Acura TL & