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.

[Artum_Snowbird]

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]

It's completely normal, and requires no action.