I have a 2005 and I will be towing 12,000 lbs + this summer, so should I begin the lemon law process now? Or should I hold on for the fix from you guys on this site? I have 8,000 miles currently with no problems, but I havn't really towed anything considerable yet eithier. I have seen several threads with a possible cure, but I havn't seen if it has been done yet... if it has please let me know soon... Thanks to all for trying to solve this overheating issue.

Let me be the first to welcome you, bigb58. All states make their own lemon laws so you should get state specific info on that. What state do you live in? Lemon law begins with a demonstrated vehicle defect and you currently have no problems.

After I bought my first diesel truck last year I found this site, did a bunch of reading and began to worry about overheating. I'm not too worried now because DP members and vendors have supplied tons of info and some items that specifically address this issue in one way or another. And more is to come. You have come to the right place.

I have had zero overheating issues with my LLY - including the miles I was hauling my 5ver last summer (fully loaded it was within 500-1000 lbs of GVW). Yeah - like you I was very concerned about what I've read about the LLY and its supposed overheating issues but it appears to be a limited problem - in fact I'll bet there are many more trucks without the problem than with. Besides - it you happen to be one of the few there appears to be a fix to help solve the problem. No worries mon!

:ro)

I have never had any overheating problems either. My trailer will weigh 11,000 + fully loaded. My truck has 19,600 on it now, and I estimate 5 - 6,000 are tow miles.

Remeber most of what you read here is the bad. Ive never had a problem with over heating either.

I have never had a overheating issue either and i have drug a trailer with lumber and a 4wheeler in the bed with othe items at 80 and only got to 200 on the temp.

I wonder what is different with your engines to mine then??

I have never had a overheating issue either and i have drug a trailer with lumber and a 4wheeler in the bed with othe items at 80 and only got to 200 on the temp.

Dude - up north we "pull" our trailers - "drugs"s are what we take when we're sick (or when we're bored).:joke:

most overheat issues are pulling near capacity load with wide open throttle on 5+% grade of about five miles in length or longer. try the brake test on your truck. do a search for it

apparently all lly's are potential overheaters

i havent met all the parameters to have it happen

I did a 4800 mile:grd: + trip last summer from ohio out to Wy, south thru Colorado and back, Same engine as yours, loaded to about 11000 and drove the speed limit plus some. Enjoy your trip. BTY I am 100% stock.

I had no problems pulling 15K# from NY to MO, NY to KY and PA to MO. The NY to MO trip was in December of 04, so the cold weather probably would've prevented overheating. PA to MO was in May or June of 05, so it was warmer, but still no problems. The closest it came to overheating was somewhere in Ohio going down to Murray KY pulling 15K when it was probably 90+ out. Started to warm up a little, but probably didn't get to 215 (the gauge got almost to the 235 mark, but the scale is off. when it reads 210, the engine is actually 190).

Zero probs. here ...towed parleys 6-7,000 ish lbs.(one tuff mother of a hill) when i first got the truck last summer didn't know my ac was on:eek: 1.truck controlls were new to me 2.plus i was in awe of the power and not worried about climate control 3.my focus was on the temp gauges any way.... didn't come close to over heating and hasn't since..guess i'm lucky to have no probs. yet...

I had a problem with my first truck, 2004.5 LLY, and GM eventually bought it back. I replaced it with a 2005 LLY, and did a little work to it, finger stick, EGR blocker, Hypertech, 4" exhaust, and killed the kitty. I have towed my 11k lbs trailer all over Sierra's last summer and NO PROBLEMS!! I am very happy with my truck and hope it continues to provide me trouble free driving. Don't mean to sound cynical, but after going through the overheating problem it makes you a bit in tune to what is going on with your truck

Another '04.5 owner chiming in with zero problems overheating ( or anything else for that matter), including pulling 10k to Niagara Falls and back in the heat of the summer last July. LOVE THIS TRUCK!

GM does not have a fix for it. Others on this board are working hard to find a fix. Some overheat easier than others. My 05 would overheat with a 12000 pound RV and 70 degree weather.

