engine temps while towing with 05 - Diesel Forum

goinbatty · 06-12-2005, 09:49 AM

Ok, I have towed with my 05 before, but this was the first heavy tow. I was pulling about 9200 pounds. What I noticed was that on some of the steeper inclines the engine temp guage would climb, until it just about hit red and then the engine fan would start roaring and the temp would come back down.

This is the first time I have seen the guage move that much and was wondering what is normal. The needle was all the way at the top white line, just before the red starts. The coolant level is at max, just where it has always been. I also noticed that if I kept my foot out of it just a bit the temp would rise, but not as high.

I will be doing alot of towing and dont want to have any problems, is this something I should have checked out? I probably will, but just looking for any ideas.

Thanks

william_04_X · 06-12-2005, 10:08 AM

do a search for overheating in 6.0 engine and drivetrain..look at thread "towing 8k uphills=overheating"... this same problem was discussed a few days ago...your truck should be fine...the gauge is not working properly...

william_04_X · 06-12-2005, 08:14 PM

this should be the thread

ghostbuster · 06-12-2005, 10:16 PM

Did a pull today with my new 05, a 7% grade for 1.5 miles, ambient temp 75 degrees. Trailer weighed 8000# The fan engaged about half waay up the hill, but the temp did not rise. The fan was off by the time that I reached the top of the hill.

goinbatty · 06-14-2005, 08:49 AM

Thanks, I did find the thread the other day. I am going to stop by the dealer and talk with them and get an appointment to get it fixed.

On mine, by the time the fan came on the guage was at the top of the normal range.

Maybe they can do the recall that just came out at the same time.

jeepman · 06-14-2005, 10:09 AM

I think the gauge may be right. Read my post in the thread. BTW, my truck HAS puked coolant. At the time I made the post I had not checked that close but it definitely puked coolant.

6SPDMANUAL · 06-14-2005, 03:56 PM

yeah, i had a similar problem. went to dealer and even to factory rep, they insisted that this rise in temp was normal. i hate it!!! none of my manual trans trucks did this. pulling same trailer in same state in same weather. their response was "no over heat then its just fine" what a joke, i do not like it. worries me when i am driving. but i hope it blows up, thats why they make new trucks. BILL

goinbatty · 06-14-2005, 06:35 PM

I talked with my dealer and am taking it in next wednesday. They are also going to look at my paint issues, and hopefully do the recall while it is there.

h2guy · 06-29-2005, 07:46 PM

These reactions to temp indications is precisely why F*** had an analog "idiot light" for a temp gauge in the recent past.

Continuing complants about a normally operating diesel engine will surely bring them back.

LeeChristianson · 06-30-2005, 05:44 AM

[ QUOTE ]
yeah, i had a similar problem. went to dealer and even to factory rep, they insisted that this rise in temp was normal. i hate it!!! none of my manual trans trucks did this. pulling same trailer in same state in same weather. their response was "no over heat then its just fine" what a joke, i do not like it. worries me when i am driving. but i hope it blows up, thats why they make new trucks. BILL

[/ QUOTE ]

I dunno, to me it doesn't sound normal. I just got back from a 3300 mile trip towing a #12,000+ 5er to the east coast and back. Went up a few good grades in some fairly hot weather and the temp gauge barely moved. Kept a sharp eye on the EGT's and trans temp gauges to make sure all was well and they stayed easily in the normal ranges. If you're puking coolant along with the high readings on your gauge, I'd say you have a problem. But then, you have to understand I'm NO diesel tech. FWIW..

georgehilton · 06-30-2005, 08:01 AM

I added a VDO water coolant temp gauge to my 2001 PSD, 6 speed truck. The VDO gauge moves all the time. Ford gauge does not move at all. Up hill with heavy trailer in hot weather, VDO gauge shows engine temps climbing considerable. Ford gauge does not move.

A moving gauge does not indicate an overheat situation. One should expect a properly functioning gauge to move under varying heat, load, and driving conditions.

Ford and all the other manufacturers put in analog idiot gauges for a few years. These are not useful gauges, but keeps the public from complaining about gauges that move.

This does not mean that you do not have an overheat condition. It is only one point to consider.

On a diesel farm tractor with a real temp gauge when under heavy load in hot weather can operate at 245 degrees and show this on the temp gauge. And this is still in the "normal" temp range.

georgehilton · 06-30-2005, 08:38 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Did a pull today with my new 05, a 7% grade for 1.5 miles, ambient temp 75 degrees. Trailer weighed 8000# The fan engaged about half waay up the hill, but the temp did not rise. The fan was off by the time that I reached the top of the hill.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is an example of the manufacturers "idiot gauge". In this case, the engine reached a sufficient temp to cause fan to engage -- but the idiot gauge did not move. This leads the operator to believe engine temp did not increase while in fact, it did.

So, the idiot gauge prevents the operator from complaining to the Ford Service Dept that their truck is not operating properly because the temp gauge moves. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]