overheating and struggling up a long hill

[billmcn]

Thanks guys for all the advice,what a great forum.I will take action on all the points mentioned and will report back if I have any further problems
Thanks again
Bill

[Dion]

I recently did Cunnighams gap in my NT towing 1500kg camper. Not the same thing I know, but I had no issues passing people going up and sitting on or above the speed limit the whole time, including slowing down and accelerating back up again for traffic in places. (Even managed to drag race a Prado towing a camper who tried to outaccelerate me up the hill when I went to pass him ... he lost). Needle didn't move and performance was good.

[Goodsy]

An extra tonne would change that. My old TD Hilux towed a 1.6tonne van around the country side for over a year. About 20000k's all up.
Cooling system was a one but on hot days 30+ we still had to used the heater on steep climbs.

I do find it funny that off all the things that will put the PJ into limp mode a cooking motor isn't one of them. It's terminal!

[pasniny]

you can try http://www.evanscooling.com

[rotare]

Something to keep in mind is that the difference between your temperature needle sitting at normal (just under half) and then at the upper end of the scale near hot is only a few degrees from memory, something like 5 or 8 degrees.

I have a 2+ tonne boat and where I launch it from means I have to tow it up a very steep and long hill. With four blokes inside the car and towing the boat it's a third gear job and has the Paj working hard. When the ambient temp is above 30C, by the time we've got to the top of the hill the needle at times has been sitting at about the 2/3 position. Once over the hill and back on flat ground the needle will return to it's normal operating position within 20-30 seconds - so very quickly.

I'd definately agree with the point about switching off the aircon and turning the heaters on full and winding down the windows while going up the hill (I turn the setting to the demister). It's surprsing how much that little bit extra in heat exchange ability effects the temp, because ever since I have been using this technique my needle barely moves from the normal operating range, even when towing up the hill on the hottest days.

[Catchin Jack]

The air con will automatically shut down if engine labours to much and is running hot, it's a safety feature as I found out other week.

[Quietguy]

Originally Posted by Dion

I recently did Cunnighams gap in my NT towing 1500kg camper. Not the same thing I know, but I had no issues passing people going up and sitting on or above the speed limit the whole time, including slowing down and accelerating back up again for traffic in places. (Even managed to drag race a Prado towing a camper who tried to outaccelerate me up the hill when I went to pass him ... he lost). Needle didn't move and performance was good.

Last year I towed my 2500kg van through Cunninghams gap without any fuss or worry. Paj was loaded up with self and 4 passengers, plus a fat dog, and the van was loaded up with luggage etc. performance same as above

David

[Jimbo2]

Had very similar experience.
Blown fuse on the thermo fan.

[Goodsy]

Originally Posted by Catchin Jack

The air con will automatically shut down if engine labours to much and is running hot, it's a safety feature as I found out other week.

Would this not be to late if the ac was on during the climb and it only shut off when the engine/cooling system was as tip over point if you know what I mean.

Better to turn off before the climb.

If your worried get your cooling system checked out but I don't think theg will find anything as it it only happening in extreme conditions.

[Jondalar]

Hi,

I towed our 2.3t full caravan up Toowoomba range a year ago on a 40C day, I have an Ultragauge and kept a close eye on the intake air and cooling water temps. I played it conservatively and ended up down to 40km/hr for some of it, mainly because I didn't want the water temp to go over 105. Unfortunately the slower you go the less flow on the intercooler and the intake are reached 100C also. There was a lot of unused power and the engine never missed a beat. Temp gauge never went into the red but was definitely higher than normal.

Cheers,
Karl