Engine Temp how hot is too hot?
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 ...
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mabynack wrote:carringb wrote:
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 long, 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.
x2
I put a scan gage on my 6.0 after I blew a head gasket and the temperature gage pegged. I had the heads rebuilt, the EGR and engine oil cooler replaced.
If everything is mechanically sound and the coolant isn't contaminated, I would slow down or pull off the road if my temperatures got over 220. I found that just slowing down a bit when climbing a hill can reduce coolant temperatures by 10 degrees.
Slowing down REALLY does make a difference, doesn't it? This is my 1st diesel, and I had to re-learn how to tow/drive to some extent. Diesels seem to be much more "fuel in -> heat out". Tow/haul and downshifting (with right hand, not right foot), also helps to cool it down in my experience - since the oil is the primary heat transfer medium, moving more of it into the oil cooler does work. There is nothing wrong with pulling over to cool down a bit either - all of this is facilitated by precise monitoring of course....
