Temperature gauge behaviour

[seventieslord]

Last year I began experiencing overheating only at Highway speeds. After a long and drawn out process of diagnosis and repair of simpler usual suspect type causes, I was eventually advised that I needed an engine.

It's been 9 months and things are good with the new engine. My question surrounds the temperature gauge. Normally there's no number above the gauge, just the blue dial that indicates where the temperature is. The number only appears when the temperature reaches at least 110 Celsius and then disappears once it's dropped back below 109. This still happens occasionally on the highway. I've never actually overheated, but I do notice that it occasionally hits 110, 111, 112, before dropping back and leveling off and the number disappears. We're talking for just a few seconds at a time.

So I'm not overheating then, that's good news right? Well my only concern is, prior to the beginning of this whole overheating issue that led to the purchase of a new engine, I don't recall my temperature gauge ever behaving like this. It never got to the point where it reached 110 and the number needed to be displayed above the gauge. Or did I just ever notice it because I was never sensitive to the possibility of overheating happening? I find myself frequently looking down at it now, so I'm much more likely to catch it. Maybe this was always happening and I just never knew before.

So basically what I'm wondering is, is this normal? do the rest of you notice your temperature gauge occasionally creeping up over the 110 mark or whatever the equivalent Fahrenheit number is, before leveling off and dropping back, without ever approaching the overheating danger zone?

 

[DieselMonk]

You don’t need a new engine because of overheating? I hope it was warranty repair. Depending on the model year truck, temperature issues are resolved with a superseded thermostat part number or run a cooler thermostat, or even a larger radiator.My 24 SPP doesn’t tow a trailer, but I can give it the berries all day long and there only move ment I see is the Speedo, rpm and the gas gauge. lol
But my temp gauges for the transmission and the coolant, I never seen go above normal.

My question is:
Are you towing something heavy uphill and what gear? Is your vehicle equipped with factory HD trailer tow?

 

[mhExped]

I have seen the number appear on my 2018 Limited a couple of times. However, that's been it...number has appeared a couple times and went away each time. No known overheating problems. And, no pattern to understand why it happened those couple of times.

 

[MrMcPunk]

110C is the same as 230F.
Operating temperature for the 10r80 is 205F to 215F.
I do know there is an updated Thermostat from Ford that helped my 2018 Max out before the transmission was replaced. A coolant flush might also help in the spike in temperature. Costs about the same as a Full Synthetic Oil Change.

Have you changed your coolant at all? Notice any leaks anywhere? Turbo fittings could also be leaking coolant just like the 1st Gen 3.5 Ecoboost.

 

[Paulie K]

This began happening with my 2021 EXP LTD in March, while ascending a hill. I found that if I punch the gas pedal to have it shift into a lower gear, it immediately starts dropping until the numbers disappear. I asked 2 dealers about this and they had no answer as there were no error codes in the system. We'll see how it does this week as I'm embarking on a 2300 mile road trip during some very hot days.

 

[Hellwig]

Look the new engine still goes with the old thermostat.

110C is the same as 230F.
Operating temperature for the 10r80 is 205F to 215F.
I do know there is an updated Thermostat from Ford that helped my 2018 Max out before the transmission was replaced. A coolant flush might also help in the spike in temperature. Costs about the same as a Full Synthetic Oil Change.

Have you changed your coolant at all? Notice any leaks anywhere? Turbo fittings could also be leaking coolant just like the 1st Gen 3.5 Ecoboost.

I agree. 230F still seems higher than normal. Perhaps it is caused by dealership not using the upgraded thermostat (RT1252) for model year 2022 and afterwards. I replaced mine with RT1258 and engine operating temp fluctuates from 176F to 181F.

 

[Calidad]

Up to 22 they had a faulty thermostat simple part probably 20
Minute fix by a experienced technician. $40 part. Ford updated the part in 2022.

My 19 had the same symptoms only I noticed transmission temps running warm when they shouldn’t this was around 65,000 miles. By 75,000 it was worse and spiked engine temp to 235 on a climb with only me in the car in 50 degree outside temps.

Got it replaced and zero warm trans temps now an zero engine temp spikes.

Transmission runs 190-201 all day long 100 degree weather, long climbs etc. Towing it actually cools down from 220
In stop and go traffic to sub 210 while climbing a decent grade with 8700lb of trailer behind it. Never did that with prior thermostat

Replace the thermostat!!! With the new one new part number in picture

 

[Dice Roll]

My trans temps were high from day one. I thought it was normal and didn’t think anything u til I saw the coolant gauge swinging around back and forth one day. Got the stat changed and everything is much better as others here have noted.

 

[MrMcPunk]

Look the new engine still goes with the old thermostat.


I agree. 230F still seems higher than normal. Perhaps it is caused by dealership not using the upgraded thermostat (RT1252) for model year 2022 and afterwards. I replaced mine with RT1258 and engine operating temp fluctuates from 176F to 181F.

Can Confirm. Expedition Says 104° Freedom Units outside and this is my current Transmission Temperature Gauge says....

 

[Ugh_J]

That's 20-30F cooler than mine has ever run, and I'm in flat terrain and don't tow.

 

[Hellwig]

Can Confirm. Expedition Says 104° Freedom Units outside and this is my current Transmission Temperature Gauge says....

How could your vehicle show operating temperature of transmission? Is the model year 2018 or even before?

 

[East-TN]

Hmmm...I think my 2019 will show Trans temp on the 'My View' also, but I definitely monitor the digital readouts of my transmission and coolant temps with Forscan mod.

 

[MrMcPunk]

How could your vehicle show operating temperature of transmission? Is the model year 2018 or even before?

