Truck overheating towing on long steep grades.

[mike-uswest]

The other day I came out of Death Valley to Beatty which is long and steep, but not that bad, but the transmission temp got up to 230 for most of the trip. I stopped part of the way up and let it cool before going on. This has happened a few time in the past, but I am looking to add a additional cooler if for nothing else make me more comfortable. The truck is a 2003 Dodge Cummins with less than 160,000 on it, and runs great. I would like to find an add on cooler that would not cost a mint and be an easy application to take care of this in the future. I have had it 15 years and other than this it has been a great truck. There doesn't seem to be a lot of room with coolers attached to the radiator now. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, Mike.

[blofgren]

ScottG wrote:
I really need to have mine boiled out as well. After all that time, it's just good maint.

Certainly a good idea maintenance wise, but you don’t need to worry about overheating your transmission... :C

[opnspaces]

mike-uswest wrote:
Thanks for the answers. It was about 75 out, and the engine temp. was a little over 200. I was doing 35mph with overdrive off, so I believe that is 3rd gear. My main worry is if I get in a climb this summer at 100 degrees I don't want things coming apart. Everything looks good and clean, but the first cooler that I think is for the transmission in front of the radiator has several areas where the fins are flattened down where something has come through the grill and smacked it. I know of no way to bend them back out. I will run it by the transmission shop and have them look at it. Thanks again.

Mike

I would use a small pick and pull the fins back up. It always looks like more work than it actually is. The fins are soft and straighten out easily. You could also use a fin comb, but I really don't think they are any better than a small pick and a few minutes time. It's definitely a lot cheaper than paying shop rates to straighten the fins.
Fin comb

[ScottG]

I really need to have mine boiled out as well. After all that time, it's just good maint.

[Cummins12V98]

mike-uswest wrote:
Thanks for the answers. It was about 75 out, and the engine temp. was a little over 200. I was doing 35mph with overdrive off, so I believe that is 3rd gear. My main worry is if I get in a climb this summer at 100 degrees I don't want things coming apart. Everything looks good and clean, but the first cooler that I think is for the transmission in front of the radiator has several areas where the fins are flattened down where something has come through the grill and smacked it. I know of no way to bend them back out. I will run it by the transmission shop and have them look at it. Thanks again.

Mike

If you were doing 35 you were unlocked in 2nd gear!

[Cummins12V98]

ScottG wrote:
04 doesn't have a catch bottle. (That's how Dodge fixed the radiator build up problem)

True but it may be worth taking out the radiator and have it cleaned inside and out.

I assume a 04 has a separate trans cooler like a 2nd gen? If so make sure it’s nice and clean.

[mike-uswest]

Thanks for the answers. It was about 75 out, and the engine temp. was a little over 200. I was doing 35mph with overdrive off, so I believe that is 3rd gear. My main worry is if I get in a climb this summer at 100 degrees I don't want things coming apart. Everything looks good and clean, but the first cooler that I think is for the transmission in front of the radiator has several areas where the fins are flattened down where something has come through the grill and smacked it. I know of no way to bend them back out. I will run it by the transmission shop and have them look at it. Thanks again.

Mike

[ScottG]

04 doesn't have a catch bottle. (That's how Dodge fixed the radiator build up problem)

[Cummins12V98]

01 CTD RAM has the famous catch bottle that allows oil fumes be drawn to the front side of the radiator and over time with dirt clog the radiator. I pulled mine and cleaned along with relocating a new catch bottle inside drivers side front bumper. Runs nice and cool now.

[jdc1]

That series of CTD trucks had a known defect that made those symptoms occur. At the rear bottom of the radiator "fuzz' will build up and clog the fins. Clean out the fuzz on a regular basis. It happened on my 2001 CTD at 75,000 miles. After that I drove it for another 250,000 with a mishap.
Dodge told me I needed both a radiator and transmission ($3,000). I laughed and searched the CTD forums.

[Grit_dog]

Even though the OP appears to have zero issues, his quest for more cooling and simple application, consider a deep pan with fins on it.
Otherwise I’m sure there are other better coolers, maybe. You have a truck that just pulled your trailer out of Death Valley with no issues. Because it already has good cooling. It a HD diesel.

[Grit_dog]

So what was overheating?

[Cummins12V98]

time2roll wrote:
This is why some manufacturers stop putting in gauges that indicate actual temperatures.

My 15 RAM shows actual trans temp and water temp.

[time2roll]

This is why some manufacturers stop putting in gauges that indicate actual temperatures.

[ksss]

I had similar problems and found debris crammed between the coolers. If you have a 160K on it, I am sure your not getting optimum flow through the coolers if they have never been cleaned out.

[ppine]

Assuming you are towing in an appropriate gear, people need to realize getting into DV is not that easy. All roads including the road from Beatty, contrary to some opinions is steep and windy. That means lower gears. I have pulled over plenty of times hauling a trailer with my Ford 7.3 to let the engine cool off and also to keep the brakes cool heading to Death Valley. I rarely remember doing that anywhere else.