If GM had a fix they would not be buying my truck back.

What temps are normal for towing? I think my temp gauge (water) is always at 210 whether towing or not. Is this normal?

Highmark, My truck is the same. Empty on open highway at 70 ish mph it will run right around 210. It is that way in summer at 100+ degrees or winter at 55 degress. If I drop the speed to 60ish it will go down to around 200, and if I get stopped (so cal traffic so it happens all the time :mad: ) it can drop down to under 190 on the guage. I asked the dealer about it and they said yes that is "normal". I personally don't like that it runs so high or that it varies so much, but.....:confuzeld

Here's the part I don't get. How and why is it that some trucks DO overheat, and others DON'T. Same year, same truck, same assembly line, etc.

Highmark,
My truck is like yours, always at 210, pulling the 16K trailer or not. But when I pull the 5'ver, the fan is almost constantly on. The dealer says, "Well, you know it's working then". Well, it may be working, but it's a worthless ride having to listen to that stinkin fan for thousands of miles of vacation. I hope someone on here (TXChristopher?) comes up with a fix soon!! GM doesn't seem to be worried about it.

If you try to lemon your truck just on a (hunch) you better have one good lawyer.Proof is key especially if you don't even know that your truck has a problem.My truck was one piece of sh** and I had proof it was still a painful road to travel

Here's the part I don't get. How and why is it that some trucks DO overheat, and others DON'T. Same year, same truck, same assembly line, etc.

The simple answer to this question is that every driver is different, I pull 9 to 10k when I pull, and have never had any signs of an overheating issue. However I will not push my truck as hard as some here. 50 - 55 MPH is acceptable to me on a good grade. To others 70 MPH is too slow.

So to the point....the way you drive contributes to the inherent issues the truck has. Do I believe that ALL LLY's will overheat....YES.....Given identical circumstances (including driving style). Do I believe that I will overheat mine? I don't know, I hope not. But if I do I know there are options which have been developed here, and are still being developed here which will help, or hopefully in the near future, eliminate the problem. At this poing I am unwilling to invest in patches or fixes I have not shown a need for.

Please people do not take offence to this statement as I am not saying it intending to BASH anyone. Facts are Facts however, and how you drive a vheicle makes a difference. I am not saying that your driving habits are wrong and mine are right because they are both right and wrong for the same reasons. To each thier own people.

John

I have not posted many times, but have read about every post concerning overheating LLY's and so far only ONE thing is consistent among all the posts: That every vehicle is different and overheating is very inconsistent. I have never had a problem. I have never towed more than 10k but that was through TX and AZ (Pensacola, FL to CA) along I-10 in the heat of summer. The fan was intermittent and the temps never went much past the 210 mark. Take it for what it is worth, be sensitive to the issue, but don't automatically assume your truck is going to overheat because someone else's is.

Tommy

The simple answer to this question is that every driver is different, I pull 9 to 10k when I pull, and have never had any signs of an overheating issue. However I will not push my truck as hard as some here. 50 - 55 MPH is acceptable to me on a good grade. To others 70 MPH is too slow.


JohnJohn I think you are off base my truck could not hit 70 on any hill I was lucky to keep 50 I don't push my truck I just try to use it I think chevy would have told me to take a hike if they did not know of the problem thats why I now drive a dodge and look at the photo my speed is not close to 70 mph.You think driver is different it's more like every truck is different http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_1697.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_1693.jpg

My dealer had my drive around with a data recorder to prove my old truck was overheating and I did prove it! Now, with my new truck (replacement) all is well.

Started to warm up a little, but probably didn't get to 215 (the gauge got almost to the 235 mark, but the scale is off. when it reads 210, the engine is actually 190).

The gauge is off in both directions. It will read just short of 210 at 185, it will also read just short of 210 at 215. In my experiance if you saw 235 you where well pass my comfort level.