2018 Platinum.
Vehicle Information tab.
Ran outside to the Expedition to take this picture just for you

 

[MrMcPunk]

That's 20-30F cooler than mine has ever run, and I'm in flat terrain and don't tow.

Don't sleep on it. Run to your dealership and throw it in. Cost is like $20 plus a coolant flush if you choose to do so afterwards.

 

[Rednecked]

Up to 22 they had a faulty thermostat simple part probably 20
Minute fix by a experienced technician. $40 part. Ford updated the part in 2022.

My 19 had the same symptoms only I noticed transmission temps running warm when they shouldn’t this was around 65,000 miles. By 75,000 it was worse and spiked engine temp to 235 on a climb with only me in the car in 50 degree outside temps.

Got it replaced and zero warm trans temps now an zero engine temp spikes.

Transmission runs 190-201 all day long 100 degree weather, long climbs etc. Towing it actually cools down from 220
In stop and go traffic to sub 210 while climbing a decent grade with 8700lb of trailer behind it. Never did that with prior thermostat

Replace the thermostat!!! With the new one new part number in picture

I had to change mine out today on my 2021. Mine crapped out at 50k miles. The funny thing is my expy already had the updated one too.

 

[Hellwig]

2018 Platinum.
Vehicle Information tab.
Ran outside to the Expedition to take this picture just for you

Thank you! This important feature was deleted by Ford soon after. I had to purchase an UltraGauge device to read my tranny temp on real time.

 

[byathread]

Just adding my $0.02... My 2019 indicated temp (in fahrenheit) behaved exactly as you describe from day one in what I'll call "acute high load" conditions. Think towing in stop and go traffic, giving the all the beans in start stop driving (driving like an *******), and when pulling a grade with a trailer or accelerating up a hill on the highway at higher ambient temperatures. The new, lower temperature spec thermostat would likely solve the issue because even when this does happen, the old spec thermostat opens all the way and provides 100% of the cooling capacity, so, it comes back down fairly quickly. A lower temp one would just provide all cooling capacity earlier. Hope that makes sense... A little telemetry/logging in Torque told me all temps were fine/in spec, even with the old part, but, if it started happening more and bothered me a lot, I'd just swap for the newer spec thermostat... Cheap solution if it is a problem for you...

 

[MrMcPunk]

Just adding my $0.02... My 2019 indicated temp (in fahrenheit) behaved exactly as you describe from day one in what I'll call "acute high load" conditions. Think towing in stop and go traffic, giving the all the beans in start stop driving (driving like an *******), and when pulling a grade with a trailer or accelerating up a hill on the highway at higher ambient temperatures. The new, lower temperature spec thermostat would likely solve the issue because even when this does happen, the old spec thermostat opens all the way and provides 100% of the cooling capacity, so, it comes back down fairly quickly. A lower temp one would just provide all cooling capacity earlier. Hope that makes sense... A little telemetry/logging in Torque told me all temps were fine/in spec, even with the old part, but, if it started happening more and bothered me a lot, I'd just swap for the newer spec thermostat... Cheap solution if it is a problem for you...

If I remember correctly, the old style Thermostat has plastic on it which was part of the issue of it not opening all the way. The updated Thermostat from Ferd is made with Copper replacing the plastic parts from the old unit.
When my transmission was going out. (Fun 10r80 problems) I did notice that after I had put in the updated thermostat. The truck was running smoother and even shifting better. (Manual mode in 8th gear was the sweet spot) but unfortunately the damage had already been done and I ended up having to get the updated transmission anyway. Since then I've only ever seen my temperature gauge read 210°+ a few months back going from Phoenix AZ hauling furniture with a 2 Axel Uhaul for my sister in Albuquerque and Father's Day weekend, loaded, going camping. (No trailer)
For some reason, Ford Motors only want Ford Thermostats.

 

[Rednecked]

If I remember correctly, the old style Thermostat has plastic on it which was part of the issue of it not opening all the way. The updated Thermostat from Ferd is made with Copper replacing the plastic parts from the old unit.
When my transmission was going out. (Fun 10r80 problems) I did notice that after I had put in the updated thermostat. The truck was running smoother and even shifting better. (Manual mode in 8th gear was the sweet spot) but unfortunately the damage had already been done and I ended up having to get the updated transmission anyway. Since then I've only ever seen my temperature gauge read 210°+ a few months back going from Phoenix AZ hauling furniture with a 2 Axel Uhaul for my sister in Albuquerque and Father's Day weekend, loaded, going camping. (No trailer)
For some reason, Ford Motors only want Ford Thermostats.

The updated thermostat has the plastic end.

 

[seventieslord]

You don’t need a new engine because of overheating? I hope it was warranty repair. Depending on the model year truck, temperature issues are resolved with a superseded thermostat part number or run a cooler thermostat, or even a larger radiator.My 24 SPP doesn’t tow a trailer, but I can give it the berries all day long and there only move ment I see is the Speedo, rpm and the gas gauge. lol
But my temp gauges for the transmission and the coolant, I never seen go above normal.

My question is:
Are you towing something heavy uphill and what gear? Is your vehicle equipped with factory HD trailer tow?

No, no towing.

Long story short, I had chronic highway overheating, and all the usual suspects were already eliminated. Coolant, leaks, thermostat, rad, etc. Mechanics dug deeper and found a chunk of one piston had broken off and lodged at the top of a cylinder. Became fused there and needed to be bored off. That was an expensive job and the guy they sub that out to was too busy to even reply. They suggested a used engine would be no more money and would be done sooner. After investigating used engine prices, I made the decision to go with a new one instead.

Was the piston the cause of the overheating or a symptom of it? By this point I can't bear to think about it anymore.