Just wanted to check with others on how many degrees your coolant rises to when towing up hills?This past trip was the first time I have taken this truck and trailer combo through the Adirondacks to Lake George NY. I have a digital display for the coolant and typically when towing the temp is around 204 -205 F. On some of the longer and steeper grades (I'd say mountains to me but not when comparing to the Rockies :B ) it heated up to around 215-217 F with the highest temp I recorded was 222 F. The outside air temp was only around 70 F. On previous trips the truck has never heated up this much, but these are the highest mountains I've climbed. I wasnt all that concerned because it cooled quickly and was really only slightly higher that half way on the gauge. Our friends where towing a similar trailer with a 4.7 Dakota and it was heating up a LOT more than that!So does this seem acceptable, or is it time for a coolant flush, change and perhaps a newer, higher thermostat? The truck only has 54K miles on it.

It's completely normal, and requires no action.

One trick you can use to assist cooling on hot hot days is to put your inside fan on full blast, and maximum heat output into the cab, but on defrost with the windows wide open.The interior radiator is often overlooked as a cooling source, and when heavily loaded and pulling a grade, take advantage of everything you have to cool that engine down if it starts getting hot.A higher thermostat will only keep the water inside the engine until the engine is hotter. The thermostat opens to allow water to flow out of the engine when it gets to the correct temperature of the thermostat. Once it reaches that, it just stays fully open.

Kodiak, your report details exactly what your thermostats are suppose to do. They crack around 190, and are full open coolant flow around 220.

A hotter thermostat won't help at all. I agree with the others that what you report is not alarming at all. 222 °F is well within the envelope, certainly well below what your engine and coolant can handle. When the engine is working hard dragging a load uphill, you expect it to run warmer than usual.My TV normally runs 190 °F just puttering around, and the ECU doesn't start taking steps to reduce power to prevent overheating until 235 °F. The "you got a problem" BONG sounds if you get to 245 °F.Since 222 °F seems hotter than normal to you, it may be that your thermostat is failing and should be replaced. But definitely NOT with a hotter-running thermostat. That would not help. Stick with the current temperature range.

We test our trucks way beyond 222F. Trailer tow test abort temperatures can be as high as 250F! So you're fine...

How hot does she get? | Good Sam Community

ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
If you have a fan clutch, it could be on its way out. I recommend changing it. I personally am going to a clutchless race fan and maybe hood louvers.
sch911
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
We test our trucks way beyond 222F. Trailer tow test abort temperatures can be as high as 250F! So you're fine...
naturist
Nomad
Jul 30, 2014
A hotter thermostat won't help at all. I agree with the others that what you report is not alarming at all. 222 °F is well within the envelope, certainly well below what your engine and coolant can handle. When the engine is working hard dragging a load uphill, you expect it to run warmer than usual.

My TV normally runs 190 °F just puttering around, and the ECU doesn't start taking steps to reduce power to prevent overheating until 235 °F. The "you got a problem" BONG sounds if you get to 245 °F.

Since 222 °F seems hotter than normal to you, it may be that your thermostat is failing and should be replaced. But definitely NOT with a hotter-running thermostat. That would not help. Stick with the current temperature range.
TravelsWithCha2
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
Kodiak, your report details exactly what your thermostats are suppose to do. They crack around 190, and are full open coolant flow around 220.
Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014
One trick you can use to assist cooling on hot hot days is to put your inside fan on full blast, and maximum heat output into the cab, but on defrost with the windows wide open.

The interior radiator is often overlooked as a cooling source, and when heavily loaded and pulling a grade, take advantage of everything you have to cool that engine down if it starts getting hot.

A higher thermostat will only keep the water inside the engine until the engine is hotter. The thermostat opens to allow water to flow out of the engine when it gets to the correct temperature of the thermostat. Once it reaches that, it just stays fully open.
ib516
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2014
It's completely normal, and requires no action.

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