John I think you are off base my truck could not hit 70 on any hill I was lucky to keep 50 I don't push my truck I just try to use it I think chevy would have told me to take a hike if they did not know of the problem thats why I now drive a dodge and look at the photo my speed is not close to 70 mph.You think driver is different it's more like every truck is different
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_1693.jpg

So you are of the opinion that not all LLY trucks will overheat, and you and the others here who have had trouble are the unlucky few who have defective trucks???

I would be curious to know which hill you seemed to have the most problems, and your load ( I know I have read this bbefore, but off hand I do not reacll). I have pulled Pacheco Pass and Grapevine with between 9 and 10k with no speed or overheating issues to date.

Again, I am not bashing anyone here, just wanting to hear all sides of the story. My opinions are based on the information available on this site regarding the situation and I am very much open to all input with which to base my opinions on.

John

SoCall LLY, I didnt know that temp gauge on the tranny would go that far up. I have been lucky, I have never gotten to the DIC overheat message.

I towed this weekend and purposely pushed it in the hills that I could find, I couldnt get pass 203. OAT 78* and no fan. I dont miss it either. By the way averaging 76 mph towing, I still got 9.6 mpg. I think my old DMax is finally working.

I have had my tranny temp between the first two red lines. It does bother you to see it there, trust me :)

.

So you are of the opinion that not all LLY trucks will overheat, and you and the others here who have had trouble are the unlucky few who have defective trucks???

I would be curious to know which hill you seemed to have the most problems, and your load
John
Any hill will do. I could hit 230 on the hill before the cajon pass (devore hill)and boilover on the cajon grade.I overheated three times in less then one hour on the grade from bishop,ca to mammoth,ca.My load is a fs2600 toy hauler with no water 10,000lb http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_0571.jpg

I also have an 05' LLY with 13k mi. My toyhauler is 12k fully loaded and have never had any overheating issues. I've towed over all the major grades from Central Cal to Glamis. I've towed with it stock to now with the Edge EZ and exhaust. With the Edge EZ the fan rarely kicks on now, only on the steeper grades.

John.
One doesn't need a hill!! try sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the I-15 in Las Vegas in July right at that big juction. With that fan roaring it scares you ok.At that time I was towing a 26ft Springdale T.T with this truck!!

BigB

I'm in the same boat as you! I to have the concerns and questions of LLY fixes. Its hard to decipher if anyone has a fix or even a great idea to help with overheating and engine fan take-offs. Most that chime in in my opion don't understand that towing 14 to 16K around with high temps and engine fan noise is a great concern. I have looked on and off trying to get ideas for 2 years and haven't seen anything that makes sense to me, as far as a bolt on fix the problem and hammer down modification I'm not sure there is one. I would like to try the nose shroud mod and a cold air intake personally but, then again haven't figured out how the heck to perform the nose shroud mod!
GOOD LUCK we will both be enlightened when help comes!

The simple answer to this question is that every driver is different, I pull 9 to 10k when I pull, and have never had any signs of an overheating issue. However I will not push my truck as hard as some here. 50 - 55 MPH is acceptable to me on a good grade. To others 70 MPH is too slow.

So to the point....the way you drive contributes to the inherent issues the truck has. Do I believe that ALL LLY's will overheat....YES.....Given identical circumstances (including driving style). Do I believe that I will overheat mine? I don't know, I hope not. But if I do I know there are options which have been developed here, and are still being developed here which will help, or hopefully in the near future, eliminate the problem. At this poing I am unwilling to invest in patches or fixes I have not shown a need for.

Please people do not take offence to this statement as I am not saying it intending to BASH anyone. Facts are Facts however, and how you drive a vheicle makes a difference. I am not saying that your driving habits are wrong and mine are right because they are both right and wrong for the same reasons. To each thier own people.

John

I will agree all drivers are different but that is not why some overheat and some do not. I believe there are more differences iin the trucks. I say this because my truck was 100% stock. It was never flogged hard or beat on. I pulled the same trailer on the same roads with an 01 duramax and never had these issues.

