Overheating.

[rusty ol ranger]

1977 F250 Camper special with a 400/C6, 2wd.

Whenever i pull my camper it wants to overheat, ive never had one do this to me before so im kinda lost...

It seems to heat up at odd times, like running down the road at 55mph, you can run it around town all day and it wont overheat...

I shouldnt say it "overheats" but it creeps to the top of the normal band and i worry on a hotter day or a longer trip its going to overheat...now, with our recent heat wave (been 100* + all last week), even empty it runs 3/4 up the gauge...

Antifreeze looks good, no leaks or anything i can see, but the odd thing is last winter it made to little heat...im wondering if it has no T stat in it...but that should make it run cooler? I did add a trans cooler thinking that would help cause the radiator wouldnt have to eat the trans heat to....but it didnt help...

I guess what stumps me is why it does it at speed at not in town? Id like to get this figured out though before i tear something up...

later,
Dustin

 

[Gacknar]

Continuous higher RPM operation = more heat.

I would install a mechanical gauge at least temporarily to see what the actual temperature is.

What type Radiator does it have?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Stock radiator.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

How old is the radiator?

30+ years of crud and stop leak will decrease its cooling ability.

 

[Will]

Continuous high rpm isn't the problem. Heat comes from torque production. Torque is directly related to how much fuel is burned during a single combustion event. More fuel during one event means a higher peak temperature. Horsepower is related to how many torque events you can pack together in a certain amount of time. It's possible that cooling system is being used past its design limits, but I doubt it. Dragging that trailer at 55mph doesn't seem like an overwhelming task for any full-size pickup.

As to that specific truck, I would take the radiator to a shop. We have a place here, Percifields, that will take it apart, clean it and put it back together. It's a real radiator shop. Gotta be one up there. After 35 years the water pump impeller blades could be worn down or the radiator could be clogged. I've had it happen.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I am going to try flushing it out and seeing what happens, i dont think the cooling system is overtaxed because of it being overworked....towing big ass campers is what that truck was designed for ...plus it heated up the other day towing my 2wd shortbox colorado on a car hauler....(about 4500lbs total, maybe), i know that wasnt to much for it....

I think its mainly due to age...ill replace the radiator (if flushing dont help), possibly with a 460 radiator....

thanks guys.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No, the "Camper Special" is mainly for pickupbox campers which put more weight in the back of the truck... not so much for pulling your 5th wheel monster which was practically unheard of in the late 70's.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Its not a 5th wheels its a 6500lb travel trailer, well within that trucks capacity.

 

[Tominator]

One of the functions of the thermostat is to SLOW DOWN the water so as to allow enough time in the radiator to transfer heat. You should have ZERO issues running the 195F thermostat regardless of what you pull as long as the load does not exceed the GVWR.

Something is wrong and don't try to find a band-aid.

I'd do a coolant system pressure test first.

BTW, install a transmission cooler if you don't already have one.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Im thinking the bottom hose is my problem...i grabbed it and it squshed like jello...

 

[Will]

The squishy hose isn't limiting cooling capacity. Take that radiator to a shop.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Im going to will, i pulled it out today. I changed the Tstat and lost enough coolant to see down inside the radiator, not only did the antifreeze that came out look like shit after a nite of mexican food, but the radiator looks real bad crusted up....

Not to metion the plugs i changed had to come out with a breaker bar, the dist cap electrodes were almost completly burned in two, there was no fuel filter (it was a piece of brake line hose, i thought it was an odd looking smaller filter till i took it off) and the plug wires were dated 1977....

So im guessing most of the problems im having are just from pure neglect....

BUt yes....75bucks to have the radiator rodded out so its going in on saturday...

later,
Dustin

 

[Dugan]

Im going to will, i pulled it out today. I changed the Tstat and lost enough coolant to see down inside the radiator, not only did the antifreeze that came out look like shit after a nite of mexican food, but the radiator looks real bad crusted up....

Not to metion the plugs i changed had to come out with a breaker bar, the dist cap electrodes were almost completly burned in two, there was no fuel filter (it was a piece of brake line hose, i thought it was an odd looking smaller filter till i took it off) and the plug wires were dated 1977....

So im guessing most of the problems im having are just from pure neglect....

BUt yes....75bucks to have the radiator rodded out so its going in on saturday...

later,
Dustin

For that price you can get a brand new one. I have a brand new rad in mine and for some reason no matter what I do the water/anti is always brown..

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Well the old radiator was partially clogged but he said he couldnt tear it apart because of stress cracks in the tank, so i ended up buying a new one (through him) for 180 bucks. HOPEFULLY this takes care of the problem we're going camping this weekend and i gotta pull through the irish hills....so if its gonna heat up itll be through there.

later,
DUstin