Powerboost Overheated while Towing

[Whiskey]

FWIW, my PB has on two occasions warned me of an overheating issue. Both times, the tiny Icon thermometer looking deal remained RED but the green bar below that remained in the center of the indicator. Both times, very low speeds, level ground, bumpy road. Both times pulling an empty trailer. Any body else having this issue?

Replying to my own thread in hopes that someone may find it useful. After re-seating all the fuses in my fuse box I have not had any further false notifications of any kind. Simply press down on the fuse and you will find that it was not fully seated from the factory.

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[lompocdoc]

Andre’s personal truck on TFL got a little toasty pulling a trailer w/11,000 lbs up vail pass. It doesn’t look like it actually overheated though. Idk.

His Powerboost did NOT have maxtow. In a later video, he said as much. Apparently Ford looked up his VIN. If you want to tow that much, get the freaking maxtow package.

 

[pkinneb]

His Powerboost did NOT have maxtow. In a later video, he said as much. Apparently Ford looked up his VIN. If you want to tow that much, get the freaking maxtow package.

Curious what would the max tow package have added to his PB to solve this issue?

 

[F-150 Prius]

Curious what would the max tow package have added to his PB to solve this issue?

Wasn't this a trans temp issue?
I wonder if adding the Raptor trans aux cooler would make a difference (it's non-obvious because of the many differences between PowerBoost and Raptor.)

 

[guppydriver]

Curious what would the max tow package have added to his PB to solve this issue?

It would have added 15 or so more pounds to haul....nothing else to assist in the climb.

Of note.... Andre has an XL that is very lightly loaded compared to most PB's. 17 inch wheels, manual tailgate, no sunroof. His payload capacity is 1708 pounds. The vast majority of PB's would have probably faired even worse with or without the MTP due to increased weight..

Although some call the video silly, I found it informative. It wasn't a competition, it was a comparison. I know TFL gets a lot of requests from people who are in that gray area of not wanting to daily drive a HD/SD, but want to occasionally tow in the 7-10k range. This comparison gave a great perspective on some of the benefits and liabilities of pushing a 1/2 ton into an environment usually reserved for larger trucks.

Although overheating was a less than desirable outcome for the PB, it actually reassured me that my PB on order will be sufficient, although not ideal, for my needs. From about May to September, I tow a 8000 boat a few times a month 30 miles and back (60rt) to a local reservoir. I also do one trip of about 4 hours (8rt) each year. Every other day of the year, my truck is just my family utility vehicle. Would I feel a little better if it I had a 3/4 ton on that annual trip and on my local runs to the lake? Hell ya, but at what cost? I don't want to maneuver and feed a HD year round if I can get by with a PB (being extra cautious and driving slow whilst towing). I think I can safely manage the occasional towing liabilities of the PB while continually enjoying it's other benefits year round.

How does a test where my truck overheated reassure me you ask? Well, first off, Vail pass is 10,500 feet. Second, the trailer was almost 10k pounds. Third, it was incredibly warm for that pressure altitude. Fourth, they were hauling butt, pushing it to the absolute limit. In other words, it's virtually impossible to push a PB any harder. When I interpolate TFL's results adjusted to my towing demands, I feel satisfied with decision.

 

[F-150 Prius]

It would have added 15 or so more pounds to haul....nothing else to assist in the climb.

Of note.... Andre has an XL that is very lightly loaded compared to most PB's. 17 inch wheels, manual tailgate, no sunroof. His payload capacity is 1708 pounds. The vast majority of PB's would have probably faired even worse with or without the MTP due to increased weight..

Although some call the video silly, I found it informative. It wasn't a competition, it was a comparison. I know TFL gets a lot of requests from people who are in that gray area of not wanting to daily drive a HD/SD, but want to occasionally tow in the 7-10k range. This comparison gave a great perspective on some of the benefits and liabilities of pushing a 1/2 ton into an environment usually reserved for larger trucks.

Although overheating was a less than desirable outcome for the PB, it actually reassured me that my PB on order will be sufficient, although not ideal, for my needs. From about May to September, I tow a 8000 boat a few times a month 30 miles and back (60rt) to a local reservoir. I also do one trip of about 4 hours (8rt) each year. Every other day of the year, my truck is just my family utility vehicle. Would I feel a little better if it I had a 3/4 ton on that annual trip and on my local runs to the lake? Hell ya, but at what cost? I don't want to maneuver and feed a HD year round if I can get by with a PB (being extra cautious and driving slow whilst towing). I think I can safely manage the occasional towing liabilities of the PB while continually enjoying it's other benefits year round.

