2001 Supercrew 5.4...oversized tires....stock gears. 87,000 miles

This weekend I overheated my truck...I was pulling a very heavy trailer loaded with 4wheelers up a very steep canyon. I was pretty much floored & going approx. 10MPH while running the A/C & it was 105F outside. I don't think nothing is wrong with my truck...just over worked it due to all the circumstances. After I put water back in the radiator & started going back down hill everything was fine.

When I got home I pressure tested my system & everything was fine...no leaks! I then drained & flushed everything & filled back up w/anti-freeze & a bottle of water wetter.


My questions are...

1. Should my fan turn freely by hand w/engine off?
2. Is there anything else I should check?
3. How would I check the water pump & thermostat?
4. Fan clutch?

Any opinions/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

You check the t-stat by putting it on the stove and boiling it, when it opens you take it's temp. But they are cheap and you definitely gave it the killer ride, just do a new one (and gasket). To check the fan clutch turn off the engine and watch the fan, if it spins less than 2 revolutions you are OK. Yes it will turn freely by hand. Also change your oil, check your trans fluid. Transmission fluid dies from heat, change it if any questions. Your truck is worth it.

 

Pull the dipstick and smell the oil. If it smells burnt, it probably is. I'd change it no matter what type or how many miles on it. If you have auto tranny and no external cooler you probably toasted the fluid. Get it power flushed. If you couldn't hear the fan clutch engage and it ran that hot- it isn't working correctly. If you have never changed the fan clutch, it's time. I would suggest using a Ford fan clutch or at the absolute worst, a Hayden thermo fan clutch but expect the fuel mileage to drop with the Hayden. If you haven't changed the fan belt, it's time. Obviously I wouldn't know the conditions but next time get a lower gear or low range if 4x4. It's far easier on the engine and components than lugging up a hill.

 

Some comment first.
The oversize tires took pulling power away.
10 mph = no airflow much for cooling anything.
10 mph = high converter temps from fluid shear slipping adds heat to the radiator.
10 mph = heat added to the radiator from the A/C condenser.
You done the worst possible conditions for the systems to handle.
Is there a trans cooler?
You should think about an electric fan if this is going to be done very often.
Smaller tires or lower gears.
Lastly, the converter could become 'balloned' and wreck a lot of other areas in the trans from the long time torque loads applied.

You just done a full combination of things all at once that overloaded the supporting systems.
Your truck should weigh about 5500 lbs + passengers, the trailer and the load and anything else alog for the ride.
How much total gross combined weight?
The steepness of hills and how long on them is a big equallizer even if towing under the max rated GCW rating.
Max GCW should be in the 11,600 lb range but running 30° hills subtracts a lot away from this and there is no resreve left unless you build some in with the suggested changes.
This is why diesels have a lot of torque and don't labor very much under load and have drive trains to handle it.
If some body stuck a candle under my a** long enough I would get upset too!
Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the input!

I did change the engine oil, but left the tranny fluid. I do have a tranny cooler & believe it to be ok...I am going to change my thermostat & I am unsure of the fan clutch?

When I shut off the engine the fan stops rather quickly but I can't hear it kicking on anytime while running/idling. Will it cut off & on while at idle? I am a lil' concerned about the fan clutch. I think I am going to also install an electric fan along with the stock fan.

I got a P1299 code...(air mixture) I am not sure what caused this? Maybe the computer shutting down the engine? Or I might have detonated the engine...I was mashing on it & might have run it to lean?

What might yall think?

BTW-It hasn't ran above normal since...

 

After that episode, I'd do a complete tranny fluid replacement on general principle.

 

Update:

I went up another canyon today & it started getting hot again!!! With nothing in/hauling behind my truck....It will not overheat on flat ground/normal terrain, but as soon as I start to climb it starts to overheat! I turned around & started going back downhill & it cooled right off.

Thermostat?
Fan clutch?

 

as long as it didnt go into limp mode u should be alright.

 

Id be changing the tranny fluid. Get it flushed properly at a good shop. The auto tranny is pretty sensitive to big heat like you might have put it through. If your always having this problem with it heating up you could consider electric fans for both the rad as well as a little one for the tranny cooler. This way you can just ditch the clutch fan altogether. Its understandable that your truck might get a bit hotter going through the hills and everything but it depends on just how hot it is getting. Ive gone through the mountains with dirt bikes and gear in the box and the temp guage never moved at all.

 

Probably the fan, does it heat up during long idle periods? Thats a for sure sign. You should here the fan when it starts moving air!
T-stat should be good if you changed it and installed it properly.

 

I haven't changed the thermostat...
I don't believe it is the problem. I have climbed all these hills in the past & my temp didn't change at all. Now all of a sudden it starts to overheat very rapidly(about 300yds)

When I drive around town or idle the temp will not change...just as soon as I start to climb a hill it starts to rise!

All I have done so far to the cooling system is change the coolant & add some water wetter.