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Overheating issues w towing

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by Claystundy805, Jun 15, 2021.

  1. Aug 20, 2022 at 8:51 AM
    #31
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Based on other members' experiences, there's a high temperature alarm at like 300 but I thought that was for the transmission fluid, not the coolant.
     
  2. Aug 20, 2022 at 8:53 AM
    #32
    Ders

    Ders Washington

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    I have checked the fins, they seem ok. I might just replace the T-stat and rad cap since they are cheap and the truck has 170k miles on it now.
     
  3. Aug 20, 2022 at 8:56 AM
    #33
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Over 245* on engine coolant temp.

    **to add, 50/50 mixture at 15 pounds of pressure boiling point is around 260 *F***
     
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  4. Aug 20, 2022 at 9:25 AM
    #34
    Ders

    Ders Washington

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    So >245 would be the danger, pull over temps
     
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  5. Aug 20, 2022 at 10:06 AM
    #35
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    I would be backing out of the throttle at 250* for sure.

    Some vehicles have two thermostats and the last one to open doesn’t until 225*.
     
  6. Aug 20, 2022 at 11:11 AM
    #36
    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    This may be the first time I have to disagree with ColoradoTJ. While I don't disagree that the engines and coolant can run hot and be fine, 220 for me is the do not cross thresh hold. If the engine goes over 204, it's getting a work out and if it's over 212 means I need to start relaxing on the throttle. I would definitely not recommend going over 220, and if you're seeing 216 you need to chill and slow down.

    In my experience going over normal operating temperature even when loaded down is rare and only due to excess and continuous high throttle usage. If you're at 216 you shouldn't be and are already pushing the truck extremely hard.
     
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  7. Aug 21, 2022 at 4:39 PM
    #37
    Ders

    Ders Washington

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    interesting! What made me a little surprised when I saw 216F is that the actually dash gauge still showed just under half.

    Last summer I saw the gauge hit 2/3 when I was towing a 6k lb trailer on a gravel road trying to escape a forest fire. This was before I had the scan tool.
     
  8. Aug 22, 2022 at 7:36 PM
    #38
    bflooks

    bflooks New Member

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    Only speaking from my own experiences, but I just recently had similar temps and needle spikes while towing, then confirmed 210 readings just driving around town. An hour, a $26 thermostat, and 1.5 gallons of coolant has me back down to 185 and no higher than 201 while towing.
     
  9. Aug 26, 2022 at 3:07 PM
    #39
    aaronoto

    aaronoto New Member

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    I've owned two Tundra's now and towed with both. The temperature gauge always sat a hair below halfway on the gauge and coolant temp never rose above 204F, even when towing 6,000+ lbs over a pass at 98F. Something isn't right...
     
  10. Aug 31, 2022 at 10:03 PM
    #40
    IowaGuy

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    What thermostat did u put in, a new one or a new one with a different opening point?
     
  11. Sep 1, 2022 at 3:40 AM
    #41
    bflooks

    bflooks New Member

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    After talking with the parts desk and techs at my local Toyota dealer, they determined the tstat is rated at 185. I have never seen temps that low, so I rolled the dice and had them bring it in the next day. It was cheap and relatively easy (though frustrating with bigger hands) to swap. Issue was immediately resolved and highest I've seen since, while towing, is 201. This is over nearly 2k miles.
     
  12. Sep 1, 2022 at 6:50 AM
    #42
    IowaGuy

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    So what is the stock thermostat temp. supposed to be?
     
  13. Sep 1, 2022 at 7:41 AM
    #43
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    WHAT??? Disagree with me!! You son of a....:rofl:

    Everyone has their comfort zones. I operate boilers so that might be why 220*F doesn't bother me like it might others.

    https://macsmobileairclimate.org/2021/04/19/the-pressure-is-on/

    "In a cooling system with a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water (distilled, deionized, etc.), the boiling point is roughly 220°F. With every pound per square inch (PSI) placed on the cooling system, the coolant’s boiling point raises approximately 3°F. A 15 PSI pressure cap twisted onto the radiator will result in a 45°F boiling point increase over the 220°F for a 265°F boiling point."

