Over heating when towing?

[andrewmitchell123]

Hi, I have done a search but I cannot find any threads with the issues im experiencing.

The problem I have is my hilux is heating up when towing my caravan on trips away.
Its happened the past 2 times now and I just wanted to know if I should be worried or not?
I have a 2005 hilux manual, it has muffler delete, windbooster and steinbauer chip.
Im guessing it would be heavy also as I have a canopy with tradie rack on the back and draws in the tub.

My caravan is a jayco eagle poptop and would only weigh about 1300kg.

Now the first time it did it was on the Australia day long weekend, now I didn't notice it at all on the trip there. but on the way home I noticed the air con turned off about 10- 15 minutes into the trip, I thought I lost the gas maybe so turned it off. when getting onto the freeway onto some hills I noticed the temperature gauge fluctuating a bit. I have never ever seen this temperature gauge move past its normal spot at just below halfway. I drove very cautiously to get home to make try make sure It didn't overheat as much as possible. I checked coolant and oil when home and both levels were fine. just to add the temperature this day was about 40 degrees Celsius. steinbauer chip was set to full

I Didn't encounter the problem again while driving the car around town etc.

a couple weeks past by and I set off to go on holidays again for another weekend away. I turned the steinbauer chip down to about 2 o clock to see if this was the problem. now also this was a very hot day around the 40s again. and towing the caravan on my trip away there were many hills this day and the temp gauge once again was fluctuating a bit. I was keeping a very close eye on this to make sure it didn't get to hot. when I say fluctuating it was anywhere from its normal position to about 3/4s. I got to my destination and tried to forget about it while I tried to enjoy my weekend away.

On the last day that it was time to go home hooked up the caravan and off I went. now it was also very hilly on the way home this day aswell. but I never once seen the temperature gauge move at all. This day was only about 23 degrees celisus. and I did not have the air con on.

Now I thought It would be a good idea to get your opinions on the issue to see if it is something that I need to worry about.

First trip I towed in 5th gear on the freeway. second trip I tried 4th gear but no difference.

Is the problem a combination of a 40 degree day, towing the caravan and at freeway speeds? and I shouldn't really be worried about it because its normal?

OR

Is there a problem with my vehicle and do you's know what might be causing this problem?

Thanks

[ktm300]

Any lights or other equipment in front of your radiator?

[ktm300]

Get a scan gauge and monitor your temps

[andrewmitchell123]

have 2 spotties in front of front grill... but I have always had these and it has never happened...

only difference I could tell was the steinbauer chip and the really hot day...

thought it may have been a combination of towing and the hot day. but shouldn't there be a way to prevent this?

also should I be towing in 4th at 2500rpm or 5th at about 2100rpm?

[ktm300]

Not doubt it was a hot day as per your info which would not help . Do you have the wind booster settings on high ? Try removing the lights . Your van is light considering some 5 th gear shouldn't be an issue some will disagree . How many klms on the hilux also could try a service on the viscous fan may help ?make sure radiator is clean and no mud build up . Scan gauge are good as they will give you an exact temp . And you can drive accordingly you will notice it heating up and then you know to slow down and maybe use 4 th gear for a while ?

[andrewmitchell123]

yer well that's what I thought because both times it happened were on hot days. but id like to have it so I don't need to worry about stuff like this...

wind booster was on middle setting not on high. 210000km on the car, new injectors about 15000km ago....
I thought 5th gear wouldn't be to bad as only a light van...

think I might pull radiator out tomorrow wash out and flush and put back in...

doesn't viscous fan only have effect at low speeds or all the time?

where would I get a scan gauge from?

[ktm300]

With that many klms service fan would be a good idea use Toyota oil in fan . Scan gauge I will search and put up link later . You could always try booster on standard setting at 100 k as it would not be that beneficial at that speed anyway .there is a way to test viscous fan but Iam not sure where I read that info . Just put now oil in anyway . You have nothing to lose

[ktm300]

Ampleoutdoors Scangauge.com.au

[MarkTGood]

There is a thread on here where somebody with a similar issue solved it by adding 70ml??? Of extra oil into the viscous hub of the fan clutch.
Maybe someone can add a link to the post?

Mark

[MarkTGood]

http://www.newhilux.net/forum/viewtopic ... 0&start=40

[PCB]

Mate, going to ask a dumb question (as about to buy a Swan Outback to tow behind the Hilux).

Not sure from your post - is the overheating just a recent change or have you just started towing and its happened every time? Also, have you towed trailers that would weigh the same and had the same effect?

[andrewmitchell123]

Okay i will try having a look at changing the viscous hub oil... and see how that goes.


I never had the problem before these 2 times towing. Its only new so dont think its the towing... think you should be fine mate. Towed my old caravan which was a dove. And never had a problem with it.

[PCB]

Thx.

[Spitfia]

If you suspect the viscous fan hub get someone to switch the engine off while you watch the fan if the fan keeps turning after the engine shuts down the hub is stuffed if you are fairly confident you can stick your finger in the blades and it will just stop turning

Good luck

[cooganstein]

With the engine off give the fan a spin. Basically as soon as u let go it should stop. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think there should be any free spin.

[Spitfia]

Yep pretty much right

[Harves]

Also give your radiator a good wash with water. I was having the same problems until i washed it. I was amazed at how much dust was sitting in there.

[TazsGT]

Is your EGR blocked?

That can give you higher temps when towing.

[Joukowski]

I would start with the cheaper options first... like giving the radiator system a good wash out. There's a huge difference between a 40 deg and 23 deg day. Considering that a difference of 1 deg turns water from liquid into gas.

[Dazza32]

I had same problem with air con turning off too and turned out the radiator was blocked. I had been getting radiator flushed once a year or so i thought. When taken out it was heavy with junk. Was fine after that.