2025 PB, 240F noted on Engine Temp, too high?

[Rstel01]

HI All,

2025 PB, 9K miles. Just for context it did blow a turbo at 800 miles

Quick question, has anyone noted any odd cycles where the ECT (as shown on dash) would be higher than expected? Coming back to PA house from WV, place along I-68 where there is a real long hill to pull along the WV-MD border. I noted the Engine temp way higher than I would expect, not overheat but upwards of 240F, which I've never seen before. Wasn't towing, anything odd. Made this trip a bunch of times in this truck already and never saw the temp get that high. Usually 210ish and change and close to what the trans temp is. Outside of that, fairly normal in the 198-212F range. Outside and when back in PA, back to pretty normal in the 198ish range. Is there some mode where it keeps the grill shutters closed in lower ambient temps for some reason (50F?). I don't want to freak out like I did with our other vehicle, 2024 2.3 Bronco when as soon as temps dropped the Charging Voltage started staying at 15.4v frequently. Well turns out for that, because it uses an AGM battery, there is a BCM module, not just a normal voltage regulator that will "overcharge" the battery in lower temps, when it hasn't been used in a while.

I'm worried about this truck because it ate the turbo so early in its life and they were concerned about it "running hot" so the tech drove it as his personal vehicle for a day or so. It's never really had a problem after that.

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[JohnTrigger]

Yes generally it keeps the grille shutters closed for fuel economy until it needs them opened for cooling and the engine temp can climb about that high when they’re closed on a steep uphill climb (due to the turbos). I haven’t seen 240 but I’ve seen it up to the 220+ range. I’m guessing this time you weren’t running the air conditioner inside the cabin since it wasn’t hot out. Running the AC will force the grille shutters open and the engine temp would have dropped quickly. I just played with turning on and off the AC on that section of I-68 last weekend…AC on= engine temps cooled quickly. Back in the old days you’d have turned on the cabin heating to dissipate heat, so turning on the AC isn’t intuitive.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

So that long you’re talking about I assume you were in boost the whole damn way?

Those turbos throw a shit ton of air into the intercooler, which also transfers heat to the radiator.

I don’t believe the truck considers itself hot until like 250

 

[Rstel01]

Yes generally it keeps the grille shutters closed for fuel economy until it needs them opened for cooling and the engine temp can climb about that high when they’re closed on a steep uphill climb (due to the turbos). I haven’t seen 240 but I’ve seen it up to the 220+ range. I’m guessing this time you weren’t running the air conditioner inside the cabin since it wasn’t hot out. Running the AC will force the grille shutters open and the engine temp would have dropped quickly. I just played with turning on and off the AC on that section of I-68 last weekend…AC on= engine temps cooled quickly. Back in the old days you’d have turned on the cabin heating to dissipate heat, so turning on the AC isn’t intuitive.

Thanks, glad you know exactly the section of 68 You're probably onto something, I've made that pull coming up in the hottest days of the summer and it stayed dead on around 200-205ish. This weekend was the first time, I've ever seen any real ECT variations from Cheat Lake east on any of those long pulls along 68 until I hit Sideling Hill.

 

[Riddick]

Hitting 240 with no trailer would be a little concerning to me. I have made the drive from VA to OH several times in my truck and going through the hills of West Virginia I have never seen the temps get over 210 even on the longest grades. This is me cruising at 75+ the entire time.

Has the truck ran fine for the past 8k miles (since turbo was replaced)? Very odd for it to run hotter than normal randomly and only one time. I would definitely keep a a close eye on those coolant temps. Have you checked coolant level since this happened?

 

[Rstel01]

Hitting 240 with no trailer would be a little concerning to me. I have made the drive from VA to OH several times in my truck and going through the hills of West Virginia I have never seen the temps get over 210 even on the longest grades. This is me cruising at 75+ the entire time.

Has the truck ran fine for the past 8k miles (since turbo was replaced)? Very odd for it to run hotter than normal randomly and only one time. I would definitely keep a a close eye on those coolant temps. Have you checked coolant level since this happened?

Yup, coolant level is spot on. I had a thought the heat exchanger may have a leak or something but, nary a drop being lost. Otherwise truck has been a rockstar since the initial problem with the Right side Turbo. Even that was pretty much because the TSB, I think actual program for the radiator cover shroud flutter wasn't done before we took delivery of it

 

[CedarEden]

I started a thread before I found this:

On a recent Thanksgiving trip to North Carolina, I noticed my oil temperature spiked while climbing the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee. Well, actually, I noticed after I stopped at the welcome center and when I restarted my truck it roared like crazy to cool down the engine that sat full of heat while I took my break. So then as I was driving, I watched the engine temp gauge closely and notice it was around 210-220º when normally it runs about 196º. I suppose this is normal, I just never noticed driving around the Adirondack mountains where I live since the change in elevation is more gradual. The engine temperature never got close to being redlined but it was a new experience for me. Driving up the steep mountains, with the turbo boost at 10+ PSI, things heated up.

I think the lesson learned was not to pull off at a high altitude rest area after a long climb and just shut off the engine since all that heat had nowhere to go. I thought there were electric fans that would continue running but I didn't hear any. I guess what concerned me is the ambient temperature was fairly low - maybe I think around 50º F.

Interesting the comments about the shutters staying closed in cooler temperatures. I should think they would open even in cool temps if the engine is hot. Also interesting the suggestion of turning on the AC

 

[JCsTruck]

With the EcoBoost motors I would be more concerned with those turbochargers being very hot after a long extended up hill drive at highway speeds. Turning off your engine right after that is a good way to cook the little bit of oil that remains in the very critical bearings of those turbochargers putting you a few more steps closer to turbo failure. Best thing to do is keep the engine running and let it idle for a little while so the turbos can cool down.

 

[Rstel01]

Hey, just update to this as it was time to get in to be serviced anyway. Big giant "NPF" (no problem found), no codes, no traces, even let them take it for an extended road test and it stayed exactly where it should (I expected this). Got to be some combination of what it was seeing for Baro Pressure, how the Climate was Configured (A/C comp vs off) and it deciding to keep the Grill Shutters Closed. Irony, 26 years ago I was a Senior Master Technician with Ford till I walked away for what became much greener pastures. I hate to be the "Old Man Yelling at Clouds", but I'm really coming to believe late 90's mid 00's EEC V was "peak" as far as ECU and other network controls. My Wife loves this truck but I've warned her, I don't trust it long term, don't trust it after warranty and there is no way in hell, this F150 will exist as a second (or 3rd) life farm beater.

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