My truck hit 240 coolant pulling a V-nose motorcycle trailer with 3 Harleys in it about 3900 pounds. This was on flat interstate coming out of St Louis, 98 degrees out side. I was driving posted speed limit. Truck should have never got that hot pulling a load any 1/2 ton, or even S-10 could pull. My 01 could and did pull that same stretch of road with a 12000 pound RV and never got over 200.

I then towed my RV with the 05 truck for the dealer, with the service guy in the truck and the TechII hooked up. It was 72 degrees out side. Very small short interestate hill and the truck hit 242 in half a mile before the hill ended. The temp was from the Tech II. I was going under the posted limit.

I pulled up Saluida grade on I26 headed west. It was in the low 60's out side temp. Truck when into reduced power and limp. This again was pulling a 12000 pound RV. Well under the trucks rated limit. I sure was not speeding, I could not maintain even 45. My 01 LB7 pulled the same RV up Saluida with an out side temp of 97 degrees at 65 mph an coolant never got over 210 and trans never got over 200. The 05 in 60 degree weather trans hit 285, coolant gage was pegged. Had trans temp warning indicator and both engine coolant temp warnings.

I do not believe it is the driver.

Waiting on my 06 so I can use my RV again.

Is there a fix for the clutch fan always coming on. ITs getting close to that time of year and I need to take care of this issue.

The simple answer to this question is that every driver is different, I pull 9 to 10k when I pull, and have never had any signs of an overheating issue. However I will not push my truck as hard as some here. 50 - 55 MPH is acceptable to me on a good grade. To others 70 MPH is too slow.

So to the point....the way you drive contributes to the inherent issues the truck has. Do I believe that ALL LLY's will overheat....YES.....Given identical circumstances (including driving style). Do I believe that I will overheat mine? I don't know, I hope not. But if I do I know there are options which have been developed here, and are still being developed here which will help, or hopefully in the near future, eliminate the problem. At this poing I am unwilling to invest in patches or fixes I have not shown a need for.

Please people do not take offence to this statement as I am not saying it intending to BASH anyone. Facts are Facts however, and how you drive a vheicle makes a difference. I am not saying that your driving habits are wrong and mine are right because they are both right and wrong for the same reasons. To each thier own people.

John

I did not intend to stir up so many emotions here. I stand to my statement but read it again, especially the highlighted words. Remember, as it has been stated here, any vehicle can be made to overheat given the right circumstances. Yes I do believe that all LLY engines can be made to overheat. I believe that that has been proven here. But I'll say it again ANY VHEICLE CAN BE MADE TO OVERHEAT GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. Even the LB7 and LBZ, The Ford, The Dodge.....ANY VHEICLE.


FLSTDave,

I feel what you are saying, and my statement was not intended to incinuate you are a bad driver or anything. I have a very bad habbit of playing the Devils Advocate role converstaions, and my statement was intended to answer a specific question which was "Here's the part I don't get. How and why is it that some trucks DO overheat, and others DON'T. Same year, same truck, same assembly line, etc." by Kendall69.

I fully stand by my answer, but understand that I was not saying that dirving habits was the only reason for overheating issues. Far from it. But how a engine is broken in, how it is driven affects every aspect of how that engine preforms. Again I am NOT saying that you (or anyone else) did something wrong....and don't take this as a personal attack, but the fact is that driving habits DO affent how an engine operates. This has been tested in the past and proven true time after time.

I know this is a very heated (pardon the pun) subject, but remember that this statement is not intended to be an attack on any individuals driving habbits, or suggest that this is the only reason trucks are overtheating. Far from that, just to point out another of MANY varriables which can cause such issues.

TTFN

John

any vehicle can be made to overheat given the right circumstances

Granted "MANY variables which can cause such issues" BUT, I think what some people, including me, are concerned about, is that enough overheating has taken place to make a lot of people scratch their heads.

