Engine overheating, 4X4 and heavy towing: How hot is too hot?
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QUESTION
Hi John,
I bought a Mitsubishi Triton after how highly you rated it for good value. I've had it for nearly a year and while I'm happy with some aspects of the vehicle, I'm really disappointed with the cooling system.
I'm not able to tow 2.2 tonnes up a hill without the coolant temp spiking. So you start on the hill about 80 degrees halfway up. You’re at nearly 95 degrees before I have to drop a gear down and slow down for 90 km/h to 60. These temps are read by a scan gauge and also verified by my Snap-on scan tool.
It's really disappointing because my mate’s 2016 N80 Hilux is five years older than mine too, can pull it on the same day, up the same hill and his goes up to 85 degrees and then the temp actually comes down as you go up the hill.
Both cars have Iron Man bullbars, and yes I understand, they restrict airflow, but my bar is naked - nothing on it. Yet how can the Hilux not get hot but the Triton does.
In my opinion, the Triton's cooling system is marginal, the Hilux has a 26 millimeter thick core and the clutch fan is even more efficient or locks up harder than the Triton’s.
I've since taken the bullbar off to test with the factory bumper and yes, it does make it better. It gets to about 90 degrees so still not great.
But it is a four-wheel drive and I think the expectation of putting a bullbar on it is not to be unreasonable, especially because I use the car in the country where the risk of a roof strike is real.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Nicko
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