batboy
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2013
- Posts
- 15
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Fredericksburg VA
- Ram Year
- 2001
- Engine
- 5.9L Turbo Diesel
I did a quick search with no success, so I thought I would ask the question. Do any of you have the same problem?
I recently went on a road trip that took me across the Appalachians. There are some pretty steep interstate hills. Speed limit on the roads is 70 and I was maintaining a speed around 75. When trying to go up the steep hills (7% grade), the truck would start to overheat. To be specific, the truck would not gear down until it lost significant speed. Once it geared down and accelerated, while still going up the hill, the water temperature would rapidly increase into the red zone and the idiot light would come on (check gauges). Only when I would reduce the speed, regardless of gear, would the temperature go back down. This happened twice. I was not towing anything. I did have a few hundred pounds of gear in the bed, but nothing ridiculous.
The truck is a 2001, 2500 diesel, extended cab, standard bed, about 170k miles. I was in 2WD of course.
So, is this normal? Are diesels just not meant to go fast up hills? Is this a turbo thing (turbo getting too hot)? Could my truck need a tune-up? Would an intercooler help or any other add on? I'm obviously concerned that if I were towing something it would have been much worse.
Thanks for your tips and advice. I am a diesel newbie, so I apologize in advance is this is a common thing.
I recently went on a road trip that took me across the Appalachians. There are some pretty steep interstate hills. Speed limit on the roads is 70 and I was maintaining a speed around 75. When trying to go up the steep hills (7% grade), the truck would start to overheat. To be specific, the truck would not gear down until it lost significant speed. Once it geared down and accelerated, while still going up the hill, the water temperature would rapidly increase into the red zone and the idiot light would come on (check gauges). Only when I would reduce the speed, regardless of gear, would the temperature go back down. This happened twice. I was not towing anything. I did have a few hundred pounds of gear in the bed, but nothing ridiculous.
The truck is a 2001, 2500 diesel, extended cab, standard bed, about 170k miles. I was in 2WD of course.
So, is this normal? Are diesels just not meant to go fast up hills? Is this a turbo thing (turbo getting too hot)? Could my truck need a tune-up? Would an intercooler help or any other add on? I'm obviously concerned that if I were towing something it would have been much worse.
Thanks for your tips and advice. I am a diesel newbie, so I apologize in advance is this is a common thing.