Active grill shutters affecting fluid temps

[RamFP620]

Towing my boat today (as well as other times), outside temp in the mid 80's, going 65mph in 8th gear which is under 2000 rpms, my oil temp hovered around 233. Obviously dropping to 7th (2000+ rpms), the oil temp would increase to maybe 237.
On the way back home, same outside temp, my oil temp hit 239 and stayed there for a while (I was in 8th gear) and then dropped to 230.

I know the tranny has some sort of thermostat, but does the oil cooler have something similar?

Also, how do the active shutters work? Could the cause of the higher temp followed by a big drop be due to the shutters opening?

If my driving style down to the boat ramp keeps me at 233 and I have the same driving style back home, why the higher temp followed by a drop. The times I could see a drop like this is if I actually slow down, lets say to 50mph, but I would see the gradual decrease in temp.

I've seen posts where folks have ripped the shutters out.

 

[Travelin Ram]

Entirely normal range of temperatures. Vehicles without shutters will also have varying EOT in response to load conditions, ambient,etc. Normally higher than coolant when working under load.

 

[JaysFan9292]

That seems normal. Mine hits 250F pulling 8000 Pound's at times.

 

[csuder99]

When I had a 1500 with grill shutters I could see the temp changing quite a bit driving on the highway on a hot day which I attributed to the shutters.

 

[hodge-xj]

I'm no chemist or oil guru what so ever so take this for what it is. I was referred to info similar to this when seeing my EOT sit anywhere from 230-250 regularly. According to the literature I've seen these higher temps are why they spec full synthetics and now use specific fluids per application. It was unnerving coming from the standard ideology that 200* or less was a must. I was pulling like 2500-3k today and the oil never went below 230*. I have the Ecodiesel and they notoriously run hot while pulling, but I've never hit derate or had any issues and I see similar temps pulling the same grades empty, so now I just keep up on proper maintenance, and run the thing.

https://www.waynesgarage.com/tips/more-tip/synthetic-oils
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[RamFP620]

I'm no chemist or oil guru what so ever so take this for what it is. I was referred to info similar to this when seeing my EOT sit anywhere from 230-250 regularly. According to the literature I've seen these higher temps are why they spec full synthetics and now use specific fluids per application.

https://www.waynesgarage.com/tips/more-tip/synthetic-oils

That is some really good information!

 

[droopie85gt]

Pulling a small 20ft ski boat to Heber Springs, going up 1 moderate hill before my brother's place, my old 3.6 hit 245 and I was like WHOA!, but as soon as I got back on level ground, it was down in the 220's in less than 30 seconds. Still, too hot for my blood!

 

[hodge-xj]

That is some really good information!

It's enough to put your mind at ease a little. I am used to seeing 200* as the base line for knowing things are ok. These trucks run hot, but they're engineered to do so. I've seen no issues and I drive more than most. 5k OCI and normal maintenance, quality fluid and run the thing.

 

[68PowerWagon]

It is hard for us old timers to get used to 230* regular oil temps & 6-8k oil changes. We just have to realize these engines & oils are so much different than they were in the 80's & 90's.

 

[Travelin Ram]

Perhaps some of you are thinking of transmission oil temperatures which typically run lower. EOT has always been ideal to run above boiling to burn off condensation. I was seeing 230 on commercial engines 30 years ago.

EOT gauges in consumer vehicles are relatively recent so not as familiar to as many people.

EOT 220-250 and transmission oil temp 170- 200 is where I like to see it. Lower values just grocery getting and higher at max weight or load.

 

[RamFP620]

It's enough to put your mind at ease a little. I am used to seeing 200* as the base line for knowing things are ok. These trucks run hot, but they're engineered to do so. I've seen no issues and I drive more than most. 5k OCI and normal maintenance, quality fluid and run the thing.

I guess another way to look at is that when the temp hits 240, the oil temp guage is only halfway between the 1/2 and 3/4 mark.

 

[JSMITH8505]

1. I agree withi Travelin Ram about using FULL synthetic oils, They can handle the temps without leaving a varnish on the internals of the engine.

I see 230-248 on a regular basis when towing for oil temps. Occasionally, but very rarely I may see 250 so there seems to be a thermostat setting that comes in to play in the high 240's. Combined weight of my trailer/truck and cargo will typically be 22-25,000 lbs.

I also watch my engine temp and on long hills if it creeps above 230 I'll turn the heat to full and try to vent out some of the heat that way. For every 10 degrees of coolant temp, it seems that the oil temp will also drop, not a 1:1 correlation, but after a minute or two, oil temps begin to fall as well.

Transmission temps rarely exceed 165-170 unless I'm running in a speed range where the transmission constantly shifts, then I'll either slow down or speed up and not use cruise control so I can control the fuel rather than the cruise trying to stay exactly at a certain speed.

Oil pressure should Always be 48-50 psi when pulling something. Lower pressures may show a need for an oil with a higher "low" number. 15/40 as opposed to 10/40.

 

[Aharleyguy]

This post caught my eye so i thought i would ask the question;
1500 EcoDiesel is a big horn.

what are the max temperature for; or is there one ?
coolant ?
Transmission ?
oil ?
I can't find this answer?

 

[engineering]

I am still trying to figure out what temperatures I should begin to worry about - coolant, engine oil, transmission.
At what point do I worry, slow down, reduce the load, add additional cooling capacity, etc, etc?

My truck is commonly running at full load, up-hill, high-altitude.....it would be nice to know.