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Overheat discussion Part 2!!

120K views 956 replies 144 participants last post by  djdave33  
#1 ·
OK guys we're going to try something a little different this year. This will be the Official "Overheating" Thread for this year. Others will be closed or merged into this one.

Please be especially nice in this one. Keep your posts to the point and on topic.

Good Luck out there this year!!

On Edit;

For those of you that don't know, one of the major contributors in the fight against overheating was banned from this site for reasons we need not go into. Contact info to this banned member is in no way shape or form allowed to be posted here. There are no exceptions. Discussion of their product is allowed. Contact a moderator via PM to voice your opinion if this is an issue for you. Do not post it here.


This thread has been downsized into part 2. Part 1 is here;

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1675766#post1675766
 
#3 ·
scootersparky;1880011; said:
I just purchased a used 05 duramax about two months ago. We recently took a vacation from Memphis, tn to Destin Fl. I was towing a 30 fiver, roughly 8000 pounds. The outside air temp was around 90, the clutch fan ran in full lockup about 70% of the time, at speeds between 65 and 70. It was soo annoying, we couldnt hear each other talk and it knocked my mpg down to about 9. Ive been reading these forumns for about a month now but just now decided to chime in. We dont take many long distant trips but it would be worth it to me to get the V2 when money allows. I did however purchase the CAI mod and am happy to report almost 2 mpg better not towing. Looking forward to this weekend when we take a little camping trip. I read somewhere about moving the trans cooler to a lower postion. Is this worth doing and will it help at all? Thanks for all the great info.
i picked up about 2mpg towing ,and no annoying fan,with my v2 fan mod
 
#4 ·
I know that all the LLYs are overheaters, but was wondering if higher preasure in tranny can boost engine temps? The reason I ask is that this weekend was the first time I towed in high outside temps since I got my tranny built and I was about 10* higher than I ever was on the same route and oat.... Heck, im only pulling about 5000lbs in a 24' toyhauler and temps on hills were up to 210, saveing for V2 now so when I take a trip with real hills im not sitting on the side of the road
 
#6 ·
I asked these questions in a post about Mike L.'s tranny cooler, I was wanting Tex's input on this also. (wasn't sure if he read much of the tranny stuff or not) so I will dump them here also ........

Will this cooler (Mike L.'s) help with high ect's by lowering the trans temp. Can this cooler be used in conjunction with the V2 cooler. If you had this one would you even need the V2 and if you had the V2 would you need Mike L.'s cooler? Sorry for all the questions but I really would like to know ... trying to go to school on this stuff. Thanks. :D
 
#7 ·
I'll chime in here for Tx,

Yes the V2 and Tranny Cooler can both be used, the reside in different locations.

The Tranny Cooler will slow the heat rise, but for most Overheaters it will not be enough, you are still blowing that heat through the rest of the radiator stack.

If you have the V2, there will still be some benefit to having the tranny cooler, it will lower temps by up to 30 degrees more on the allison. Also, you will see the tranny temp come back down much faster after getting hot per testing that Swatkins has done recently.
 
#8 ·
Tailhunter;1880661; said:
Is 210 even a problem?
I think 210 is a little to warm for what im putting the truck through, it just tells me if I put it to the test it will go to high
 
#10 ·
Denboy;1879255; said:
What about our members on limited income that bought these trucks and a 5er's for there golden years and just dont have the spare cash to lob out for the addons to get the truck to do what it is supposed to.IT IS NOT RIGHT!!
Den.
A limited income individual isnt driving a 40K truck and 40+K trailer, if that is the case, said individual needs to have a reality check. If you dont have a grand laying around, you better not get far from home with the rig. I have spent that amount of coin just to get out of a bind on the side of the road. Tires, axles, etc. can put an end to your fun pretty quick. :)
 
#11 ·
D Lafleur;1881080; said:
A limited income individual isnt driving a 40K truck and 40+K trailer, if that is the case, said individual needs to have a reality check. If you dont have a grand laying around, you better not get far from home with the rig. I have spent that amount of coin just to get out of a bind on the side of the road. Tires, axles, etc. can put an end to your fun pretty quick. :)

?? :rolleyes:
 
#12 ·
Tailhunter;1880697; said:
I asked these questions in a post about Mike L.'s tranny cooler, I was wanting Tex's input on this also. (wasn't sure if he read much of the tranny stuff or not) so I will dump them here also ........

Will this cooler (Mike L.'s) help with high ect's by lowering the trans temp. Can this cooler be used in conjunction with the V2 cooler. If you had this one would you even need the V2 and if you had the V2 would you need Mike L.'s cooler? Sorry for all the questions but I really would like to know ... trying to go to school on this stuff. Thanks. :D
As a test mule I have a lot of different things on my truck... Right now there is a V2 with fan, Fan Damn, CAI and a Mile L cooler.. They all help in different ways,,,

IF you're just worried about HI temps the V2 takes care of that...

The CAI reduces intake air temps which is a good thing. :)

The Fan Damn.. gets totally rid of the factory fans noise AND gives me a huge HP increase which results in better MPG and more POWER!

The Mike L cooler is the newest addition to the mix and was added to help tame the tranny temps.. So far I have seen a 30 to 40 degree reduction in temps with a remarkable reduction in the time it takes for tranny temps to lower once they rise,

I am taking two weeks off and hitching up the 5er for some serious time off and serious pulling :) Going to Colorado for some mountain air and testing of all the items while pulling at high altitudes, high summer temps and steep grades...

