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Fisherman
Dodge Dakota
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7/19/2004
17:52:16
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 Subject: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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I purchased a new 2000 Quad Cab 4x4 with the 4.7 V-8 including the factory tow package. This summer I purchased a boat and the truck runs hot when pulling it. The boat/motor/trailer together weigh around 2,000 lbs. The truck has about 90k miles. I live in the South where the average temp. this time of year is in the 90's.
Without pulling the boat, I have had no problems with overheating. Temp seems to be running around 190. With the boat, as speed increases so does the temp. In town 35-45mph, the temp rises up to the 200-210 range. On the interstate or hills, the temp rises to the 230-240 range (the needle has never gone red).
Two weeks ago, I took truck to local Dodge dealership thinking they would have the answer. They claim they checked everything and the fan clutch was not operating properly so they replaced it. They had told me this could be the problem. When I got it home and hooked up the boat, still overheating. They originally thought it could be the radiatior, but they said they checked the flow and it was ok. They also checked the thermostat and water pump and both are "working properly".
Last cooling system service was 30k miles ago which was 2 years ago.
Any assitance or comments about this problem will be greatly appreciated.
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Kowalski
GenIII
7/19/2004
18:06:32
|  RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Does your boat trailer have brakes, maybe dragging ? I tow a heavier 19' cuddycabin with no overheating problems, similar to your truck but RC. Or maybe the wheel bearings on the trailer could be going ? Either way, check for excess heat in trailer wheels.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/19/2004
19:23:16
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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I have an older 16' fiberglass Seaswirl that weights over 3000# loaded and the truck normally stays cool while towing. If I am towing during the summer with 100+ temps the truck will hang at 200-210 doing 65-70 MPH. When I pull long grades it will go to 220, but comes right down after pulling the hill.
Have they checked out the exterior of the radiator and AC condensor? If these are plugged up with bugs, weeds, dirt, ect., the radiator won't get enough air flow through it and lead to insufficient cooling.
I have 130K on my 2000 2wd CC 4.7 and it still stays nice and cool towing. I removed my radiator last year to clean all the bugs and debris out of the radiator fins, but this was because I ran over a bale of hay on the freeway (don't ask). All the alfalfa leaves and twigs plugged the radiator up pretty good and the truck's temp was running about 210. after I cleaned all the stuff out of the radiator fins the truck's temp was back to normal 190-195.
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Fisherman
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
08:22:22
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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This is a new trailer and it does not have brakes. I will check for excess heat in the trailer wheels, but lately I've only been towing it for short distances (5 miles) and haven't noticed anything unusual with the trailer.
I checked the radiator, condenser, and trans cooler, and all are pretty clean (only a few small bugs. There are about 2 dime size spots where fins bent, so I'll get those combed out to see if it makes a difference.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
15:57:03
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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If you only have a couple small spots where the fins are bent over I doubt this is the problem. The radiator and AC condensor have to be plugged up pretty good to get a overheating problem from what I have experienced. Try shining a flash light through the back of the radiator to see how much the fins are plugged up. I have seen rad's that looked OK from the outside but shining a flashlight through the core revealed a lot of debris trapped in the fins. The lower section of my AC condensor is kind of beat up and not flowing 100%, but the truck still stays cool. The core being plugged up is kind of a long shot, but I have resolved 4 or 5 overheating problems by cleaning the fin's of the core.
To clean the rad fins, pull it out, plug up the tranny cooler fittings and spray it down with Simple Green. Stick it in a trash bag and let it sit for 1/2 hour, re-apply Simple green and let it sit for another 1/2 hour. Take the bagged rad to the local car wash and spray all the debris out of the fins with the high pressure washer from the back side. MAKE SURE you spray directly into the fins and not at an angle, if you spray at an angle, you'll bend the fins over and create an overheating problem. I have done this many times without bending the fins over, but saw the after affects of my friend trying to do this without removing the radiator, not a pretty sight.
I also replaced my fan clutch about a year ago. Truck was running hot at 75-85 MPH while driving in 110-120 temps, but cool at lower speeds. Believe it or not, the fan clutch engages at freeway speeds to keep the engine cool. Kind of weird to hear the fan kick in at 85.
I went fishing last night and kept an eye on the temp guage, it was 100+ when I left the house. Truck ran 210 on the freeway, 220 on several grades and 230-240 on one looooong steep grade, but it cooled right back down after pulling the grades. At 4am, 80 degrees, the truck ran 210 all the way home.
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irq3
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
16:28:57
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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It wouldn't hurt to change the anti-freeze. Back flush the entire system with a Prestone type garden hose flush kit if possible...
