I have towed a 6500lb load on the exact same trip with my 2011 ecoboost. It was 105+ day and not a single hiccup. Far outperformed my old 5.4L Easily held 70mph up the grade, and temperatures didn't rise at all.

Definitely sounds like there was an issue with your cooling system..

(Note: I was running 91octane.. I run 91 with towing in 100+, otherwise always fill up with 87)

 

Possibly, or it could have done more damage when the truck got that hot. If there is air in the system and you overheat the vehicle you can create pockets of super heated steam that can crack the block. Now before I get jumped on as a hater I am just saying it could happen not that it did happen.

 

70 MPH and 105* up Wolf Creek Pass? That's nearly 11,000 ft... winding roads... 7% grade... steep cliffs... ???? Gutsy move Mav.

 

Any Updates?

 

I think that was probably in response to the ORIGINAL POSTER - climbing up I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff.

 

x-2

 

Heading over the pass today.Very similar conditions. Will update tonight.

 

Suscribed, very interested in out come. However I don't understand the overheat warning not being pickup and stored????

 

To the OP. You were towing up Sunset Point. It is one of the worst, and longest climbs in the US. At the end of July, you are not only seeing temps, at the bottom, in the 105-110 range, but you are also seeing relatively high humidity (for AZ). That would probably put the humidity in the 25-45% range (due to our Monsoon season).

You were running low grade gas. Worse yet, you were running low grade AZ gas, which was probably still oxygenated, which means it was no better than watered down gas.

It was a perfect storm.

BTW, commercial trucks overheat on that run, all the time.

The other possibility, due to 777's dealership experience, is a temperature guage that was not working correctly, or an air bubble, seeing as how there was no code. The lack of a code is interesting.

The thing to remember, as Power Kid stated, is right in the owners manual, it said if you are going to be working the truck hard, under severe circumstances, that you need to run premium fuel. I think both of your situations qualify for the severe circumstances statement. Also, getting a tank of bad gas is certainly possible. That could trip up any vehicle.

The thing is, this route is one of the most traveled in AZ. If this was a common problem with EB trucks, we would be seeing this alot more. Half the Valley (population over 3 million) heads up to the mountains on the weekends, and the majority of them are towing TT's. Thus, this is appearing to be isolated instances under certain circumstances. I think one of things to come from this, is always use premium when towing. I know I would, if I had an EB.

BTW, if not for the fact that we are buying a 2013 Boss 302, I would have a Platinum or Lariat Plus EB F150 4x4 myself. I love my V10 SD, but 9.5-11 in city, and 12-14 on the highway gets old. Especially considering my truck is my daily driver. I would not think twice about buying one.

 

OK.... Great news (I think, anyway

This afternoon I took my truck over the same pass (twice) where the overheat occurred and it worked perfectly both times. I drove the speed limit or 5 over. Here are the minor differences from last time:

1) I used 91 Octane vs 88 Octane (BIGGEST FACTOR and probably the reason it worked so well)

2) My load was about 300 lbs lighter... negligible in my opinion. (6700#'s vs 7000#'s with an 11,000 lb capacity)

3) OAT was about 5*-7* less.

4) While I didn't beat my truck up the day the overheat occurred, I was obviously more aware of my driving technique this time.

Again, the truck drove like a dream! I averaged over 9 mpg from Durango to Wolf Creek Pass... up and down twice... then back home at 60-65 MPH. The trans stayed well in the normal range as did the coolant temp. The coolant temp did rise about 1/8 gauge, but that was about it.

Referring to some comments above... I was told there was no code because it was only a momentary problem... less than 30 seconds in my case. Some codes don't clear on their own and some do if the problem is not persistent enough.

I think the gas/quality/air theory is very credible. Besides that one time problem (at the beginning of a 2500 mile trip, by the way) I have had absolutely no other issues.

Bottom line.... I HIGHLY recommend the F150 ECOBOOST. It's a blast to drive without a tow vehicle and a joy to drive with one.

I don't know for sure if fuel was my problem... but it's working great now.

Hope this helps.

 

Awesome!!! Hopefully it was just a isolated one-time incident. Like you said "better prepared this time", good info us to remember when preparing for big tows.

 

That 302 is going to be SICK. What engines did you go with?

 

Didn't the OP say he checked the coolant level after the climb and it was OK? I would think there would be coolant loss and overheating smell if the engine seriously overheated. I don't know about the temperature gauge on the newer trucks but the gauge on my '98 is little more than an analog idiot light. Intentionally blowing up the engine on a new truck on vacation 1200 miles from home while pulling a travel trailer is a stroke of pure genius. I would guess the truck would be out off commission for at least 2 months.

 

We will be getting a standard Boss 302 in Grabber Blue, with the Recaro/torsen package.

We helped our local small Ford store sell their LS allocation, (for under MSRP, btw), so we will be buying our Boss for under MSRP also. I just couldn't buy one until we have a garage, and that goes in early next year (30x32 and high enough for a lift).

Our next vehicle was going to be a practical daily driver, with AWD (we get plenty of snow and ice here........... some years). However, as soon as I saw the special on the Boss 302 on the Speed Channel, I told my husband that is what we are buying next. I had a 1991 Mustang GT that I had built for handling. It could pull over 1G on the skidpad, was a low 13's car (naturally aspirated), and could do 60-0 in 112ft (12' Baer Claws all around). I consider a Boss to be the spiritual successor to my Mustang................. or maybe it is the other way around.

777, I think you just proved why Ford put that octane disclaimer in the owners manual. It helps to combat "the perfect storm."

 

My BAD... haha I thought you meant a boat lol