How does a test where my truck overheated reassure me you ask? Well, first off, Vail pass is 10,500 feet. Second, the trailer was almost 10k pounds. Third, it was incredibly warm for that pressure altitude. Fourth, they were hauling butt, pushing it to the absolute limit. In other words, it's virtually impossible to push a PB any harder. When I interpolate TFL's results adjusted to my towing demands, I feel satisfied with decision.

TFL does some good work. That PowerBoost towing test was not their finest – they didn't research what they were doing and their stress test exceeded the vehicle specs (which they say they check and follow meticulously.)
Their "professional" commercial driver didn't look at the trans temp gauge until it was too late and didn't bother to investigate the symptom of being at 100% wide open throttle despite the vehicle (normally) having ample power for the given work.
Had they simply slowed down as the engine started to "tell them something was wrong" and presumably eventually aborted the test once they checked the gauges?! … they would have not forced the engine into de-powering to protect the transmission, and they would have had cause to then check with Ford, RTFM and learn about altitude limits.

They also do silly things like their nonsensical "one click method" (topping off the tank after the first time the pump shuts off as gas reaches the top) which goes against the instructions in the owners manual (not to mention topping off only introduces inconsistency, it doesn't make the fuel measurement more consistent.)
https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/F-150/2021/owner-manuals/

All that said, I'm with you – that test reassured me that the PB is not going to self-destruct if I'm pushing its limits. As with my old 6.0 turbodiesel, I have no problem crawling up a few steep miles of hills and watching the gauges … first sign of turbo engine stress is the exhaust gas temperature … I wish the ecoboost engine displayed the EGT to the driver. In a complex machine, surely that added sensor and a few lines of software code isn't going to kill their profit margins (and make it a $200 option like a block heater or whatever) not to mention adding an aux trans cooler in the "max tow" option.

 

[F-150 Prius]

They also do silly things like their nonsensical "one click method" (topping off the tank after the first time the pump shuts off as gas reaches the top) which goes against the instructions in the owners manual (not to mention topping off only introduces inconsistency, it doesn't make the fuel measurement more consistent.)
https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/F-150/2021/owner-manuals/

ref:

 

[cleanbiker]

Who in their right minds thinks an half ton truck will tow as well as a three quarter or a ton truck? Those trucks are designed with larger cooling and other systems to handle the larger loads.

Yes, technically the PB is rated to pull up to that much weight. But if you put ANY truck towards the top end of its limits and then put it under maximum stress while doing that….any truck is likely going to fail eventually.

Another thing that bothers me about their trial is how they do the downhill test. Someone correct me if I’m mistaken, but my understanding is the regen braking doesn’t kick in unless you actually apply the brakes at least to some level on a Powerboost truck. I know my 14’ F-150 won’t downshift to engine brake unless I have tow mode on and I slightly get on the brakes.

So now what’s next? Comparing a GT40 against a Powerboost F-150 on a race , track and then complaining that the truck can’t make a lap as fast as the GT40? Gotta get those YouTube views I guess.

The TFL test PB did NOT have the MAX Tow package, which adds engine oil cooler and transmission oil cooler. I tow a 9000 lb. trailer up that route quite often with my Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8 with no problems, and am looking forward to doing it with my new F-150 PB with the MAX Tow package when it arrives (hopefully soon) and expect no problems AND faster speeds. NOT expecting better MPGs however. You simply can't expect that with as heavy a load as that. I have no problem with it. You kinda play catchup on the downhill sections on the other side.

 

[Handle]

I thought max tow didn’t include those coolers since the 10 speed transmission

 

[cleanbiker]

From what I have seen about the 2022 PB it does add the coolers, that's the main reason why I spent extra for the MAX Tow package, after seeing the YouTube of the TFL test. If you have reason to think otherwise I'd like to see it. Thanks.

 

[Handle]

Where is it listed on Max Tow option that it includes transmission cooler?

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/tow-package-breakdown-for-2021-f-150.698/page-2

 

[imnuts]

The TFL test PB did NOT have the MAX Tow package, which adds engine oil cooler and transmission oil cooler.

