Engine temp questions?

[Vortex]

I am a newbie and have a simple question as to what the normal operating temp should be while towing.

Example:

I have a 30ft Toyhauler with 3 quads and all the gear loaded and weighs probably around 10k gross. When pulling the Cajon Pass (So. Cal.) which starts at around 1500 ft. and goes up to 4500 ft. There are 6% grades in 3 stages. My engine temp on my Banks PDA said I was hitting 230 degrees. My Idiot guage was just a hair under the "H". The clutch fan kicked in around 225 and would cool it down to around 220 and shut off. The outside temp was around 90 degrees.

Do I have anything to worry about or is this normal operating temperature range? I don't want to damage my motor and Duning season is upon us so I need to know if I have an issue and if so, Do any of you have any suggestions to keep my PS cool?

Any help or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[powerboatr]

can you give a bit more info
was this in OD
or 4th or even 3rd
rpm when you hit 230?
egt temps and boost along with trany temps and of course road speed
10k ?

 

[bushpilot]

220 doesnt sound high to me....hell the thermostat doesnt open til 180

 

[Digital Oxygen]

180 will burn ya a bit. 220 will scald you.

 

[bushpilot]

yeah but its not boiling either...if the fan clutch kicked in and the temps
continued to rise then there would be MORE cause for concern...

 

[Vortex]

I was in tow/haul mode and was in maybe 4th gear at about 50 mph. EGT temp maybe around 1200-1250 and trany temp on the idiot guage was still sitting in the middle. I had to slow to about 30 mph to keep the temp between 220 and 230. At that time I had a 3.73 rearend and had 37 in tires but I have changed to a 4.30 rearend but still hit 220 pulling a slite grade without a trailer.

 

[Vortex]

The clutch fan seemed like it kick in at about 225 and would bring down the temp to around 220. My concern was the banks PDA showed 230 and the idiot guage was at about 1/16 under H and I was getting nervous. Thats when I would back off to about 30 mph. When I bought the diesel I thought I would cruise up hill without problems, switched from a F-250 V-10 to the F-350 6.0.

 

[Kleetus]

Step 1. Get Mechanical Gauge.
Step 2. never pay attention to factory sensors or electrics...

At 230, you ought to be very, very close to boiling over. The trick is where is the sensor that's reading this... if it's right near the output of the EGR, it could be that hot there. A few inches away when it hits the rest of the coolant in the jacket, it will be back down to a more normal number. You spring a leak at that temperature it's not a boil over, it's a vapor explosion.

I don't honestly think it's that hot, I think there's a sensor on crack someplace in your truck...

 

[Vortex]

I do not know where the Ford placement of the water temp sensor is in the engine and I'm sure the Bank's PDA read out is from the same sensor. I will have to have it checked out. Thanks