Going to be fun :)
 
#13 · (Edited)
The answer is yes the tranny imposes a healthy load on the cooling system. The Mike L cooler is a nice piece and does exactly what Mike L says it does and I am going to carry it as a CoolMyDuramax.com product. For the guy looking to lower trans temps on the gauge there is no better solution out there as far as simplicity and ease of installation than the Mike L coolers.

BUT, there are system limitations associated with the stock position, this is inherent in the GM design and is beyond the ability of the little cooler up front to take care of. That does not mean that the little cooler up front isn't doing its job, its just impossible for it to do tings out of its reach. It will not prevent overheating, Mike L does not even begin to make any claim for it in that regard. The V2 also helps lower tranny temps by keeping the coolant cooler for use on the factory cooler in the rad, but there are limitations to its reach on tranny temps too.
 
#17 · (Edited)
scootersparky;1882413; said:
Thanks so much, ill give it a try and see if it helps. Just wanted to say your CAI mod gave me almost two more mpg. Thanks alot
Thats the "Want mods that pay you back?" part of my sig, so far all my stuff truly does pay you back and thats real. ;) Most people pick up at least 1 MPG off that simple kit, glad it works for you. Feel free to split the $$$ gains with me :D after it has paid for itself. I swear I need some sort of subscription or lease program for this stuff ......


My tranny cooler moving fun is here if you want ideas:

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showpost.php?p=698607&postcount=45

:)
 
#18 ·
Chris what does moving the tranny cooler accomplish?
 
#21 ·
kneedrager428;1882960; said:
Chris what does moving the tranny cooler accomplish?
There is greater airflow down lower in the grill versus in the center, this is due to aerodynamics and fan placement, the lower and outer position is in the sweep of the fan blades. That increases the effectiveness of the cooler. It also removes the cooler fan clutch signal from directly in front of the fan clutch.
 
#22 ·
Ok, I'm lazy so I'm just going to do a reply here. I'm the one with the Topkick pickup with an 05 LLY. Just completed a trip from Mich to Cal and back pulling a GCVW of about 22K and this is what happened to me. We took the more southern route out thru New Mexico, Arizona and Vegas. We hit record temps out there. Generally, running on flat ground(when I could find it) the engine ran alittle hotter than normal for Michigan, maybe 200 or so with an outside temp of 105 to 115-Yeah, it sucked! Anyhow, when going up a grade from the Colorado River headed west I hit about a 10 mile grade at maybe 6%? The temp gauge started climbing. The Allison downshifted to 4th to keep my speed up and it did that but the engine temp kept climbing. When the needle hit the first red tick I manually dropped it into third gear. The temp came down to about 215-220? I had to do this one more time on another long steep grade. The trans temp was also just about in the yellow range during these episodes. I guess what I would ask of U that have overheating problems, "At what ambient temperature is it acceptable for an engine to overheat at? 110? 130? 200? There is a limit right? I felt mine performed well. I saw a helluva a lot of fairly new semi's laying on the side of the road at these steep grades as well as alot of cars. My Duramax kept going albeit I had to downshift to keep from spewing. I never had a light or alarm go off. I watched the temps close (Thanks to u guys around here) and here I am back safe and sound in Michigan. Now my qustion is: Do I have an overheater?
 
#24 ·
mbro223;1885172; said:
Ok, I'm lazy so I'm just going to do a reply here. I'm the one with the Topkick pickup with an 05 LLY. Just completed a trip from Mich to Cal and back pulling a GCVW of about 22K and this is what happened to me. We took the more southern route out thru New Mexico, Arizona and Vegas. We hit record temps out there. Generally, running on flat ground(when I could find it) the engine ran alittle hotter than normal for Michigan, maybe 200 or so with an outside temp of 105 to 115-Yeah, it sucked! Anyhow, when going up a grade from the Colorado River headed west I hit about a 10 mile grade at maybe 6%? The temp gauge started climbing. The Allison downshifted to 4th to keep my speed up and it did that but the engine temp kept climbing. When the needle hit the first red tick I manually dropped it into third gear. The temp came down to about 215-220? I had to do this one more time on another long steep grade. The trans temp was also just about in the yellow range during these episodes. I guess what I would ask of U that have overheating problems, "At what ambient temperature is it acceptable for an engine to overheat at? 110? 130? 200? There is a limit right? I felt mine performed well. I saw a helluva a lot of fairly new semi's laying on the side of the road at these steep grades as well as alot of cars. My Duramax kept going albeit I had to downshift to keep from spewing. I never had a light or alarm go off. I watched the temps close (Thanks to u guys around here) and here I am back safe and sound in Michigan. Now my qustion is: Do I have an overheater?
Even though you were running in high ambient temps, an ECT of 215 - 220 or more is too high to suit me. I'm familiar with the grade you are a talking about. I call it the Needles grade. It' s a long, hot SOB. I'm sure TxC (Chris) has something to bring those ECT temps down. I think it will extend the life of your rig also. Heat Kills!
 
#25 ·
I always thought they, the Kodiaks and Topkicks, had a different stack than the p/u's. Is that correct?