I think also, what some are concerned about isn't that ALL vehicles CAN overheat, but that these vehicles are overheating under conditions that we were ALL told the truck would perform well under. IE towing, up a grade, with a designated load, etc. I know I wasn't told don't tow up a hill with a load through the Desert Southwest. Which by the way is where my fan starts ROARING and doesn't stop for 4 hours. The salesman also never told me that I wouldn't be able to listen to the radio, or have a conversation the whole time the truck is roaring.
Furthermore I have driven enough vehicles and many overloaded, over the same roads, same ambient temps, and the "problems" are only with my 05 GMC.
It's frustrating that when one takes a vehicle to the dealer complaining about the constant ROAR, he's told "it's normal" When if fact driving for 40 years and owning dozens of vehicles, this is the only one it has ever happened to.

So yes, all vehicles CAN, under certain conditions overheat, but it just seems to happen to these rigs on a more than regular basis, with no cure in site. And GM just waiting till the three years or 36k miles run out on most of us. If they can keep us at arms length just a little while longer they will dodge this bullet.

You all can do what you want with yours truck's.I was tired of being told nothing was wrong with my truck so I got a lawyer.The funny thing was the guy from chevy who cut my buyback check told me we got it all figured out for 2006,I told him I will try my luck somewhere else.

I have a 2005 and I will be towing 12,000 lbs + this summer, so should I begin the lemon law process now? Or should I hold on for the fix from you guys on this site? I have 8,000 miles currently with no problems, but I havn't really towed anything considerable yet eithier. I have seen several threads with a possible cure, but I havn't seen if it has been done yet... if it has please let me know soon... Thanks to all for trying to solve this overheating issue.

Has your truck ever overheated before??? I have pulled a 12,000lb fifthwheel to Colorado three times and the only time it got hot was when I tried to race my cousin up "Wolf Creek Pass" in 90 degree temps. 9 mile 9 percent grade wide open throttle, yeah it got hot, my old gasser would have too...
I have seen a lot of complaints from people here about overheating issues, and I wonder if they are going over the trucks limitations.....My truck is supposed to be able to tow 14,900 lbs stock, add a tuner that dumps a lot more fuel (fuel equals btu's, the more fuel that gets burned the hotter your engine will run) and I can see a problem...and I personally know a lot of people that tow really big 20,000 plus fifthwheels with these trucks without any issues, but they know they are way over weight and don't try to push it, (ie try to race cousins up steep mountain grades).
I guess what I am trying to say is that these are pretty good trucks, but if your having overheating under norman conditions I would think something mechanically is wrong (ie, head gasket, head/block cracks, bad pressure caps, list can go on for ever).
Good luck, try not to have too much fun...

apparently all lly's are potential overheaters

i havent met all the parameters to have it happen

I guarantty that I can make any engine overheat if I try hard enough.
It dosen't matter what make of truck I can do it...

i agree kampzite, i will be the first to admit i may be overloading my 05 lly, i tow my goosneck equip. trailer and backhoe's, 580sm not bad, 590sm, went and weighed it, 31,510 total package, so about 24,000lbs+ of pull, no issues yet,i take it easy and got a good truck i guess, also no serious mods yet but maybe later.i tow them all over central ca. i guess it comes down to the specific truck, driver,load,mods, outside temp and mech. issues all so much that can give the lly a bad rap, but could happen to any truck given all the various conditions.................. just my opion.

FLSTDave,

"Here's the part I don't get. How and why is it that some trucks DO overheat, and others DON'T. Same year, same truck, same assembly line, etc." by Kendall69.

I fully stand by my answer, but understand that I was not saying that dirving habits was the only reason for overheating issues. Far from it. But how a engine is broken in, how it is driven affects every aspect of how that engine preforms. Again I am NOT saying that you (or anyone else) did something wrong....and don't take this as a personal attack, but the fact is that driving habits DO affent how an engine operates. This has been tested in the past and proven true time after time.

