Towing in the heat
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Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 566
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From: Ft. Worth
Towing in the heat
Hey all. I am new to this forum but not new to owning a dodge truck. This is my second dodge dakota and I have a question about it.
When I am towing my boat and gear (about 5,000lbs) on a hot day or uphill the trucks temp gauge really starts to move. It will go up quite a bit before I hear what I think is an auxilary fan kick on. This fan sounds like it goes faster the harder I press down on the pedal and helps cool the engine. It seems to work pretty well but I was wondering if there was a way for me to turn on this fan sooner or control it more. I am about to take a 300 mile trip through some bad heat for a boating excursion this month and am trying to ensure I don't get stuck on the side of the road.
Anybody have experience with these things or what is turning on in my truck?
thanks
When I am towing my boat and gear (about 5,000lbs) on a hot day or uphill the trucks temp gauge really starts to move. It will go up quite a bit before I hear what I think is an auxilary fan kick on. This fan sounds like it goes faster the harder I press down on the pedal and helps cool the engine. It seems to work pretty well but I was wondering if there was a way for me to turn on this fan sooner or control it more. I am about to take a 300 mile trip through some bad heat for a boating excursion this month and am trying to ensure I don't get stuck on the side of the road.
Anybody have experience with these things or what is turning on in my truck?
thanks
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,283
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From: live oak, ca
what you are hearing is the engine fan which is controled by a clutch which operates off of heat coming off the radiator... the more heat there is = the faster the fan will spin, the only other thing you could really do is add an electric fan..
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Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Ft. Worth
ya i have heard that the electric fan helps with the power too. i notice that when the engine fan turns on, the less power I have. I would like to keep my power and have the truck cool itself. will the electric fan do this?
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
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From:
In your case, if the engine is already under load and the fan is kicking on, then yes, it is 'robbing' you of power. An electric fan would cool the engine, the power is just coming from elsewhere i.e. your electrical system.
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Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Ft. Worth
Well then I definitely want this electric fan. I saw a writeup on a ford taurus fan on here, but I don't feel confident enough in my skills to do something like that (daily driver and cannot afford to have down time). Is there a kit or shops that do this sort of thing? What $$ am I looking at here?
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I did my E-Fan for around $120. But my fan was a pretty good deal.
when you do yours, I suggest getting a fan controller and not just hooking it up to a switch.
Derale makes a few, I am using their adjustable controller. Summit racing has them.
I wouldnt go any smaller than a 16 inch fan, since you are towing, I would go 18. (like the taurus fan...)
the t-fan can be had for around 50 bucks on ebay. the controllers are around 30.
there are really only 4 or 5 wires to hook up.
when you do yours, I suggest getting a fan controller and not just hooking it up to a switch.
Derale makes a few, I am using their adjustable controller. Summit racing has them.
I wouldnt go any smaller than a 16 inch fan, since you are towing, I would go 18. (like the taurus fan...)
the t-fan can be had for around 50 bucks on ebay. the controllers are around 30.
there are really only 4 or 5 wires to hook up.
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Rookie
Joined: Mar 2009
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Sounds like the fan is working OK, so maybe install an aux. trans cooler to help control the heat? That would help get some of the heat being transfered to the radiator from the transmission out of the radiator, reducing the cooling load on it?