I'm fairly certain that both of those are already included on the Powerboost trucks. Through all of the towing threads here, the only items from Max Tow not already on a Powerboost are the upgraded rear bumper and larger rear brakes.

 

[Handle]

Another article
https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/why-so-hot-f-150-transmission-oil-temperature-explained/

 

[Niterider]

I've had my 21' Lariat PB now for just over 6 months. I haven't towed too much with it yet, but I have pulled a couple of different things.

First was my 23' 14k tilt deck trailer hauling my T770 Bobcat. 12,000+ pounds. Pulled it on short (10-15 mile) runs around the farm in the late fall. Under sane conditions, the PB didn't have any issues. Mileage was around 9-10 mpg, and IMOH I feel that this PB truck does handle the load a bit better than my previous 14' EB. The extra HP and 10 speed likely are the biggest reasons for that.

The other was last month I made a day run to pick up some pinball machines. I rented a 6'x12' enclosed Uhaul and used it to go and bring back 4 pinball machines. Roughly 1k pounds behind me after loading the trailer. The PB didn't really even respond like it had a Uhaul trailer behind it while the trailer was empty. After getting the pinball machines and heading back, I could tell something was back there a little bit when I had to brake a little more because the Uhaul didn't have trailer brakes on it. Other than that, the PB didn't break a sweat and I still averaged about 17 mpg on the trip.

So far, I don't really have too many complaints about this PB. The complaints I do have...they could fix with a software update. Let it remember the drive mode you were last in and fix some of the annoyances in the sync system and I would be perfectly happy with this truck.

 

[cleanbiker]

I've had my 21' Lariat PB now for just over 6 months. I haven't towed too much with it yet, but I have pulled a couple of different things.

First was my 23' 14k tilt deck trailer hauling my T770 Bobcat. 12,000+ pounds. Pulled it on short (10-15 mile) runs around the farm in the late fall. Under sane conditions, the PB didn't have any issues. Mileage was around 9-10 mpg, and IMOH I feel that this PB truck does handle the load a bit better than my previous 14' EB. The extra HP and 10 speed likely are the biggest reasons for that.

The other was last month I made a day run to pick up some pinball machines. I rented a 6'x12' enclosed Uhaul and used it to go and bring back 4 pinball machines. Roughly 1k pounds behind me after loading the trailer. The PB didn't really even respond like it had a Uhaul trailer behind it while the trailer was empty. After getting the pinball machines and heading back, I could tell something was back there a little bit when I had to brake a little more because the Uhaul didn't have trailer brakes on it. Other than that, the PB didn't break a sweat and I still averaged about 17 mpg on the trip.

So far, I don't really have too many complaints about this PB. The complaints I do have...they could fix with a software update. Let it remember the drive mode you were last in and fix some of the annoyances in the sync system and I would be perfectly happy with this truck.

Can anyone confirm that the Powerboost DOES have a transmission oil cooler?
According to this article:
https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/08/missing-transmission-oil-cooler-2019-2020-toyota-tundra/
" Ford said their new 2021 Ford F-150 “2.7L, 3.3L, 5.0L, 3.5L FHEV, and 3.5L all use the same trans mounted one cooler across the board. 3.0L has a unique trans cooler design that is common with the last gen 3.0L,” according to Dawn McKenzie, Ford Truck communications manager."
Even though the article is from 2021, they do not mention the 3.5L Powerboost in their list. Anyone know for sure if the PB does or does not have a trans oil cooler included also? (or even an "Auxillary" cooler that's in the Raptor-- the list they reference in the video from TFL, link below, doesn't include the PB!). Regardless, has anyone towed heavy up mountain passes and can
comment on whether or not they had overheating problems with the PB?
I've seen the test video done by TFL in which they did have some overheating, but they were going 65 MPH, which is faster than I would ever go up that pass. I live in Colorado and have towed an 8000# TT up that route MANY times with my '07 Tundra, 45 - 55 MPH (as fast as it will comfortably go) without any hint of overheating ever. (Got a PB Plat on order to replace it with if it'll ever arrive). Also, the word from a Ford engineer in their last video about it was that their F-150 didn't have the MAX Tow option, implying that if it did, it wouldn't have overheated.

SO... Any and all comments welcome, Thanks!

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