Proper Shifting to Reduce Engine Temperature
I have had my RV for 12 years and I think I learned something new.
From the very first month I had the RV I experienced overheating when traveling in temps over 100 degrees outside.
I have a CAT C7 and the temp alarm trips at 220 degrees.
I took it in to FL and they showed me how both radiators were caked with oil, dirt and road debris, and they cleaned it all out.
I then found out my oil sump was not plumed to the end of my RV, so the oil that comes off this hose was going directly into the fan and onto the radiator. I fixed this by having it plumed to the end past the radiator.
Then once a year I break out the simple green and clean both the radiators.
All has been good for a while.
This month I decided to go to Northern AZ.
I'm heading north on 17 going up, up, up.
Then I hit this really steep grade and the temp starts going up, up up.
I manually downshift to 3rd gear to keep up the momentum.
The temp goes to 222 degrees.
I try something I never tried before, I downshift to 2nd gear and let off the gas a little so the transmission is not trying to go to 3rd gear.
When all of a sudden the engine temp start to drop, and keeps dropping all the way to 213, well below the overheat alarm.
So now I'm thinking I should downshift to 2nd gear when I hit these really steep grades.
Did I finally figure out how to drive my RV correctly in this situation ?
Let me know, and please refrain from saying "yes stupid" or "it only took you 12 years to figure this out, DUMMY ?"
From the very first month I had the RV I experienced overheating when traveling in temps over 100 degrees outside.
I have a CAT C7 and the temp alarm trips at 220 degrees.
I took it in to FL and they showed me how both radiators were caked with oil, dirt and road debris, and they cleaned it all out.
I then found out my oil sump was not plumed to the end of my RV, so the oil that comes off this hose was going directly into the fan and onto the radiator. I fixed this by having it plumed to the end past the radiator.
Then once a year I break out the simple green and clean both the radiators.
All has been good for a while.
This month I decided to go to Northern AZ.
I'm heading north on 17 going up, up, up.
Then I hit this really steep grade and the temp starts going up, up up.
I manually downshift to 3rd gear to keep up the momentum.
The temp goes to 222 degrees.
I try something I never tried before, I downshift to 2nd gear and let off the gas a little so the transmission is not trying to go to 3rd gear.
When all of a sudden the engine temp start to drop, and keeps dropping all the way to 213, well below the overheat alarm.
So now I'm thinking I should downshift to 2nd gear when I hit these really steep grades.
Did I finally figure out how to drive my RV correctly in this situation ?
Let me know, and please refrain from saying "yes stupid" or "it only took you 12 years to figure this out, DUMMY ?"
