Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DashLynx

Towing 500 lbs. causes oeverheating

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-14-2012, 02:08 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
TexFF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Towing 500 lbs. causes oeverheating

I have a '93 4R 4x4 5 speed. I was towing my empty 6x10 utility trailer that weighs about 500 lbs. Weather was about 95 degrees. Normally my temp gauge, when warmed up, is dead center, maybe a c-hair to the left. Besides severely lacking power & constantly having to go from 4th to 5th, the temp. gauge would go to about the 3/4 on the temp gauge. Then I put an empty deer feeder inside & 5 cattle panels on the trailer(no more than 200 more lbs.). This made the temp gauge get VERY close to the red(about the width of the needle from red). When it did this I'd take the next exit & let it get back to normal temps. Is this normal? I recently flush & changed my coolant & did it properly. Water pump & head gasket replaced <20K miles ago. How can I make it run cooler? Thanks.
Old 08-14-2012, 02:55 PM
  #2  
ZUK
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
ZUK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Prescott AZ
Posts: 1,845
Received 24 Likes on 22 Posts
I bet a new radiator from http://radiator.com will fix it. As your truck gets the miles on it, the radiator tends to form a thicker and thicker calcium coating on the inside....crud and sediment in the cores. The result is the heat cannot transfer from the water as efficiently. The cooling system becomes marginal perhaps after 150 k miles or so. The problem rears its head on the hottest day of the year or when a load is added in. If it overheats on the highway with 60 mph winds blowing thru the radiator then 80% chance it's the radiator.

PS---Here in Arizona, last week we hit 115 degrees....by coincidence, my buddies 1998 Montero sport (160k miles)then decided to almost touch the red line on the highway. Never a problem until this super hot day showed up. I had him immediately order a radiator from the above mentioned place and problem gone now. With the radiator out, we also opted to replace the 3 belts with the super easy access we had

psps---I just got off the phone with the Montero guy....I didn't realize that he had that Montero since it was brand new in 98....and that he never changed out the radiator fluid.....14 year old fluid.....jeez, no wonder the fluid was so funky looking when he drained it on Saturday. Can't really blame him....he's an IT geek genius and knows zero about this kind of thing.

Last edited by ZUK; 08-14-2012 at 03:38 PM.
Old 08-14-2012, 04:06 PM
  #3  
Contributing Member
 
Marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,241
Received 13 Likes on 13 Posts
Check to make sure your fan is working properly and your shroud is intact.
Should be able to tow fine with that.
Old 08-14-2012, 04:08 PM
  #4  
Fossilized
Staff
iTrader: (6)
 
dropzone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: PNW
Posts: 19,771
Received 448 Likes on 293 Posts
X2 on the radiator. I just did a water pump on my '03 Tahoe. It had 97k on it. I couldn't believe the gunk inside the pump and thermostat.
Old 08-14-2012, 04:21 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
lobukbuild's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: southern NH
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mud covering the outside even a little bit will take away alot of the cooling capabilities also
Old 08-14-2012, 04:56 PM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
TexFF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Marc
Check to make sure your fan is working properly and your shroud is intact.
Should be able to tow fine with that.
Fan and shroud both good. What radiator is the best bang for the buck w/out spending $300? Does anybody add electric fans to help the motor mounted 1? If so, which fan? Also, there's an electric fan in front of the A/C cooler so where would I mount an aftermarket electric fan?
Old 08-14-2012, 05:52 PM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
TexFF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Should I get a 2 row Performance Radiators or a 3 row CSF? Thanks.

***EDIT*** I just purchased the 2 row Performance Radiators for $157 delivered!

Last edited by TexFF; 08-14-2012 at 07:49 PM.
Old 08-14-2012, 07:55 PM
  #8  
ZUK
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
ZUK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Prescott AZ
Posts: 1,845
Received 24 Likes on 22 Posts
I bet they both work just fine for your application. you have a choice of 4 reasonably priced ones from this place alone
http://www.radiator.com/radiator/toy...C+184ci%2C+V-6
Old 08-14-2012, 08:04 PM
  #9  
Contributing Member
 
TNRabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: TENN Native Languishing in Virginia
Posts: 4,787
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes on 14 Posts
I've been running the 3 row CSF for a couple of years now; works like a charm.
Old 08-15-2012, 10:26 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
abecedarian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Temecula Valley, CA
Posts: 12,723
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Also check your ignition timing.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
zytra
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
32
01-24-2019 03:16 PM
Brodetski
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
0
09-30-2015 11:50 PM
Cycles
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
8
09-29-2015 06:37 AM
Odin
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
3
09-26-2015 06:56 PM
toyhaulert100
Newbie Tech Section
3
09-24-2015 07:55 PM



Quick Reply: Towing 500 lbs. causes oeverheating



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:26 AM.