Durmax, 2008 chev, hot

[Jash]

During heavy pulls up large mountains my truck temp climbs from the normal 220 to about 230. Its about half way to the 260 mark on the instrument panel. Not sure if it would get hotter, with the small mountians in the east I the max Ive seen in 230 as I reached the top of the grade. I talked to the dealer and he recommended we change the clutch fan. We depart soon so Ill get to see if this improves it. When the truck was new the temp would climb but never got that hot. What are other Durmax drivers seeing. Since their is no red line on the temp gauge what is to hot.

[Mike Clay]

Don't go by the gauge, your clutch fan in the 2008 will kick in at 230 degrees, is the fan coming on at all? (if not take it in) The 2011 trucks the fan now comes on at 210 which I like better but my 08 would hit the 230 temps all the time (not on the gauge but on my edge insight) when pulling over mountains. When your truck gauge shows straight up at normal operation and I think the gauge is labeled 200 degrees your truck is really at 180 to 185 degrees. I will take a couple pictures today from my truck and show you the difference.

[rlhedlund]

You should hear the fan coming on when it gets that hot. It sounds like a jet engine. Unmistakeable. If it is not coming on, then you have a problem. When it comes on, you can watch the gauge drop. The high temp is not a problem if it is only momentary.

[Mike Clay]

Cant remember on the 08 but I think its the same, when my temp gauge is straight up its shows 220 degrees but my insight (sorry blurry hard to shoot when driving) shows the actual temp of 181 degrees.

[Jash]

Mike, thanks a lot for the help, the clutch fan would come on but not as soon as when the truck was new. The dealer already changed out the clutch fan, I will let you know if it makes a difference. Thats a nice system, sounds like a good investment given the cost of these trucks. I finished going over the truck a little while ago, the truck has 28 k on it so I picked up a transmission filter, I had replaced it at 10 k but thought Id do it again. I was supprised how heavy it was, glad I changed it out. Their was also lots of muck on the magnetic washer but no metal. All set for another winter adventure. How many miles do you get on your truck brakes, I checked mine and it almost looks like the rear are wearing more than the front, I would have thought the front would ware faster. I will admit its a bit hard to see the rear pads with a mirror and flashlight.

[Mike Clay]

I only had 65k on my 08 but still had over 90% left according to the dealer

[rlhedlund]

I traded mine with 101,000 and I swear they had at least 50%.

[Jash]

Well, we made it to Tampa, just wanted to report on the truck. After they installed the new fan I only once saw the temp climb. We were climbing up fancy gap in Virginia and I pulled out to pass a truck, the temp climbed to about half way to the next mark, the fan came on and truck cooled right down. I suspect that this new fan is set to come on sooner, even when the truck was new the fan came on later. One note is it was pretty cool outside so but it still seemed to run cooler on the mountain climbs. We will be putting the trailer in storage in couple of weeks and flying home for deer hunting, thx giving and xmas. Fly back the 28th, pick up the trailer at the base and head to Key West for new years.

[Mike Clay]

Glad it worked out for you.

[dfredendall]

Fan clutches have a bi-metallic flat srpring coiled like a snake on the front side, centerpin to control on/off action. If that spring gets dirty, oily, greasy, it will effect the activation time/temperature of the fan clutch. I make sure the face of the fan clutch is clean for that reason. Admittedly, it is difficult to get to or even see on most vehicles due to cozy shrouds.