- Jul 22, 2015
- 2,724
Ok. So almost everyone who's a regular here has probably seen my posts regarding my setup, so I won't post that yet again.
Some observations during this trip to Montana, with about 5000# of trailer & 'stuff' in tow...
Today covered basically the state of South Dakota; I woke up in the east end and am writing this from the west end (past the Badlands). Needed to get through SD today to stay on track for Friday arrival at my destination.
- I'm using about 1/2 qt of oil per day. I expected to use some, based on history - the only 'surprise' is how quickly it's being consumed.
Today was a long towing day, and I just added a qt this morning before starting out. So I'll be interested to see the results of tomorrow's level check. Getting the feeling that when the engine goes above 3,000 RPM, I could drive behind the Voy and watch the blow-by (I don't see a thing out of the tailpipe, and as a reminder, I've got about 145K on the engine (only the last 12K is 'mine', though)). Unfortunately, at 65mph, the engine is running just shy of 3K on the tach. More on this later. BTW - speed limit in SD is 80mph. I'm not supposed to go more than 65mph due to the China Bombs on the new trailer.
- I noticed this morning that I'm actually losing a little coolant. Before this trip, my coolant level was steady as the proverbial rock.
Glanced at it yesterday before starting out, and I noted it had dropped a little bit (but nothing substantial).
Glanced at it this morning, and I'd lost a little more. Wound up making a detour to WallyMart for a jug of DexCool premix. Shoulda brought some from home instead of assuming that I wouldn't have any cooling issues (towing in 90-100F heat). When I added it to the reservoir, I wound up not having to add much (and while I'm thinking of it - just *where* is the 'full hot' indicator on the bottle? I can see the 'full cold', but I didn't have it to add, then.
BTW, my coolant temps have been pretty good for the most part. A couple of episodes where I was at 220 / 230F max - but for the most part, I'm generally a shade past 200 to about 215 (my normal is 195, IIRC). Wondering if I've got a leak, a potential head gasket issue (hate to even mention that), or is it expected to lose coolant under severe conditions (gonna get more severe in the next day or two; I'm at about 3000ft elevation now, and my destination is over 5000ft.)
And finally, my trans temps. All over the place. Part due to ambient; part due to load, and perhaps part due to cooler size. And part due to my desire to experiment.
When I started out a few days ago, I drove to the REI in Madison, WI to pick up a Nat'l Parks pass (pays for itself after about the 3rd place visited).
I made that 70mi trip in 'D'. Temps by the end of the drive had risen to just shy of 260F (nothing burnt or broke, but I hope to never see 260F again).
Fluid is Valvoline Dexron Full Synthetic (12qts worth). My external cooler, for those who don't remember, is a Derale stacked plate - but it's the little one (10 plates), and the stock cooler was bypassed by the mech who installed the rebuilt trans (who told me, when I wanted to get a bigger cooler to compensate - "you'll never need one bigger than that".) I think I'm starting to disagree with his statement.
After keeping the trans in 3rd since that little 'experiment', my temps were steady as a rock - less than 180F (my non-towing temp is 155-160F). So - not bad, considering. Until today. Still in 3rd, I managed to hit 230 during the hottest part of the day (and after an extended side trip to the WM, as mentioned above.) I did stop at a rest area and let the Voy cool off for about 45min or so.
Afterward, by dropping my speed and maintaining a rock steady RPM, I was able to get the fluid temp down to a more manageable 185 or so. The funny thing was...as the day went on, ambient got cooler and I was maintaining a locked throttle - I was able to navigate some of the steepest climbs of the day - with the fluid temp going all the way down to 164.x - *during* the climbing. The 'usual' is about 175F or a little higher (which I mentioned above) - up to maybe 188F.
So... I'm wondering... what's my next steps...
- Get a bigger cooler? I don't mind doing this, but I want to be sure it'll make a difference before spending the $. And yes, I'll sell my current one if someone wants it.
- Tow less weight? This would be impossible w/o taking a bath on the trailer (I don't have payments, and got a very good deal - but it would be bad).
- Time to step up to a Silvy / Sierra? I could see perhaps towing bigger / heavier later on - but not for a couple of years.
- Tow at night? Awkward, to say the least. Same for "don't climb hills". Illinois is as flat as a pancake, but the rest of the country isn't.
For now, I'll just limit my speed / RPM. I'm kind of stuck until I get back from this trip, anyway.
Closing for now, as they're about to close the place I'm writing this from (I've had very limited internet access the last few days). So I'll put an e-mail watch on this in order to see replies there. Hope everyone is doing OK. Talk at you soon!
