• Welcome to The Truck Stop! We see you haven't REGISTERED yet.

    Your truck knowledge is missing!
    • Registration is FREE , all we need is your birthday and email. (We don't share ANY data with ANYONE)
    • We have tons of knowledge here for your diesel truck!
    • Post your own topics and reply to existing threads to help others out!
    • NO ADS! The site is fully functional and ad free!
    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

    Problems registering? Click here to contact us!

    Already registered, but need a PASSWORD RESET? CLICK HERE TO RESET YOUR PASSWORD!

2 simple questions - hopefully

treegump

treegump

Romans 3:22-24
Messages
2,299
Reaction score
983
Location
Martinsville, IN
1) When pulling, or w/ a heavy load, my water temp gauge never has flirted with 210*, but being empty (all I typically have is a packed cross-over toolbox & spare tire) it sometimes likes to flirt with 210*. Is this normal? I don't typically hear my fan kick on except when reversing quickly, or in a low gear and having a load.

2) Also, when pulling, going up northern illinois VERY slight inclines, I had my truck in 5th gear, CC, pulling a 21' box trailer (not very heavy compared to your loads), and I caught my boost hanging out in the 8-9 range. I then downshifted to 4th, let my foot control the speed and not the CC (slowed down slightly, but whatever), exhaust temps were higher than normal (still have not relocated, but the fact it was higher than normal says something), but again, my water temp was nowhere near 210*. Do you guys typically have to downshift to 4th when pulling or hauling up hills...ever so slightly? Oh, RPM's stayed around 2500 (i think) going 55-60 up these VERY slight inclines.
 
Unloaded you shouldn't have any heat problems. Sounds like something is amiss. Since its sometimes only sounds like a sticky maginal thermostat(s) . Probably just need new stat(s). Since its fine towing sounds like once the stats open fully and stay open the cooling system works ok. That my thought.

Towing with CC the CC will try and hold exact speed any speed drop and it adds fuel immediately and will add as much fuel to get back to set speed as needed. It tends to elevate boost on hills quickly and hold fuel and boost since speed drops until the top. It should fall off once speed matches set point over crest of hill. With your foot you will probably tend to roll into fuel differently.

Box trailers have pretty good wind drag even if they are light so you might have more load than you think. Loaded my truck looses some speed on hills and its getting worse with age (186K ish miles OE IP and timing chain and its stock programming). I don't down shift unless I can't hold about 2000 rpm. 1750 ish is peak torque but boost and HP etc seems to feel better at 2000-2200. Over 2500-2600 rpm (with GM-X and stock program) its just noise and wasted fuel. I usually try and anticipate hills and roll into fuel early before starting a climb but yeah I loose some speed if I am towing much of anything.
 
well, the thermostat was changed very recently (when i broke the thermostat housing - that just so happens to be one of a kind, no longer manufactured, fiasco), so...unless I somehow got RTV on the thermostat and that's somehow messing with it, I don't think it's the thermostat.

I'll try the DIY fan clutch. 1/8"-3/16" adjustment should be fine, since I don't have any intention of ever putting anything like a snowplow on the front.

I've also got the chore of flushing/cleaning my radiator. Anyone know of the link off the top of your head? (I'll be searching for it in the meantime).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top