Just had this conversation over on another forum!

Are you towing in OD?

 

I have a 21' camper trailer that I am pulling with my 06 Canyon I5 4x4 Crew Cab. It is over heating some especially if I tow during the heat of the day with the AC on. Is there anything I can do to get the temp back down? Thanks

a. Transmission cooler
b. high output electric fan
c. re-index your dex cool/water ratio to match you higher temp region.
d. clean your radiator.

 

e. Add some purple ice to the coolant. It will help get a few degrees cooler

 

:yeahthat:
user name sounds familiar and :welcome2:

 

I do tow in 3rd gear. I only try to run about 50-55 mph.

So the radiator clean out should be easy enough. I have read a little bit on the efan but was not sure if it would help my particular situation.

What about a CAI?

 

If you flush your radiator out, when you refill it add in some Royal Purple Purple Ice, it has made a difference for me in every truck i have owned that i've towed with. Every little bit helps!

 

Noticing the same issue with my truck towing, mind you the ambient temperature is qute hot. But I will add a new thermostat, put in new Dexcool, clean the rad and add some Purple Ice.

 

For you guys that tow, I would recommend a trans temp gauge for some sort too. The 4L60-e tranissmission is pretty sensitive to towing and heat.

 

I second the Temp gauge for the transmission. The direct (3rd gear) clutches are not that big and do not have a large surface area for towing. Flush your transmission often. High temps from the transmission can affect coolant temps, because the Trans-cooler is in the bottom of the radiator where the engine receives coolant.

 

"Water-wetter" in the radiator will also bring down the temps about 10 to 15 degrees.

 

Number one biggest item. Big ass tranny cooler. I have one on mine and it has dropped temps almost 20 degrees. If you need to, spend the extra money to get one that has a fan built on too it. One thing that you have to remember is that when towing in 3rd, you are running higher RPMs. This of course causes your engine to generate more heat. That combined with all of the heat generated from the AC, leads to higher overall temps. Because the only place the tranny has to cool is the surface area it shares with the rad, you will drive the temperatures up on your transmission fluid. Its just not efficient fluid transfer or heat dissipation. I'll put into 3rd climbing hills, flat and level I leave in OD. Also remember that the 4l60 is the same transmission in the full size. We have quite a bit less power than a full size. There is more abuse it can take from our trucks. I would also say get a fluid flush. Clean always helps. I dont know about all of those water-wetter products. Personally it doesn't matter how much additional heat it can help you transfer. If the system doesn't have the capacity to remove it, its not getting cooler. And under the conditions you describe you are maxed out.

 

Got the big ass trans cooler, running synthetic fluid that is changed minimum twice a year. Synthetic oil, a flowmaster muffler which they claim draws heat of the engine.
I oedered my new hoses and tstat today with some purple ice. If that doesn't work. Hood vents or a 4 core rad might be in order. Mind you this might be for not. With the heat wave we are having the ambient temperature are at record breaking levels.

 

so tranny cooler > efan for getting temps down for our trucks? I know the real answer is both, but what makes the biggest difference between the two? I can do one next month, but the other will have to wait for several months

 

Tranny cooler over efan. It will allow more of the heat to dissipate. I also want to know what people consider overheating?

 

I don't concider it overheating, but when I'm in az here where its 110* and doing hill climbs or mountain passes etc the guage sits at 3/4. when i check it out on my live PID scanner, the worst I have seen it is 235ish. i'm not TOO worried about it...i mean, I still do all those things. I just want the truck to last and heat is the enemy in the long run of a lot of the components

 

The hottest mine has got is up to the 3/4 mark and that was with A/C on. I kicked A/C off and and it came down a few notches. I have no idea what the actual temp is, I don't have a gauge. I know normally I run around 1/2 mark. Now, I noticed yesterday without my trailer just running around (not stop and go traffic though) I was actually a couple notches over 1/2. It was hot here yesterday though.

So:
Tranny cooler (any recommendations on which one and a price)
Flush my radiator and replace with purple stuff?
Change fluids in tranny and replace with synthetic?
Change temp gauge

wish list:
Bigger radiator
Efan

Did I miss anything and does that look like about the right order for bang for the buck?

I can do some stuff myself, keep in mind I am by no means a mechanic though. More of a turn the key on, put in drive, press the accelerater type dude.

Appreciate the help guys.

I have already learned how to fix my stinkn A/C on here. That sucker only works on 4.

 

your nuts man, a 21' camper behind an I5. Even with a tranny cooler and all those mods your going to still over heat, that is asking way to much out of this motor.

 

just get a fullsize if your having this much difficulty towing .

 

for starters i think 21' trailer is a lil too much for the size and output of the I5.

change all fluids (engine oil, trans, coolant)
add a oil temp guage on trans (connect at test port on left side, middle of casing)
add lower temp thermostat
change to Efans (if out of budget get lower temp fan clutch)
add trans cooler (unit with fan attached is best for your towing needs)
add shift-kit (best to wait for a trans rebuild to do this)

 

GM states the max capacity 4000 lbs for my 06. I am within that requirement. I think running at 3/4 on the gauge towing with the a/c on is not necessarily overheating. But it would be nice to move it down a few notches. I think the cooling system doesn't have enough surplus capacity for these trucks in the warm weather, as in the winter and fall there is no issue. Suspecting a 4 core rad might be the better answer.

 

yeh four core radiator is a good route while your drained i recommend at least the lower temp thermostat. that is a help too.

 

Lower temp thermostat would be great in the summer, however for me in the winter it's not so great. Wishing someone made a dual temp adjustable Tstat. lol. I read on testing on the purple ice that it dropped running temp by 6 degrees. Less than 50 percent antifreeze would help to, but there are some detrimental affects to running less than 50 percent. I will have my flush, Tstat and purple ice done by the weekend, and report my findings.

 

in for updates, thanks man

 

Just for reference on how much a flushing helps, last friday night headed to temple (crap load of hills), my temp was reading 1 to 2 notches above half pretty much the entire 4 hour trip.

during the mod meet we flushed my radiator, sprayed all the bugs off, refilled (dunno % but only used about 1/2 gal of antifreeze).

On the way home, temp gauge never passed 1/3 (stayed 2 to 3 notches BELOW half) for the entire 4 hour trip, with a/c and all on. and seemed to run more effecient and got better mpg.

So, I say flushing is always the first place to start.

 

This was taken about 1hr20mins into my trip home.

 

Thanks again guys. I wish a bigger new truck was in my budget. As of about 2 hours ago I found out we have baby #2 on the way. Not an option. May have to sale the trailer. I will try the flush first. matter of fact may do that tonight. How much for the tranny coolers cost and where do I get one? O' Rieleys?

 

Auto Zone has a small cooler for like $35

 

my truck overheats in the desert going up hills with the a/c off. lol, let alone towing a trailer.

in the summer im usually around the 3/4 mark.