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4x4Dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
22:14:17
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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I have the same problem as Fisherman. I tow a 5x8 trailer with 2 quads on it and I don't think that it weighs over 1500 lbs. I put the 180 stat and the water hoping that it would help. No luck. I might try what DSW said.
01 Quad Cab Sport 4x4 4.7l 3.92lsd 5spd
HO Cams, Volant CAI, Flowmaster 40srs, Ported TB, Amsoil on everything and Water Wetter. 3” PA, 3” Rancho, RS9000x’s, 35” Pro Comp MT’s, 2 KC 6” 150 Watt lights on a Westin Safari Bar, Smittybilt Nerf Bars and Clear Corners, Brembo Slotted Front Rotors and Hawk Pads
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Fisherman
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
08:19:46
|  RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Thanks for your thoughts on this...
I dropped the truck off last night at Goodyear and am going to get them to flush out/service the cooling system today (thanks irq3). May get them to pull radiator to clean it as DSW suggested. Will let you know how it runs after I get it back and hook up the boat.
4x4Dak said he has the same problem when pulling his 4 wheeler trailer. Are your temps doing the same as mine at similar speeds?
I see that DSW's truck runs a little on the hot side when he is pulling his boat too (200-220). I think the temp guage goes up to 240 before you get into the RED. Will it cause damage to run the truck on the hot side in the 200-240 range???
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dakotaheat
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
11:36:19
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Fisherman
If the Goodyear flush doesn’t help, you may want to replace the thermostat. It may flow properly under DC’s test, but they didn’t hook a boat up to it. Also, if you change the thermostat, replace the lower radiator hose. It may be collapsing under high flow conditions.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
23:10:48
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Yeah, my truck runs a little hot while towing in extreme heat 100+. I don't have the heavy duty service group on the truck so I added a tranny cooler, a larger radiator would probably be in order also.
I'm not too worried about the truck temp since it hangs right at 205-210 most of the time while towing in realy hot weather. Get the outside temps down to 80-90 and the truck stays at 195. The temp guage doesn't go into the red until it hits 260, I figure pushing it to 240 a couple times a year probably won't hurt anything, besides it cools right back down again after getting up the grade.
I can understand your concern Fisherman, I wouldn't want to be driving the truck at 230-240 degrees all the time while towing.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2004
06:50:37
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Fisherman, you have the correct package for towing
a boat. I have same package in my 02, 4x4, 4.7.
I would look into flushing out the radiator even
if the dealer says it's ok. Just because liquid
*looks* like it's running through it ok, it may
still be somewhat plugged.
I had same problem years ago with 75 Dodge Van.
No overheating at all pulling a fold down camper
untill I got into stop and go traffic. I pulled
the radiator and had top and bottom tanks removed
and could see what the problem was. It was 25%
plugged. Once cleaned out, it never overheated
again in the hottest of summers even with air
cond turned on in stop and go traffic pulling
camper.
Oh, if you do take my advice, change the stat also
while system is drained.
Good luck..
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Fisherman
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
13:26:37
|  RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Hooked up boat yesterday afternoon after having Goodyear clean/flush cooling system. Temp. outside was around 93 degrees.
Vehicle ran about 190 before picking up the boat.
Vehicle ran around 200 or slightly hotter when towing boat in 45 mph zone for a few miles.
Vehicle ran up to 230 or slightly hotter when I got onto the interstate and ran up to 70-75 mph. Ran up the interstate about 3-4 miles and turned around and came back. Temp would increase as speed increased. When reduced speed down to 55-60, temp would fall apx. 10 degrees.
I may go pick up a new t-stat today and see if that might help and check the lower rad hose.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
18:27:08
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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fisherman,
I tow a sailboat, a 20ft catamaran, with large gear box, etc. Probably weighs about 1500 for all, trailer included. I've taken the belt driven clutch/fan completely off, for a little more snap, NEVER gets hot. The stock elec on my 4.7 takes care of everything at low speeds.
BUT, any dealer that thinks it's the fan clutch, to solve a O/H problem while you're going down the road, HELLO, the fan does nothing anyway.
I do have a 180 t-stat, and think everyone should as well. I live in the south, and almost always have the a/c on.
Good luck.
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dakotaheat
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
21:44:24
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Dakotaheat
I suspect the new tsat and hose will fix it. However if it doesn't, it may be a blockage in the block passage ways. Also, some people modify their trucks for performance with various devices. Any chip that increases performance probably increases spark advance and that, because of pre-ignition could cause excessive heat unless you use a higer octane fuel. Your truck should not overheat....
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2004
18:27:00
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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The Dak's have a thermostatic fan clutch. If the engine gets hot enough to kick the fan clutch on it will engage the fan, whether your sitting in traffic or going 80 MPH down the freeway.
