Powerboost Overheated while Towing

[Samson16]

245F

Dislexia(254 vs 245) or 9 degree change with new 55mph limp thrown in? Either way 220 is normal range.

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[Groovicles]

No they didn't. They proved what it looks like when you pull a 10k lbs trailer at 10k feet elevation without a properly equipped vehicle. At the very least his truck didn't even have the benefits of the max tow package but any half ton similarly poorly equipped when handle the very same at best. They also did a follow up video explaining why their test results were poor. Very different story if his PB was properly equipped for that tough test.

 

[Snakebitten]

Doesn't help much if you are in a Driver Select Mode that supports EV mode, but for Tow/Haul it helps with IAT2 temps.

 

[Snakebitten]

No they didn't. They proved what it looks like when you pull a 10k lbs trailer at 10k feet elevation without a properly equipped vehicle. At the very least his truck didn't even have the benefits of the max tow package but any half ton similarly poorly equipped when handle the very same at best. They also did a follow up video explaining why their test results were poor. Very different story if his PB was properly equipped for that tough test.

Nothing you say is going to change his take on the Powerboost. For whatever reason(s) he's been soured, and they could very well be good reasons, it's his mission for everyone to sour on theirs too.
It's a difficult (impossible) mission, but his dedication is oddly admirable.

 

[Groovicles]

Nothing you say is going to change his take on the Powerboost. For whatever reason(s) he's been soured, and they could very well be good reasons, it's his mission for everyone to sour on theirs too.
It's a difficult (impossible) mission, but his dedication is oddly admirable.

Yup, I'm not trying to change his take, just stating facts and my own experience. His 1500 Limited probably looks better than any PB trim (certainly better than mine!) but most people would want to avoid towing anything heavy with it.

 

[Snakebitten]

Dislexia(254 vs 245) or 9 degree change with new 55mph limp thrown in? Either way 220 is normal range.

Not a typo on my part.
But simply me sharing what I've seen over the last ~6 years of RV towing 3.5 Ecoboosters reporting on an amazing thread called "Running Hot while towing Controversial Ideas"

It's now 111 pages long and includes fellas with Gen1, Gen2, and Gen3 3.5 Ecoboost trucks.

In summary, the mighty Ecoboost, in extreme towing conditions, can simply create more torque-work-heat than it's cooling capacity can shed. The good news is that you can let off the gas a bit and join the slow lane'rs, if necessary, until you get to the top of the hill.

You won't be alone in that lane, but your ego might be a little bruised? ?

I don't tow heavy enough to have had to humble up, if you know what I mean. But I would if called for. The truck is so amazing the other 99% of the time, why fret?

 

[Samson16]

In summary, the mighty Ecoboost, in extreme towing conditions, can simply create more torque-work-heat than it's cooling capacity can shed. The good news is that you can let off the gas a bit and join the slow lane'rs, if necessary, until you get to the top of the hill.

That is it exactly imo!

Because my PB has the power to pull 11,300lbs. up Mt. Everest doesn't mean it won't overheat doing it. Most 1/2 ton trucks struggle to do what the PB actually can do, and that makes me smile.

I plan on pulling a 26', 7500lb. GVWR inTech Terra Willow all over this country with my wife and the dogs, and the PB will be my horse. Nice and easy down the road

 

[SRMD]

That is it exactly imo!

Because my PB has the power to pull 11,300lbs. up Mt. Everest doesn't mean it won't overheat doing it. Most 1/2 ton trucks struggle to do what the PB actually can do, and that makes me smile.

I plan on pulling a 26', 7500lb. GVWR inTech Terra Willow all over this country with my wife and the dogs, and the PB will be my horse. Nice and easy down the road

I pull a similar sized TT, 26’, 7K GVWR. Be sure to get the OBDLink MX+, and download TurboPilot’s .STG file for monitoring engine specifics like coolant, trans temp and others, plus 12V and 280V battery systems. I made my own and switch between the two.
I think you will be surprised how quickly the temps rise, so the importance of monitoring is critical.

 

[Samson16]

I pull a similar sized TT, 26’, 7K GVWR. Be sure to get the OBDLink MX+, and download TurboPilot’s .STG file for monitoring engine specifics like coolant, trans temp and others, plus 12V and 280V battery systems. I made my own and switch between the two.
I think you will be surprised how quickly the temps rise, so the importance of monitoring is critical.

Good advice. Rising temperatures are to be expected up to a point. What are the limp mode temperatures for the transmission and for the engine? Are you seeing the needle move above normal and into caution often?

 

[Aron]

Good advice. Rising temperatures are to be expected up to a point. What are the limp mode temperatures for the transmission and for the engine? Are you seeing the needle move above normal and into caution often?

I can confirm that a transmission temp of 261 still won't get you into limp mode. I was running late to try to check into a campground before the office closed, so we were pushing it through Connecticut at maybe 75+ mph for a little while. I happen to glance down at the gauge to see the engine temp still in good range (maybe 220?), but the transmission temp at 261 and steadily creeping upwards. The truck gave no indication that it was having trouble, and was still not near the "red zone" on the temp gauge, but still. I decided to let off on the accelerator and let the truck cool down, even though we ended up being late to the campground.

 

[Samson16]

I can confirm that a transmission temp of 261 still won't get you into limp mode.

Great information there. Thank you!

When you reduced speed, did the transmission temp drop quickly?

It's easy for us to get our transmission temps mixed in with our engine temps, and here you've provided a clear example of normal range engine temp with elevated and climbing transmission temp while towing through hills at 75+mph.

And a transmission temp of 261 degrees F is not enough (by itself anyway) to trigger limp mode.

Interesting.

 

[Polo08816]

So it is okay with you to advertise in BOLD and put on the truck's specification sticker that a pickup truck has a 12,700 tow rating when there is no way the truck or ANY version of that model can tow anywhere near that weight? Just because it is done does not make it right.

I've found that whatever the advertised (ideal) tow ratings are for a particular platform, you're better off being conservation and dividing the ideal number by 2.

I think the max I would consider towing on a 1/2 ton platform is probably 8,000 lbs. Any more than that, I should at least consider using a HD pickup.

 

[Polo08816]

Is this probably slightly worse on a PowerBoost powertrain compared to a non-PowerBoost 3.5EB?

 

[Aron]

When you reduced speed, did the transmission temp drop quickly?

I guess it depends upon your definition of "quickly"? Once I let off the gas and slowed to ~60mph, the transmission cooled down to maybe 220 within about 5-10 minutes? It noticeably started dropping as soon as I slowed down.

 

[Aron]

Is this probably slightly worse on a PowerBoost powertrain compared to a non-PowerBoost 3.5EB?

Maybe slightly, due to the added weight of the battery and electric motor? My impression is that they're otherwise equivalent engines, especially when towing, so I don't think the difference between ecoboost and powerboost is significant in almost all cases.

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