NinerBikes wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
For ten years I towed the trailer in my sig with an 2001.5 Dodge with a 5.9 Cummins SO, 235 HP, 460 lb, ft. GCW 17600 lbs, 4:10 diff and only a 4 spd transmission. Trips included west coast to Newfoudland and back and 10,000 ft passes in Wyoming. Sparkling performance? No. Adequate? You bet.
Never had a problem with overheating though. They might want to address that.
I believe these Common Rail motors are tuned to run hotter under heavy load at temps less than 70F, for efficiency of MPG. I know for certain it's the case with Bosch systems that are common rail with ad blue. I can see 235F on my scan gauge II just going up a 6% grade for 3 miles and 2500 to 3000 vertical feet climb. This is in my 2014 Passat TDI SE. with just me in it. 225 #s.
Newer diesel motors run much hotter than motors in the past, so make sure you have good motor oil that's up to that kind of heat not breaking down. Cheap oil at Jiffy Lube is pennies wise and pounds foolish on expensive diesel motors. Always use the right Spec oil.
I'm not sure if it is the new design or the grade, but I wouldn't be too concerned about the heat. We have a pretty good interstate grade here outside of SLC, Utah -- I80 going East up Parley's Canyon. About 8 miles long, ranging from 3% to about 7.5% near the top, which is a bit above 7000 ft. All of my trucks have gotten hot by the end of that grade towing at freeway speeds, even the Duramax. Of course, the Duramax and Ecoboost can do it at 70 mph, with throttle to spare, but still, they all get a little hot. Nothing to be concerned about, as long as it only happens when the truck is really working and it is staying within the functional parameters for the engine.
