Engine Temp how hot is too hot?

[k9jadon]

So I was just wondering what any of you guys think about this? A few years ago I went camping in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. A place called Tuff Campground. I drove an all stock other than a 4in turbo back exhaust '05 F-250 6.0 dsl and pulled an approx. 10k lb fifth wheel. My question is this, When climbing a grade that is approx. 6% for about 8 miles with ambient air temp hovering around 100*f how far would you want or allow your temp gauge to go b4 pulling off and allowing it to cool off? 1/2, 2/3 , 3/4 or until the light comes on? I kept the boost pressure at or near 20 psi and this formula translated to climbing the grade around 32-35 mph, I think it was running around 3000 rpm or so, and the temp gauge remained for the entire climb at its normal position, it never moved, could I have pushed the truck harder? Is the cooling system designed to run for long periods say like 15 minutes or so at the 2/3 mark or higher on the gauge? I am sorry I do not have actual water temp numbers since my gauge is stock, so I have to give points of reference on the gauge as a description. Any thoughts will be appreciated. BTW I am not looking to drag race up the hill, I just want to know if my truck can handle more?

[k9jadon]

Roadnerd,


That is where I saw the grade I was speaking of, It was Sherwin Grade on the 395 just north of Bishop. I wasn't overly worried I just wondered if I was babying it to much. My temp gauge (stock) didn't move at all so I figured I was doing alright. I will look into getting a scangauge or some other type of meter in order to properly monitor the temps. Thanks again for all the replies.

[roadnerd]

ScottG wrote:
It really isn't that hot. The cooling fan probably doesn't even come on until somewhere around 226.

Not true for a 6.0 - the algorithm that turns on the fan (viscous clutch) has several inputs, including coolant and oil temp - i've seen it between 225 and 235 depending on load

[roadnerd]

Rangerman40 wrote:
A 6.0 is programmed to defuel at 254 degrees oil temp. Get an Edge Insight to monitor your EOT, ECT and FICM voltage along with a ton of other things it can look at.

+1 million for "get a monitor". EVERY 6.0 should have a monitor. If you can't afford an Edge CTS, get the "Torque" App and an ELM237 device, or a Scangauge II (which is what I run). I'd also suggest monitoring EGT (exhaust gas temperature) - extended periods of anything above 1250F on a 6.0 is generally considered harmful

For great info, check out www.powerstroke.org

On extended grades in high ambients, I'll see 230s on oil temp, 220s on coolant temp, for short periods, pulling a 9k TT. Anything into the 240s (which I've seen towing agressively on EB I80 over the Sierra's in California), and I move my next oil change up. 6.0's have a bad name, but are great trucks if you manage them correctly (by monitoring them) and keep intact and clean oil in them. Just like anything else, they wil fail with abuse.

My 2003 6.0 just did a 2700 mile round trip from Northern CA -> Yellowstone,and I saw MANY other 6.0s doing the same thing

[Tystevens]

ScottG wrote:
It really isn't that hot. The cooling fan probably doesn't even come on until somewhere around 226.

Yep, at least on the Duramax, the temps will creep up until that aux fan kicks on, and all temp increases will stop and start to come back down immediately. It sounds like an airplane taking off, so you'll know when it kicks on!

[Rangerman40]

A 6.0 is programmed to defuel at 254 degrees oil temp. Get an Edge Insight to monitor your EOT, ECT and FICM voltage along with a ton of other things it can look at.

[k9jadon]

Thank you all of your replies. I've heard from people statement like these "I pulled that hill going 70or 80 no problems...can't even tell the trailer is back there" etc. etc. So I was just curious if there was something wrong, or if those were just fish stories. I figured the latter was the case, and it sounds like the consensus here is that they are indeed fish stories. The reason I didn't call the service department and ask is that more often the case is that most of those guys don't have real world experience towing and I wanted to hear from someone who has actually pulled similar grades with their own setup. They (the service dept.) certainly could answer the technical questions (i.e. the question regarding the cooling system and how long it could run hot), however, I have also learned that there are Ford, GM, and Dodge technicians who belong to forums like these and could lend their own technical advice coupled with real world experience to the topic. Thanks again for all of your helpful advice.

Eric

[dodge_guy]

250 is overheat! So for me when it gets near 230 back off! I've never seen mine touch 220 even towing 9k lbs in the mountains. That's pulling uphill in 90 deg weather at 55mph.

[trail-explorer]

Pushing 3000 rpm, and 20 PSI boost, I'd be more concerned about turbo meltdown from excessive EGTs that engine coolant temp. I am betting your EGTs were up at the danger point.

I'd recommend getting some additional monitoring systems. The Edge Insight CTS2 is what I upgraded to recently. It plugs in to the OBDII port and displays numbers for temps rather a needle position floating somewhere between C and H.

Edge Insight CTS2

[cmeade]

Can't talk about Ford. I have 2010 Ram 3500 4x4 SRW megacab pulling 13k 5er. Out side temp 100f pulling 8 % grade in 5th on A/T @ 1900 rpms at 55 mph temp goes to 216 and fan comes on with no higher temp. Trans temp goes to 186f from 146f. It takes about 10 mi on flat ground for trans temp to drop but coolant drops back to 201f on the downside within minutes after crest.

[wandering1]

So why dont you call a dealer service dept and ask????????

[All_I_could_aff]

Ya those factory gauges are programmed to decieve you. My work F550 gauge stays a hair below half way at temps from 160 all the way to 235 or so.... Then it jumps to hot. It might as well be an idiot light

[_40Fan]

The gauge in your 6.0 won't move until it hits 240°.

[ScottG]

It really isn't that hot. The cooling fan probably doesn't even come on until somewhere around 226.

[jaycocamprs]

I'm not going to let my Duramax go much over 220f with out letting off and cooling it down. Yea GM says that’s not hot, but it's my comfort point. The stock gauge on the LLY would just be starting to move off normal there also. The ScanGauge will tell what your true temps are. Heard a lot of bad things about the 6.0, but never that they overheated. That honor goes to the LLY Duramax.

[carringb]

Having a 6.0 PSD means you really need a ScanGauge, UltraGauge or similar digital gauge monitor. Knowing not just specific coolant temps, but also oil temps and other parameters is essentially to not having a total engine meltdown on the side of the road.

I would not except 10,000 pounds up a 6% grade to even move the needle! This alone makes me worried your truck may not be cooling properly. Have you pulled a coolant sample lately to make sure there's no "tapioca" or other contaminates in the system? Tapioca-like precipitates are the first sign your coolant is breaking down (or is reacting because non-compatible coolant was added) and this can quickly plug the engine oil cooler, which will cause the EGR cooler to blow.

FWIW - the hottest I've seen on my V10 was 223F. That was climbing Death Valley west-bound, which I think is a 12% grade? Whatever it is, its steep and along, and it was 107F the last time I pulled it, with 15,000 pounds in tow. The 6.0 does seem to run a little warmer normally though.