Running warm while towing

[Rhizzlebop]

Not sure if anyone will see this post from such an old thread.

My I6 trailblazer was running warm towing our camper this week. When not towing the temp runs 195-208 with full AC and temps above 90F

However towing our camper #4100 dry and prob 5000 lb loaded at 60 mph the temp spent a LOT of time at 228. I use dash command app and a WiFi obd2 plug in module.

It would sometimes drop to 223-226 And a few times hit 230. Even hit 234 once. But most of the drive is 228 plus or minus a couple.

When we’d slow down or pull off highway temps fall back to 222 and down to 205-212.

Trans while towing at 60 runs 203-207. I had a separate trans cooler installed last yea4.

Fresh coolant was done by my mechanic last year and I added a bottle of wetter wet last July.

AC stays cold. Just not sure if I should be worried I’m gonna blow the head gasket or keep it under 240 and roll. Thoughts?

FYI. It has 160,000 miles. Fan clutch and water pump were replaced at 90,000 miles. Thermostat was replaced a year or so ago.

 

[Mooseman]

Moved to its own thread. Please do not necropost.

This is already being discussed here:

04 TB temperature needle drifts to the right when going up a hill

So I replaced the electric fan last year together with the thermostat and temp sensor right next to it. I did this after coming back from Laughlin pulling a boat and it caused it to worm up with the air on going uphill. Had to turn it on heater to go up those hills. Well now I want to go back...

gmtnation.com

 

[budwich]

hopefully you are towing in 3rd as that will help a bit.
I monitor while towing heavy (4600 lbs, 9800 total). On normal highway (60 ish), it runs about 210-220 in 30C plus outside temps so I would say you are probably "normal" assuming I am normal...

 

[Mooseman]

Check that your fan clutch is working. Even if it's recent, they are failure prone, especially if it's a cheap, no-name or parts store brand:
How to test the electro-viscous fan clutch

 

[BrianF]

And it's not just weight, it's the air resistance. Could be like towing a brick.

 

[TJBaker57]

just weight, it's the air resistance

Yep! My 6 x 10 toy hauler was like towing a parachute!!

 

[Mooseman]

Been reading a few threads about this and 230f seems to be the norm while towing with these trucks. In this one, he was able to lower the temp by turning down the A/C blower.

2004 TB I6 3.42 158K miles first camper tow 200+ miles each way

Hi all, I used to post over at TV, but seems a bit dead and I discovered that this forum had been created at some point. We did 4 days at Stone Mountain so towed about 220 miles each way. Temp going was about 75, return was about 80F. This was I-20 from columbia to Atl mostly Our camper is a...

gmtnation.com