauge on their site. How much did it cost?

Thanks,

Al

[jbdawson]

I don't remember exactly but the number $179 and change comes to mind. That was about a year ago. When I checked the web sight under price it said the current production run was sold out and that they hoped to be delivering units again in May 2006. That probably means a price increase but maybe not. Their email is scangauge@linear-logic.com. If you contact them they should be able to tell you what the May 2006 version will cost. I have been well pleased with mine. If you a 2005 or 2006 which has the small "glove" compartment with door by the drivers right knee you will find that it fits neatly in that box. You just route the cable over the back of the box and when it is not in use or you want to hide it you just close the door and you would never know it was there.

[FTG-05]

Thanks.

Little storage compartment is Auto tranny only option, so don't got that.

$179 is getting pretty close to what a gauge pod and three gauges would cost for oil temp, oil pressure and water temp, plus easier hookup (i.e. plug it in), plus transportability to other vehicles, plus more data.

I'm going to have to think about it.

Al

[pristine]

Can't speak for the 6.0, but on my 7.3, towing 12K 5er, The factory coolant gauge hits the normal range at 150*F. On flat ground, it sits at 180*. On a hard pull, I have seen 215* The factory gauge never moves! The oil temp seems to run about 10* higher. Once off the hard pull, the temps return to normal very quickly. I am going to instal a 203Tstat soon, so the temps will likely go up a little. FWIW
jgr [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

[Kanman]

[ QUOTE ]
Search gets lots of egt, tranny, differential temp info but little on coolant. I towed approx. 10 K to day for the first time. Truck is stock and has 20 K miles. The factory idiot guage never moved but I have a digital guage hooked into the OBDII connector and it read as high as 215 at times. My normal operating temp w/o a load is 195-200. Any one else have any info on actual coolant temps when towing or, for that matter, what temp the factory guage moves from normal to the next level. Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

200 is the temp trans fluid starts breaking down. At 240 it is damaging your trans. After 260 forget it your gonna need some major service. I would certainly wonder if you are getting an accurate reading from your computer gage deal. You might start to consider an after market trans cooler. I would certainly start backing the truck down any time you see over 200.

Forget the factory idiot light. Its a go/no go light nothing else. Designed to tell you after the fact when something is wrong.

[drcampbell]

[ QUOTE ]
Search gets lots of egt, tranny, differential temp info but little on coolant. I towed approx. 10 K to day for the first time. Truck is stock and has 20 K miles. The factory idiot guage never moved but I have a digital guage hooked into the OBDII connector and it read as high as 215 at times. My normal operating temp w/o a load is 195-200. Any one else have any info on actual coolant temps when towing or, for that matter, what temp the factory guage moves from normal to the next level. Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

215 degrees Fahrenheit is no cause for concern.

As long as the coolant isn't boiling, your engine is OK. Actually, even a little bit of localized boiling is still OK.

With a tight 15 lb/sq inch radiator cap and a 50-50% glycol-water mix, the boiling point is 257 degrees F. Any temperature at or below the boiling point isn't causing engine damage.
(not that it isn't cause for concern if tomorrow's drive might be at a higher ambient temperature, with more headwind or with a heavier load)

It's common for factory gauges to have a non-linear calibration. It's because they're for drivers, not engineers, and we try to present what you need to know with as little distraction as possible.

[Kanman]

From DieselSites web site.

When your transmission fluid reaches 200 ? it starts breaking down.
At 240 ? varnishes form and transmission life expectancy is cut in half.
At 260 ? the transmissions internal seals and rubber parts harden and major damage starts.
Above 295 ? you transmission start slipping, clutches burn out and carbon forms.
With each 20 ? drop in operating temperature, your fluid and equipment life doubles.
Installing a cooler before damage starts and by reducing the transmission fluid temperature by as much as 60 ? can greatly extend the life of your transmission.

Just don't get distracted reading your trans gauge [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

[fpizzo]

I put a water temp gauge on my 05 along with EGT,Boost and tranny temp...4 pod pillar setup...
Water temp pulling my 40' WW ToyHauler fully loaded has reached a max of about 210 F towing up some pretty steep,long grades...but then the fan comes on and and the temps drop. The tranny never goes above 190-195 F...

[drcampbell]

The MERCON-V and MERCON-SP specifications include a minimum viscosity at 100 degrees C. Presumably, meeting the spec means not breaking down at 100 degrees C. (212 degrees)

You gain longevity by lowering the temperature to 212 degrees but you don't gain anything cooling it further.