Some observations during this trip to Montana, with about 5000# of trailer & 'stuff' in tow...
Today covered basically the state of South Dakota; I woke up in the east end and am writing this from the west end (past the Badlands). Needed to get through SD today to stay on track for Friday arrival at my destination.
- I'm using about 1/2 qt of oil per day. I expected to use some, based on history - the only 'surprise' is how quickly it's being consumed.
Today was a long towing day, and I just added a qt this morning before starting out. So I'll be interested to see the results of tomorrow's level check. Getting the feeling that when the engine goes above 3,000 RPM, I could drive behind the Voy and watch the blow-by (I don't see a thing out of the tailpipe, and as a reminder, I've got about 145K on the engine (only the last 12K is 'mine', though)). Unfortunately, at 65mph, the engine is running just shy of 3K on the tach. More on this later. BTW - speed limit in SD is 80mph. I'm not supposed to go more than 65mph due to the China Bombs on the new trailer.
- I noticed this morning that I'm actually losing a little coolant. Before this trip, my coolant level was steady as the proverbial rock.
Glanced at it yesterday before starting out, and I noted it had dropped a little bit (but nothing substantial).
Glanced at it this morning, and I'd lost a little more. Wound up making a detour to WallyMart for a jug of DexCool premix. Shoulda brought some from home instead of assuming that I wouldn't have any cooling issues (towing in 90-100F heat). When I added it to the reservoir, I wound up not having to add much (and while I'm thinking of it - just *where* is the 'full hot' indicator on the bottle? I can see the 'full cold', but I didn't have it to add, then.
BTW, my coolant temps have been pretty good for the most part. A couple of episodes where I was at 220 / 230F max - but for the most part, I'm generally a shade past 200 to about 215 (my normal is 195, IIRC). Wondering if I've got a leak, a potential head gasket issue (hate to even mention that), or is it expected to lose coolant under severe conditions (gonna get more severe in the next day or two; I'm at about 3000ft elevation now, and my destination is over 5000ft.)
And finally, my trans temps. All over the place. Part due to ambient; part due to load, and perhaps part due to cooler size. And part due to my desire to experiment.
When I started out a few days ago, I drove to the REI in Madison, WI to pick up a Nat'l Parks pass (pays for itself after about the 3rd place visited).
I made that 70mi trip in 'D'. Temps by the end of the drive had risen to just shy of 260F (nothing burnt or broke, but I hope to never see 260F again).
Fluid is Valvoline Dexron Full Synthetic (12qts worth). My external cooler, for those who don't remember, is a Derale stacked plate - but it's the little one (10 plates), and the stock cooler was bypassed by the mech who installed the rebuilt trans (who told me, when I wanted to get a bigger cooler to compensate - "you'll never need one bigger than that".) I think I'm starting to disagree with his statement.
After keeping the trans in 3rd since that little 'experiment', my temps were steady as a rock - less than 180F (my non-towing temp is 155-160F). So - not bad, considering. Until today. Still in 3rd, I managed to hit 230 during the hottest part of the day (and after an extended side trip to the WM, as mentioned above.) I did stop at a rest area and let the Voy cool off for about 45min or so.
Afterward, by dropping my speed and maintaining a rock steady RPM, I was able to get the fluid temp down to a more manageable 185 or so. The funny thing was...as the day went on, ambient got cooler and I was maintaining a locked throttle - I was able to navigate some of the steepest climbs of the day - with the fluid temp going all the way down to 164.x - *during* the climbing. The 'usual' is about 175F or a little higher (which I mentioned above) - up to maybe 188F.
So... I'm wondering... what's my next steps...
- Get a bigger cooler? I don't mind doing this, but I want to be sure it'll make a difference before spending the $. And yes, I'll sell my current one if someone wants it.
- Tow less weight? This would be impossible w/o taking a bath on the trailer (I don't have payments, and got a very good deal - but it would be bad).
- Time to step up to a Silvy / Sierra? I could see perhaps towing bigger / heavier later on - but not for a couple of years.
- Tow at night? Awkward, to say the least. Same for "don't climb hills". Illinois is as flat as a pancake, but the rest of the country isn't.
For now, I'll just limit my speed / RPM. I'm kind of stuck until I get back from this trip, anyway.
Closing for now, as they're about to close the place I'm writing this from (I've had very limited internet access the last few days). So I'll put an e-mail watch on this in order to see replies there. Hope everyone is doing OK. Talk at you soon!