2011 GMC Sierra getting hot while towing

[derooster]

Background

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 XLT 4X4

5.3 L

Lifted with 35" tires

4.56 gears

Cat back exhaust

Volant air induction

tuner

 

I tow a fairly large 23' Ocean boat but its aluminum and only weighs rough 3000lbs (single axle trailer). When going up any hills at freeway speeds the truck gets hot even in cold weather.

 

It only has 50,000 on the truck and runs perfect

 

What can I do to stop this occurance?

 

bigger Radiator?

180 T-Stat?

 

any ideas would help I hate it when the needle moves right of verticle

Byron

[Explorer]

I'd check the easy stuff first. Blow out the radiator cooling fins from the inside to clear out any bug accumulation. Cooling system probably has probably never been flushed or coolant changed. Wouldn't mess with thermostat. These engines are made to run around 210*, wouldn't worry till it hits 240*. They now make water wetter compatible with antifreeze, so you could look into that. While lift and tires are contributing to the engine load (air flow etc., that trailer/boat "shouldn't" be overheating it.

[wrenchbender]

+1 on leave the thermostat alone. Thermostats are there to warm your engine faster and to maintain temps into a set range. They do nothing to cool the motor, once open they can't open further.

 

Go with above suggestions and I would add checking the water pump for flow. Usually this can be judged by the turbulence seen in the radiator.

 

Good luck with your search!

 

Dan

[Stevens03]

Did you over heat or did the gauge just go up further than you've noticed before? The temp will rise and fall but as long as it doesn't go over the boiling mark, your still considered fine. Something you can do since you have a programmer is turn your fans on sooner if you haven't done that already. Towing with 35" tires shouldn't be an issue. I use to tow alot with a lifted truck and never had an issue.

[sahls01gmc]

Check actual temps with a secondary temp gauge. Many people on here will say the OEM gauges are not accurate, although a good reference point.

 

How many miles? Can you select a tune better suited for towing vs regular driving? What is the condition of the coolant?

 

Like others have said, check water pump and condition of coolant. Perhaps do a quick flush, and see if you have the same results.

[intheburbs]

What are you defining as "hot?" 200°? 220°? 240°? If the truck was getting hot enough to damage anything, you'd get a warning on the DIC.

 

This is how hot mine got in Colorado on I-70, (230° on both transmission and engine) and I wasn't concerned...

[derooster]

Thanks for the advice. Hot to me is the needle moving right of verticle. I have seen the tranny temp around 230 at this time. The grapevine where I must tow over is pretty steep and long. I am towing the boat again tomorrow so I will make note of actual temps.

 

The towing tune is horrible but I will change the tune back to normal. I believe its on performance right now.

 

radiator flush is in order ... check

 

Thanks again

 

Byron