Trailer Towing Recommendations...

sasilverbullet · 08-10-2004, 12:24 PM

Now that I've had my Titan and trailer for a month, thought I'd share my experiences -

Truck is a LE Crew 4 X 2 with big tow package.

Trailer is a 2004 Cheyenne model 29Z (w/slide out). They're built by Forest River. It weighs 7,900 dry, with a 725 lb tongue weight.

I'm using Reese's new anti-sway/equalizer bar set up. It really helps pull it better. When I first purchased the trailer, I was using a standard old equalizer hitch. Had a LOT of sway. But this is all because of the trailer, not the truck.

When we pull the trailer, we have about 750 lbs of human flesh in the truck, and I'd estimate the trailer to be at around 8,700 lbs.

The ride is excellent. Keep in mind I've pulled other heavy trailers with various other tow vehicles. None of them even comes close to the Titan.

We just got back from a 450 mile trip, pulled like a champ. I kept it between 60-65 mph the whole way. In 104 degree heat, lots of humidity, the temp gauges never budged.

One suggestion - I changed my engine oil to Mobil 1 15W-50 and the rear dif fluid to Mobil 1 synthetic also. I HIGHLY recommend you do this also. This oil holds up MUCH better than the dino oils do under severe stress.

JetTech · 08-10-2004, 01:11 PM

I've noticed you seem to be quite a fan of the 15W-50 M1. To support your recommendations do you have any plans of doing an oil analysis of this oil? The reason I ask is because I would guess that your experiencing high bearing wear with such a thick oil and I would very much like to be proven wrong by an oil analysis. It only costs 20 bucks through blackstone so how about it??

Potroast · 08-10-2004, 01:24 PM

yes, I find 5w30 Mobil 1 to be ideal. I have also heard great success with 0w30 Amsoil.

sasilverbullet · 08-10-2004, 01:29 PM

okay, I'm game, but help me understand something first...

Why would I want to run a thinner weight oil down in south texas? I have two friends that work at Southwest Research Institute and I've seen actual specs on the different oils/weights. Bottom line is the mobil 1 15w-50 is hands down better in the specs than the lower weight Mobil 1's. BTW, i know amsoil is better, but I can't afford it!

So why would I want to run a lower weight oil?

JetTech · 08-10-2004, 01:34 PM

numerous reasons, starting with flow capabilities of the main oil galleries, better heat disappation with thinner oil, etc etc. Please send a sample of your 15W-50 to blackstone after you get done running it and when you get the results back post them here. I'm guessing you'll never use anything that thick again....

aztitan4x4 · 08-10-2004, 06:24 PM

I just changed mine yesterday w/Amsoil 5w-30. I know the bottle say's 7500 miles but will our warranty support that? BTW I'm only going to let it go 5k.

JetTech · 08-10-2004, 06:26 PM

the warranty will support the 7500 mile change, however it's not a bad idea to see if the oil will by having an oil sample done at the 5k mark, if the oil still looks good then it should be fine to go to 7500.

sasilverbullet · 08-11-2004, 06:09 AM

jettech - how does a thinner oil disappate heat better? and, if the flash point is higher for the heavier weight oil, then how is that not better?

JetTech · 08-11-2004, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasilverbullet

jettech - how does a thinner oil disappate heat better? and, if the flash point is higher for the heavier weight oil, then how is that not better?

A thinner oil will carry the heat away from the engines hot spots at a faster rate, it will also dissipate that heat quicker instead of retaining it. A thicker oil will tend to retain the heat and cause lots of parasitic drag, of which will actually cost you horsepower, usually in the neighborhood of about 5 to 8hp (50W to a 30W).

Flashpoints are basically just a number, sure it looks good on the spec sheet if it's really high, and it "should" keep the volatility very low, but after the oil has been used for a while most come in around low 400's, even a lot of dino oils come in that high. I don't want to add a lot of confusion here because your intentions and thoughts, from what you've read about the 15W-50, are correct. BUT, in real world testing a thinner oil is almost always a better option than a thicker oil for lower bearing wear and ring wear.

Now that I've given you the technical aspects of the thinner vs. thicker, (and believe me there are many more) it would be best to send a sample out for an oil analysis to see if this engine can handle an oil this thick. It "might" come back great and you'll feel better knowing you can use it from now on and not have to worry about excessive wear rates.

I hope this helps,

Dale

z3axv · 08-11-2004, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aztitan4x4

I just changed mine yesterday w/Amsoil 5w-30. I know the bottle say's 7500 miles but will our warranty support that? BTW I'm only going to let it go 5k.

I just changed mine to Amsoil 5w-30 and I am planning on changing at 5k miles as well. I've noticed that the oil pressure guage stays to the right a little more than with the dino oil. This is especially true in the morning when cold, it takes a longer amount of driving for the needle to come back to the middle.

Potroast · 08-11-2004, 09:01 AM

the main advantage of a thinner oil is better flow in the morning (cold) and reduced wear on your parts. a 50w oil can stand up to more heat, but that doesn't man it's efficient at lower heats. A 50w is going to be too thick, and will cause wear on engine components when used in temperature ranges that are suitable for a 40 or 30 weight oil.

Titan4x4Aggie · 08-11-2004, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetTech

I've noticed you seem to be quite a fan of the 15W-50 M1. To support your recommendations do you have any plans of doing an oil analysis of this oil? The reason I ask is because I would guess that your experiencing high bearing wear with such a thick oil and I would very much like to be proven wrong by an oil analysis. It only costs 20 bucks through blackstone so how about it??

i run valvoline HP 20W50 in my rx-7. 20W50 is recommended by my mechanic and rx-7 owners everywhere, since the engine runs hotter.

as the oil heats up (and stays hot here in texas), it will flow better. also, i imagine the heat capacity of oil is dependent on temperature, so if the oil is hotter, it might carry the heat away just as well as a thinner oil and yet protect better.

lots of variables here...

Potroast · 08-11-2004, 10:19 AM

yes, but on the endurance, assuming your ambient is within spec of a 30w oil, you should run that. If you feel you will be stressing the temperatures above the capacity of a 30w, you could run a 40w. A 50w is extremely heavy, and unless you have the temperatures and conditions high enough to warrant it, you'll be wearing your parts unnecessarily.

That's why it has been asked several times for oil analysis -- that will tell us for sure whether the 50w was the better choice, or if he should switch to something thinner.

Zardoz · 08-11-2004, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potroast

yes, but on the endurance, assuming your ambient is within spec of a 30w oil, you should run that. If you feel you will be stressing the temperatures above the capacity of a 30w, you could run a 40w. A 50w is extremely heavy, and unless you have the temperatures and conditions high enough to warrant it, you'll be wearing your parts unnecessarily.

That's why it has been asked several times for oil analysis -- that will tell us for sure whether the 50w was the better choice, or if he should switch to something thinner.

I run from sea level to 8600ft and on any given trip I might start out at
freezing or below and end up in Death Valley at 104F in October going
up 5 mile 10 to 15 % grades on bad rock roads so I run 5w 50 synthetic
and have for years. Truck is very heavily loaded also. I can't change oil
in the middle of a trip so for me a broad spectrum multigrade synthetic
oil makes sense.

Zardoz

sasilverbullet · 08-11-2004, 11:35 AM

I'm familiar with the specs returned on an oil analysis.

What specs will tell me that the 15W-50 is to thick?