Coolant temps when towing?

[Will_T]

I've been towing recently my 9000 max pound travel trailer and the ambient temps have been in the 90s or 100. I've noticed that when pulling up a hill the coolant temps will quickly get to about 212ﾟ. Then the fan will kick in and it might go as high as 214 or 15 but quickly the fan brings it down under 210 and it turns off. But then it will quickly climb back up and the fan kicks in again. So the fan is cycling on most of the time when pulling uphill. Is this expected and normal?

Other than wondering about the coolant temps and the fan, I love the way this truck tows the TT. Hardly notice it is back there.

 

[Aketay]

Two weeks ago I towed this 12,000lbs brick to Chillawack, BC from Indiana. It was over 100 degrees in Montana, Idaho and Washington. My water temps ranged between 208 and 219. Your temperatures are normal, nothing to worry about. My truck currently has 194,000 miles , half-life in my book.

 

[Epsilon Plus]

212 is fine. FWIW, Gas GMs ride about 212 at idle because heat = lower emissions = hippy stuff. Over 225 and not falling from full clutch fan engagement is where I would start to worry.

 

[gimmie11s]

I just did a 2500 mile trip towing a 12k lbs fifth wheel— much of it in 105* heat pulling 6% grades.

Hottest I saw was 219 or 221 for a few seconds. The fan would come on and quickly bring temps back down.

These trucks do a GREAT job controlling coolant temp. You have nothing to worry about.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Hell mine stays at 190-195 but we hardly ever see over 85* here

 

[Will_T]

Thanks! I was just wondering if the clutch fan should be coming on at 212 like that. Seems it is normal. Just not used to the fan running like that. On my previous truck the fan only came on rarely when temps were higher than normal. On a 4 or 5 hour day towing my TT, this truck will cycle the fan dozens of times but I guess it is just doing what it is supposed to. On our 2 week trip ending today, I probably saw a high ambient temp of 99 once or twice. All the other days were over 100, sometime 109 or 110. So that is likely a factor.

By the way I am not happy with the AC in this truck. It can not do the job at those temps at all. I ran it at the lowest setting and recycled air all day and still was uncomfortably warm. Next time out I will bring a thermometer and check the cab and vent temps. This trip all I could go by was how it felt but if I had to guess, I would say it was probably 80 in the cab when it was 100+ outside.

 

[gimmie11s]

What was your fan speed on the AC?

 

[Will_T]

What was your fan speed on the AC?

I tried 2, 3, and 4. May have put it higher at some point but eventually it is too loud. The air coming out of the vents did not seem as cold as I would expect, but I was not actually able to measure the temp.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I tried 2, 3, and 4. May have put it higher at some point but eventually it is too loud. The air coming out of the vents did not seem as cold as I would expect, but I was not actually able to measure the temp.

Well you gotta have on 7 otherwise the a/c is pretty useless lol

 

[Will_T]

Well you gotta have on 7 otherwise the a/c is pretty useless lol

Yikes! Serious? I find after 4 the blower is so loud you almost need earplugs. So forget about listening to anything other than really loud music.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Yikes! Serious? I find after 4 the blower is so loud you almost need earplugs. So forget about listening to anything other than really loud music.

Not that i find but im 1/2 deaf i got the music at 20 minimum to hear it normally lol

 

[gimmie11s]

Yikes! Serious? I find after 4 the blower is so loud you almost need earplugs. So forget about listening to anything other than really loud music.

We did 2500 miles last week towing our 5er up to Yellowstone and back from SoCal. It was 110* at some points through NV and UT.

Highest i ran the AC was 5 at times, but usually on 4.

I agree this is not the strongest automobile AC system, but it does an acceptable job IMO. My family of 6 was comfortable and not a single person commented they were "hot".

Really a non issue for us, but i agree the systems performance overall is lacking compared to other vehicles i own.

 

[shboxit dodge]

I have seen 216 degrees coolant temp towing and not towing. Guess this is normal.