"Normal" Engine Operating Temps

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by ITSNO60

Then you may not have the viscous/electric fan, my understanding is that when they went to that the electric fans for the AC condenser were eliminated.

It's been a minute since I changed it. I wrench on the occasional diesel at work too so things get cloudy in the memory as to what had what.


Update - I looked at a post I made on Sprinter Source when I was working on it and its not an ECM/PCM controlled fan.

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by NC_John

Anybody have a scangauge or similar and monitoring engine (coolant) temps?


This time of year with temps from 80-100 degrees my coolant is typically between 190 and as high (briefly) as 207. When it gets that warm under a hard load it does come back down quickly.


2009 OM642. My van grosses around 9,900# with camping gear, two humans, a dog and a full tank of water.

The boiling point of a 50-50 coolant mix at 15 psi is over 260 degrees Fahrenheit.

I turn off the a/c and turn on the heater when the temperature hits 240. It’s a rare occurrence, and not something I’ve seen with our current tow vehicle.

I’ve used a ScanGauge II since 2009. I primarily monitor coolant temperature and turbo boost. It would need updating to read ATF temperature.

[NC_John]

We just got back from a quick turn and burn from NC to Niagara Falls, Ontario back down to NC over the holiday weekend. Ambient temps were in the 90's when we left, nearing triple digits. It stayed in the 90's all the way into the top of WV. Very hot across PA, NY and into Ontario as well.

When the ambient temp got really hot (into the 90's) I set the cruise control to 5 below posted. Engine coolant temp only exceeded 200 if I pushed it going up a long grade. I could typically keep it around 190.The highest I saw was just under 230 but I was intentionally working to get it that hot. Recovery was very quick back down to cooler temps. Got great mileage slowing it down just that much too.

Transmission temps were usually around 200 degrees. They would climb slightly if I worked the van hard but would also come back down quickly.

Attached is a traffic cam pic of us trying to get across the very busy Queenston-Lewiston crossing back into the US. Took a very long hour to get across on Saturday evening with all the holiday traffic.