LBZ and V2 towing heavy

[scrappy35]

Is anyone runnning a V2 on there LBZ to tow heavy (over 20,0000 GVW) or has anyone actually heated up thier LBZ more than they would like?

Shane

[hondarider552]

Blksmok is running a V2 and Mike L cooler with his 5er toyhauler.

[scrappy35]

Well hopefully he will chime in and let me know if I just had my dad spend $1200 that he did not need to spend. Here is what happened:

Well my dad has started hauling cars recently and noticed on his first trip out (@26,000 GVW) that his bone stock LBZ started heating up. It never went into limp mode and he was able to eventually bring down the temp with some rpms. The next trip out it blew coolant all over the engine compartment. He thought the coolant tank failed so 8 hours from his home he bought a new tank and filled up. That is when he realizes that it looks like he blew a headgasket and it stopped running. Took it to the closest dealer and they confirmed the head gasket. Well they were not going to be able to fix it for a few weeks, so he had it towed 8 hours home. Wish I was home I would have taken my truck and trailored him home. I just got an email from him that the new dealer says both heads are warped. I thought these trucks were suppose to limp before any major damage could happen, although he did say it went from warm to HOT within seconds. Needless to say I filled him in on the V2 and he put it on order today. Now I Just have to order mine when I get out of the sandbox.

Does this sound like just a fluke thing? or steep grades and high OATs striking again.

[hondarider552]

The V2 will definately help. Dave (blksmok) is here in AZ and he says that he never hears the engine fan on his dually in 100* temps here in AZ.

[blksmok]

Well hopefully he will chime in and let me know if I just had my dad spend $1200 that he did not need to spend. Here is what happened:

Well my dad has started hauling cars recently and noticed on his first trip out (@26,000 GVW) that his bone stock LBZ started heating up. It never went into limp mode and he was able to eventually bring down the temp with some rpms. The next trip out it blew coolant all over the engine compartment. He thought the coolant tank failed so 8 hours from his home he bought a new tank and filled up. That is when he realizes that it looks like he blew a headgasket and it stopped running. Took it to the closest dealer and they confirmed the head gasket. Well they were not going to be able to fix it for a few weeks, so he had it towed 8 hours home. Wish I was home I would have taken my truck and trailored him home. I just got an email from him that the new dealer says both heads are warped. I thought these trucks were suppose to limp before any major damage could happen, although he did say it went from warm to HOT within seconds. Needless to say I filled him in on the V2 and he put it on order today. Now I Just have to order mine when I get out of the sandbox.

Does this sound like just a fluke thing? or steep grades and high OATs striking again.

Sounds like your dads truck has a problem.

The LBZ's don't typically overheat to the point of puking coolant unless something is wrong.

I'm assuming your dads car hauler is a wedge type. Even though you are close to the weight that I pull, I have much more sail area with my high profile 5er. I also tip the scales at over 27K combined. I added the V2 because I had it from my previous LLY. I really like it on the LBZ, but I wouldn't say it is NECESSARY. The LBZ would heat up pulling my trailer, but the truck was able to stop the temp rise with the engine fan and sometimes even start to cool it off while still pulling the grades. With the V2, I get less temp rise (although, I still do see some) and less fan. While towing steep grades in 110+° heat, I still get fan, and my temps still go right of 210°, but they don't stay there long, or go there as often.

I'm not sure the V2 would have solved your problem though, as it seems to me, that the truck is not acting "normal".

Where was he pulling? What type of grades? (distance and %) and are you sure about the weight? (scaled)? Speeds? Pics of the load if you have them?

[RickDLance]

I've overheated a LBZ. Not to the point of pissing coolant out, but definitely hot. :( I agree with Dave though, that you description of events doesn't sound normal.

My guess is that the head gasket failed first and caused the coolant to puke. You may never know, but if it runs a little warm when he gets it back I would definately reccomend the v2.

[scrappy35]

Thanks for the replies! I did not state my question very well, but some how you still managed to answer it and you did not just say 26000 is to heavy!

I agree that the first problem was something wrong, but since he ordered the V2 after the first trip, I was just curious if once all is fixed, if the V2 was going to be a good investment or a waste of money for him.

I emailed TX Christopher and he gave me his opinion on the head gasket and heat cycles.

His trailer is a 48' flat bed, (not sure what you mean by wedge) sitting prettty low to the ground, 6% grade for several miles. The weight was scaled, but exact I don't know. Although if I remember right it was real close to 26000lbs. I would definitely say low wind drag compared to what you haul. Speed I don't know, but if I know my dad he was not abusing his truck by any means. He is primarly hauling out west.

He will be doing exhaust before his next haul and I will be helping him with gauges when I go home on leave.

How much did the V2 help your tranny temps?

I ask all this because this truck is likely the one he will keep and just rebuild when that time comes, since it doesn't require the DPF for emissions.

[big block 88]

Gauges are a good call, this may have been prevented with gauges. I have hauled upward of 26K GCWR with my 3/4 ton and never got hot on me it stayed 220 allday. Our LB7 never gets that hot at over 30K GCWR, the LBZ seems to run a bit hotter.

As I said on the other site though these guys are sayin the same thing there is somthin wrong for sure.

[scrappy35]

Well truck is "fixed", that was all the dealer had to say. Dad heads out in a couple of days to see how it does. While we were talking he thinks his head gasket might have been very slowly leaking prior to ever starting the hauling. He told me he had to top off his coolant once a litle while back, but never thought much of it. The only other thing that we can think of is the head gasket went and he lost too much coolant, but why the gauge went from warm to scorching in very short order doesn't make much sense. Maybe without much coolant it wasn't able to give an accurate reading.

Thanks for all the input!

Shane

[RickDLance]

Keep us informed and Good Luck to your dad!

[porthole]

What is a "V2" a search here turned up a blank.

I recently made a wrong turn in PA and ended up going up (and then down) a 14.5% grade.

By the time I got near the crest I had the truck floored in first gear trying to make it over the hill.

I have a Banks tuner with a PDA and the alarm went off, I think at the time I had it set for 235 or 240. Think my trans temp might have hit 220 too a the time.

Made it up over and down without any more issues but I sure would like a way to keep it cooler when pulling up steep hills.

BTW, this was pulling a 36' 5th wheel toy hauler. Trailer was probably 14,000+ at the time, maybe close to 15.

[blksmok]

The V2 talked about in this thread is an auxillary radiator designed to solve the overheat problem with the LLY engines. It fits at an angle behind the front bumper, and comes with new airdamn parts to direct air to and through it. You can also get it with an optional fan. I have one on my LBZ that I originally bought for my previous LLY overheater. The aux. rad. V2 was sold by TxChristopher at coolmyduramax.com. I'm not sure if he still sells it or not...

What is your truck configuration/engine? It's a fairly pricy mod, and based on the situation you describe, and the temps you reached, I wouldn't say you "need" it. It is nice to have though.