It just started to get up past 115 degrees out here last week and I noticed the truck getting hot running down the freeway at 85 without towing anything. I replaced the fan clutch last year and it's bad again, guess that's what I get for buying it at AutoZone. Took the fan clutch back and popped a new one on, it doesn't get hot at freeway speeds anymore. I can hear the fan clutch engage running down the freeway, but the engine does not get hot.
Fisherman, after replacing the fan clutch (again) my truck did not go to 230-240 pulling grades. I towed to the lake last night, hottest so far this year, and the truck was running 195-200 most of the time and went up to 220 one time on that looong steep grade.
When your truck is running at 230-240, do you hear the fan clutch engage and the mechanical fan roaring away? When I was towing last night the fan clutch was engaged most of the time. I could hear the fan pulling hard most of the way to the lake. The truck stayed much cooler than before, even though it was hotter outside.
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4x4Dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/26/2004
14:11:13
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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How can you check to see if the fan clutch is bad? I took it the dealer about 2 years ago because the temp was rising and they changed the fan clutch. I wonder if it's gone bad again?
01 Quad Cab Sport 4x4 4.7l 3.92lsd 5spd
HO Cams, Volant CAI, Flowmaster 40srs, Ported TB, Amsoil on everything and Water Wetter. 3” PA, 3” Rancho, RS9000x’s, 35” Pro Comp MT’s, 2 KC 6” 150 Watt lights on a Westin Safari Bar, Smittybilt Nerf Bars and Clear Corners, Brembo Slotted Front Rotors and Hawk Pads
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Fisherman
Dodge Dakota
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7/26/2004
15:12:03
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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I'm going to hopefully pick up a new tstat and possibly the hoses this week. I did already have the fan clutch replaced. Many have suggested the tstat or hoses, so that seems like the cheapest thing to do next. If it doesn't work, it will have eliminated one more thing.
Some have suggested if this doesn't work, that possibly a larger radiator or adding an oil cooler may solve the problem. Truck already has a factory trans cooler.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/26/2004
16:07:55
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Both times I replaced the fan clutch, the old one "seemed" OK, but it would not keep the truck cool while towing or driving in real high temps.
The old fan clutches that I replaced had resistance while trying to turn them, I.E. they would not free wheel when the fan was turned by hand, so they appeared to be good. They also worked OK for normal driving, but get into extreme conditions 110+ temps outside or towing, and the fan clutches would not keep the engine cool.
Look for signs of silicone oil escaping from the back shaft of the fan clutch, if oil is being lost from the fan clutch it might be bad or not performing they way it should. Both of the fan clutches that I replaced had silicone oil loss, but the oil was not spewing all over the place, only a slight amount of seepage on the back of the clutch and front of the waterpump pulley. They had a spot about 3-4" wide on the back of the fan clutch that was wet with oil, the whole back of the clutch was not covered with oil. If the entire back of the fan clutch is covered with oil, it's bad.
The fan clutches have a spiral wound bi-metal spring on the front. When the spring is cool the clutch has little resistance to spin, when the spring heats up the clutch has a lot of resistance to spin, but it will still slip to some degree.
Check how easy the fan spins when the engine is relatively cold 170-180 degrees, then get the engine hot 210/220 degrees and the fan should be pretty hard to turn, all though it will still spin. The fan won't totally lock down when the fan clutch/engine is realy hot, that big fan spinning at 5-6K RPM would go flying through the radiator or hood if the fan clutch totally locked up.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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7/26/2004
17:53:35
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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It just goes to show ya, or me in this case.
I always kinda thought that if the radiator was moving thru the air, ie, driving down the road, that that was enough air for cooling purposes. It now seems from these posts, that the fan clutch, when engaged, will 'suck' even more air, even at highway speeds. Hew, maybe a new performance mod? better put my belt driven fan clutch back on! J/K ;-D
its been on the shelf in my garage for years now.
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Fisherman
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2004
17:48:17
|  RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Unfortunately, I haven't had time yet this week to pick up the tstat to put it in... working too much.
I was talking with a friend about the overheating problem and he seems to think that my problem may have something to do with my transmission.
Less than a year ago, I had to replace the tran on this truck. We were able to find a used tran that had under 10k miles on it and the dealership put it in. His thoughts are that since everything on the truck seems to be working properly according to the dealership and Goodyear, something may have not been done correctly when installing the new trans. He recommends I take it back to the dealer to check out the trans. If this is possible that something may not have been connected or improperly installed, any ideas on what should be checked???
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uhuh
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2004
21:52:11
| RE: OVERHEATS WHEN TOWING BOAT
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Fisherman
You don't have time to change the tsat and it is much more expensive than the transmission. I'd go for the transmission that your friend suggested. Your friend gave you real good advice....
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