TTFN

John

I also do not get why some overheat and others do not. I have a friend who has 05 that was built 1 week before mind, only real differance is his is a 3500 SRW and mine is a 3500 DRW. Both are GMC, SLT crew cab 4x4. His RV is more than 2000 pounds heaver than mine and 9 inches taller. Both trucks are 100% stock. He has yet to overheat his truck. We went on a camping trip together. My fan ran the whole trip, my engine coolant got over 240 and trans over 250. His never went over 210 engine and trans was 190. This was traveling together..

I agree that break in, driving habits, vehicale maintenace, tire type and inflation and such all contribute to differances. I broke my 01 LB7 and My 05 LLY in the same way. Tires are the same size and inflation. Both trucks switched to the same synthetic motor oil and trans oil and diff oil at 5000 miles. Both trucks were driven by the same person, towing the same RV.

In my case and I believe many others it is not the operator using the truck wrong. There is a problem with some of them, and the degree of how bad it is varies also.

GM has a statement in the sales literature that basically states these trucks should be able to maintain a safe interstate speed while towing at or below the GCVWR. For my 05 3500 that is 23500 pounds. Mine overheated at 11,500 pounds of truck and trailer together, or more than 10,000 pounds below the rating. Also pulling my 12000 pound RV in 60 degree weather I could not make 20 mph up saluida cause the engine and trans temp limped the truck, 20 mph on an interstate is not safe.

If GM did not believe the problem was the truck they would not be buying them back

I also do not get why some overheat and others do not. I have a friend who has 05 that was built 1 week before mind, only real differance is his is a 3500 SRW and mine is a 3500 DRW. Both are GMC, SLT crew cab 4x4. His RV is more than 2000 pounds heaver than mine and 9 inches taller. Both trucks are 100% stock. He has yet to overheat his truck. We went on a camping trip together. My fan ran the whole trip, my engine coolant got over 240 and trans over 250. His never went over 210 engine and trans was 190. This was traveling together..


GM has a statement in the sales literature that basically states these trucks should be able to maintain a safe interstate speed while towing at or below the GCVWR. For my 05 3500 that is 23500 pounds. Mine overheated at 11,500 pounds of truck and trailer together, or more than 10,000 pounds below the rating. Also pulling my 12000 pound RV in 60 degree weather I could not make 20 mph up saluida cause the engine and trans temp limped the truck, 20 mph on an interstate is not safe.

If GM did not believe the problem was the truck they would not be buying them back

Dave, I agree 100% with you. There was nothing that driving habits or the "band-aids" could have done for your truck. Your truck had something wrong in a bad way. Some of the other chronic overheaters here are in the high GCWR or over GCWR numbers, or they are in extreme conditions. These things were not factors in your problem.

Dave, I agree 100% with you. There was nothing that driving habits or the "band-aids" could have done for your truck. Your truck had something wrong in a bad way. Some of the other chronic overheaters here are in the high GCWR or over GCWR numbers, or they are in extreme conditions. These things were not factors in your problem.

Yup, I also agree, yours may have been one with a poor casting (clogged water passages), bad thermostats, bad head gaskets...the list goes on.
Did you ever get your truck fixed to your satisfaction?? Or did they buy it back???

Wasn't there a bulletin that some trucks had water pumps that were not manufactured correctly?

Try the new reflash - my truck runs just like my old lb7 did. Lower temps and smoother running.

jeff

Did you ever get your truck fixed to your satisfaction?? Or did they buy it back???

Nope they could never fix the problem nor find the cause. They are buying it back so to speak. They have an idetically equiped 06 LBZ on order for me right now. Only differance is the 06 will be silver birch color. The TWP for my truck was 2/27/06. I should be getting it soon. The swap is pretty fair, I pay 24.5 cents a mile for the miles on the 05 up to the date they agreed to buy it back. That was 12 Jan. I pay nothing for the miles since then wich is close to 8000 additional miles.

My brother has an 06 LBZ 3500 crew cab dooley and just loves it. His is steel gray which is why got the silver birch

Not all the LLY trucks overheat. And a least a couple of LB7 trucks do, but it is more rare.

