Overheating Prevention: Transporting Your Plow Safely [VIDEO]

Created October 3, 2024

Transporting your plow while maintaining optimal engine temperature prevents overheating and ensures safe operation. In this post, we’ll discuss common issues related to plow-induced overheating and provide practical tips to keep your truck cool during transportation.

Why is my truck overheating? Understand the Problem

  • Radiator Obstruction: The plow blade can block a significant portion of your radiator, restricting airflow and hindering cooling.
  • Plow Size and Design: Plows range in size and weight. Larger plow blades, especially those with wider moldboards, can exacerbate the issue. There isn’t a way around it, but there are some tips and tricks to encourage better airflow and cooling when traveling with a plow blade.

What can you do to prevent overheating?

  1. Adjust Plow Position:
    • Raise the plow to maximize airflow to the radiator.
    • Angle the plow left or right to divert air towards the radiator.
    • Experiment with different positions to find the most effective configuration.
  2. Utilize Truck Controls:
    • Maximize Heat and Fan: Turn the heat and fan to high to draw heat away from the engine.
    • Open Windows: If the cab becomes too warm, open the windows for ventilation.
  3. Adjust Driving Style:
    • Reduce Speed: Lowering your speed can help reduce engine strain and heat generation. Always follow the speed limit, while not exceeding 45 MPH, which is recommended for safety. 
    • Ease Off the Throttle: Avoid heavy acceleration to minimize engine load.
  4. Take A Break:
    • If overheating persists, pull over to a safe location and allow the engine to cool down. This would be the last thing you could do if none of the above preventions work. Better to be safe and pull over, rather than push your truck over the limit and overheat the engine.

By implementing these strategies and being mindful of your truck’s temperature, you can safely transport your plow from site to site while minimizing the risk of overheating.