    The math works out....:thumbsup:

    boiler.jpg
     
  14. Sep 2, 2022 at 6:44 AM
    #44
    bflooks

    bflooks New Member

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    From what they told me, 185'ish. It took 15 minutes for them to come back and say "it's around 185" based on what the techs apparently see as "normal" temps. I didn't see anything stamped on it and the parts guys couldn't find the numbers, either.

    Do I have confidence in that number? Moderate*
    Is my truck now running close to that? Yes.
    Had it ever, since new, prior to tstat replacement? No.

    *A Gates replacement on Autozone's site says it starts to open at 180*, so I'll work with 185'ish for an OEM replacement.
     
  15. Sep 9, 2022 at 1:29 AM
    #45
    xc_tc

    xc_tc New Member

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    The red zone on the coolant gauge is right at 248 F. Any more and likely it’ll start to boil.
     
  16. Sep 15, 2022 at 5:39 PM
    #46
    Ders

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    Ok, so I replaced the thermostat with an aisin thermostat.

    Now I see my temp fluctuate between 190-204 just driving around town. I don’t remember that much fluctuation before, just city driving. I have burped the system I’ll try and burp it again when it cools. But could this be a radiator cap? Or is my thermostat no good?
     
  17. Sep 15, 2022 at 5:49 PM
    #47
    bflooks

    bflooks New Member

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    Cap was cheaper than the thermostat, but you'd likely.see signs of a leak. You can also give the fan a good shake and feel for any play and also look for any signs of leaking around the water pump. It's a rather simple system. This assumjng you checked for blockage in the hoses and upper radiator
     
  18. Sep 15, 2022 at 6:07 PM
    #48
    Ders

    Ders Washington

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    Not sure what would be blocking it. I wish I paid more attention before I replace the T-stat.

    If the rad cap was weak and not holding the pressure would that cause any issues without leaking externally?

    The water pump was replaced maybe 30k miles ago.

    fan seems ok, i’d think that would be running warm at idle, i’m consistent at 190deg at idle it’s only when driving I see up to 204deg which comes back down if I rev it up some.
     
  19. Sep 16, 2022 at 6:55 AM
    #49
    ZPMAN

    ZPMAN 2nd place is the 1st looser

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    I have been pulling a 28' ATC toy hauler to motocross events almost every weekend. What i have noticed is that if you let the RPMs get to low your engine and trans temps will raise in a hurry. Do not use 6th unless going down hill with no load on the engine and don't forget to manually shift to 4th if going up any grades 5th is ok but if you dog it on a small grade for a short period it will raise temps. I keep forgetting to pin my transmission cooler open when towing and someday would like to install this https://youtu.be/GOUamwDJNPU
    20220713_121419.jpg
    20220912_191808.jpg
     
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  20. Sep 16, 2022 at 8:07 AM
    #50
    Ders

    Ders Washington

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    Yeah I have noticed that too! What is concerning to me is my temp is now fluctuating 15deg without towing.

    must be air trapped in it, i’ll try and burp it again.
     
  21. Sep 17, 2022 at 3:21 PM
    #51
    Ders

    Ders Washington

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    Ok, I went to burp the system again, and I found that with a newspaper the fan can be stoped completeley and spun the other way.

    but does a fan really do much in terms of cooling at 60mph? Seems like that would cause heat issues at stop or slow speeds and not highway speeds.
     
  22. Sep 28, 2022 at 2:46 AM
    #52
    baraynavab

    baraynavab Toyo Junkie

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    Not in the 5.7l. But on my other 4.7l LC when I did the timing belt. I had to do a radiator flush. After doing the timing belt I saw my coolant temperature to fluctuate a bit. Thought I had a radiator leak. But long story short I didn't burb the radiator properly. It took me 2 tried to get that fixed. On the 4.7l my Temps went from between 194-205 before to 185-194 after burping.

    So people say Toyota don't need burping but I suspect you may need to do another burp of your system to get things right.

    Forgot to mention my coolant reserve tank used to empty which is why I thought I was having a coolant leak. But turned out needing just a good old burping.
     

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