We put an 11.5' Lance camper on Blue, a 22' flatbed with a Corvette + spares and tools and highballed it to Kentucky from California going 75mph most the way over some big ass hills in August with no problems. Only one time did the temp go above normal, and that was going up a very steep grade at over 80mph in 110 deg heat. I was essentially asking for it. By slowing down to 70mph, it went back to normal.

I'm still of the belief that some trucks are "different", but I have no proof.

Not all the LLY trucks overheat. And a least a couple of LB7 trucks do, but it is more rare.

We put an 11.5' Lance camper on Blue, a 22' flatbed with a Corvette + spares and tools and highballed it to Kentucky from California going 75mph most the way over some big ass hills in August with no problems. Only one time did the temp go above normal, and that was going up a very steep grade at over 80mph in 110 deg heat. I was essentially asking for it. By slowing down to 70mph, it went back to normal.

I'm still of the belief that some trucks are "different", but I have no proof.

Exact proof may never come, but you are right on target about "differences". Some are much more resistive than others, thats a certainty, the exact reasons why, be it driving style or wind or the road or whatever, eludes us still.

.

I do want to say that there is not an "official" fix yet, key word YET, but if you will check out the LLY Thermal Mapping project you will see it doesn't look to be too far away. Is it for sure? Not until demonstrated as such, but its looking good.....

.

You all can do what you want with yours truck's.I was tired of being told nothing was wrong with my truck so I got a lawyer.The funny thing was the guy from chevy who cut my buyback check told me we got it all figured out for 2006,I told him I will try my luck somewhere else.

Your story sounds very similar to mine. After 2 vacations ruined last summer with a stone stock GMC 2500 due to overheating, my wife got rid the GMC and got a Dodge while I was gone on a business trip.

In the GMC, if we were towing the travel trailer and the temps were over about 80 degrees outside, it would overheat everytime.

I see you now a Dodge. FWIW - I pulled a 10,000+ trailer to Florida this past winter with my Dodge and left the winter front the truck, figuring I would take it off when the temps started going up. Outside temps rose to about 75 degrees and the engine temp never went over 190, and the fan never ran, even with 80 % of the radiator blocked.

It is a real shame that after 2 years of this problem, GM still has not fixed this problem. I am wondering if the 06 trucks will overheat this summer???

I pull an excavator (about 14500 lbs with trailer) just about every day with my truck. Just rolled 50,000 miles and have not had no overheating problems. I am running quadzilla tuner set on level 3 70hp at all times.



05 4 door 3500 6speed quadzilla tuner

Welcome !

Well it sounds like you should just trade it off, before you have any idea if its going to have a problem.. They are obviously a poor choice for a tow truck!!!! have you had this problem with other new trucks?? ( give it a chance ))
however i pull 1294 plus tongue weight, on the stock hitch. 31foot+ tt.. not one problem.
if you do have a problem there is plenty of ( good ) advise on diesel place.

arm

Just have a little over 9,200 miles on Bertha, Since June of last year, have pulled sig. 5er, loaded, a little over 13,000#, through the mountains of WV, TN,VA, NC and SC, long steep grades, curvey roads, temps. in the 90's, humidy in the upper 90's, no overheating issues...yet, hope there won't be any. Fan comes on when I think it shouldn't,(colder weather), but have yet to see high coolant or tranny temps. Here's hoping.:ro)

Good looking truck ARM

Well I just got my truck back today from the dealership... told them it was overheating when it pulled and they found that the radiator was plugged by something from the factory. They said this has happened before where there is a temperature differential in the radiator... at the top of the radiator the temp was 137 and at the bottom of the radiator it was 60 degrees, so they say now I should be ok after they replaced the radiator... guess well see when I pill the 5th soon up the Sierra's.

... at the top of the radiator the temp was 137 and at the bottom of the radiator it was 60 degrees,

What is it now?

Where is the old rad? How many miles on it? Did they weigh it and compare that to the new one?

Dang!

From what I have been reading in the Auto industry trade magazines heat issues are only going to get worse for diesels in the very near future. Below are some significant points from the articale.

