How hot does she get?

[kodiakcanuck]

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.

[Tystevens]

I don't know my exact temps, and I don't really care. The truck will tell me if I'm getting too hot.

My gauges show a little bump on inclines, of course. On a near WOT ascent up a long 6-7% grade at freeway speeds, my truck will heat up to about 3/4 of the gauge. Interestingly, on slower but steeper climbs, the gauge doesn't move much at all.

[kvangil]

Raising alarms at 220-degrees is premature. By comparison, my truck's engine temps runs at about 203-204 degrees without trailer. Towing on a 2000-mile round-trip to SD, temps got as high as 220-degrees on some hills and with headwind. The temp needle was still at about 1/3 of the way up to red, so I was not concerned. You're fine at 222 degrees.

[ib516]

Much over reaction here guys.

Newer engines run much hotter than older ones did. My 2014 truck runs 200* to 210* with no load, same with my 2014 Jeep Cherokee. You can't compare old to new. I'd bet the old C----H gauge was somewhere in the middle at those temps.

When to worry is when the temperature keeps climbing to the red zone on the gauge. Engine temp increasing when climbing a grade with a heavy load is NORMAL. It'll cool down on the other side, or the truck's computer will let you know it's getting too hot.

Here's a picture of my temp gauge in my 2007 Cummins diesel after towing my 37' 5er up a very steep grade at slow speeds due to all the switchbacks (Teton Pass). It was a 10% for 5 miles. No coolant lost, no drop in performance, and no warning lights on the dash. Just normal operation for the conditions I was operating in - which were admittedly severe. There's no need to panic.

This would be about 240*F...

[wandering1]

Why don't you ask your truck dealer instead of asking for personal opinions from expert wannabes?

[pasusan]

4x4ord wrote:
220 is too hot for my liking. 220 is where I would pull over and let things cool down.

I'd be worried at 220 also.

We got up to 215 going up a very long steep grade on our way to Asheville, NC on 23. That made us nervous, but it cooled right down on the other side going down.

As far as pulling over... What then - turn the engine off or let it idle?

[4x4ord]

220 is too hot for my liking. 220 is where I would pull over and let things cool down.

[intheburbs]

With a total weight of 14,500 lbs, approaching the Eisenhower tunnel in CO, trans was at 230° and engine was at 220°. Engine was turning at 4,000 RPM in second gear, doing about 40 MPH. Outside temp was 78°. I was not concerned.

Had both the engine and trans around 230° while we were 4 wheeling on the Gemini Bridges trail outside of Moab, UT. Ambient temps were around 102°.

Only thing I'll probably do for the truck is have the trans fluid changed at the dealer.

[gwalter]

I just pulled my 5ver with boat behind in CO up 5-6% grades for 25 miles and pretty much uphill most of the time. Engine temps ran 212-219 and trans about 190. Outside temps were in low 80s.

[Goostoff]

I never worry about temps. In fact I wish mine would run a little hotter. The ole 454 usually runs about 125 to 150 no matter how hot it is outside and what grade I am pulling. Thats with about 13k behind me. I have a huge 4 core diesel radiator and a direct drive racing fan on the engine. Thinking about switching to electric fans to gain a little gas mileage. Going to put on an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake this winter so it will get a little hotter thermostat as well at that time.

[Bionic_Man]

Towing around 15,000 pounds through the Rockies this weekend I saw temps max at about 250*. Trans temp got to 215.

[ChooChooMan74]

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]

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

[naturist]

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]

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