Situation
1. Jan 2007 engines will be environmentally cleaner
2. Will also have higher truck and running costs, decreased performance and fuel efficiency
3. Transmission manufacturers say can help alleviate some economic burden
4. Changed product to offset performance changes expected in next generation low-emission diesel engines
5. Allison says 5 elements of 2007 engines must be addressed: cooling, launch performance, ambient temperature, engine controls, integration of transmission w/ diesel particulate controls
6. Active regeneration of particulate filters may affect transmission's torque curve



Significant Points
1. Slightly lower fuel economy expected w/ ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel
2. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel has lower energy content than current diesel fuel
3. 2007 engines bring more heat to cooling system; transmission companies work w/ engine/truck makers to handle changes in cooling systems, deal w/ temperature around transmission
4. New engines will have different performance characteristics, making torque converter matching even more important
5. Eaton says independent study of performance of new transmission series showed 19% fuel advantage over traditional torque converter automatic transmission
6. Eaton says transmissions could save users more than $1,500/year compared w/ conventional automatic transmission, depending on application


How much worse is the overheating problem going to get when only the ultra low sulfer diesel is available?

What are the 07 duramaxes going to have to deal with?

Will we see trucks that have never overheated start to overheat?

there is a temperature differential in the radiator... at the top of the radiator the temp was 137 and at the bottom of the radiator it was 60 degrees,

Ok, so I am confused??

Correct me if I am wrong, but if the Inlet from the engine is on the top Drivers side, and the Outlet to the engine is on the bottom passanger side, then would it not make sense that the top of the radiator would be warmer than the bottom???? Apparently the engine was not fully warmed up when they took thier readings.

Maybe I am just looking at this wrong. As it has become popular to say here.....but what do I know.

John

I think he is suggesting clogged tubes down low.

But I agree the temps don't mean a thing if the stats are not opened. Plus more of the airflow is down low

I think he is suggesting clogged tubes down low.

Yes, I am sure that is what the dealer is suggesting, but my thought is that thier test is not accurate as the engine was not at operating tempature and all of the cooling system parts up to operating tempature.

I truely hope this works for you, but I would have my doubts.

John

Ok, so I am confused??

Correct me if I am wrong, but if the Inlet from the engine is on the top Drivers side, and the Outlet to the engine is on the bottom passanger side, then would it not make sense that the top of the radiator would be warmer than the bottom???? Apparently the engine was not fully warmed up when they took thier readings.

Maybe I am just looking at this wrong. As it has become popular to say here.....but what do I know.

John

You tell 'em John! :ro)

Its safe to say there was NO flow with temps like that.

Below in the graph red is the temp of the coolant at the radiator inlet, the blue is the temperature of the coolant at the radiator outlet, and the purple is the temperature of the coolant at the water pump inlet. That spread between radiator inlet and outlet is only possible with the stats closed or VERY minimally cracked rear stat.

The second graph shows what happens as the stats open and the bypass closes. Radiator outlet temperature rises up to meet with water pump inlet temperature and they basically become one and stay below radiator inlet temperature by the amount the radiator is capable dropping off the coolant thermally. When the stats close again, the temps immediately seperate and wait for flow again. They just don't mingle with each other without flow through the radiator.

But, I don't even know what I know. :confused:

.

TxC, I see the weather gods are putting off your test this week. You have all the hardware installed?

TxC, I see the weather gods are putting off your test this week. You have all the hardware installed?

Yeah, the weather isn't cooperating now. Tomorrow we have a high of 81*, but a 40% chance of rain. I want at least 75* for a comparable test, hotter is even better.

Otherwise yeah I am ready.

.

The radiator issue, the dealer said, has happened before... they said about 30% of the radiator was clogged and that was something that came from the factory that caused it...as they put it. I have 8900 miles on the rig, so not to many. Gonna get ready to pull the 5th (10,000 +) as soon as things heat-up a little here... hopefully it dosen't do the overheat thing... but if the radiator was clogged as they said it was I am sure I would have overheated for sure.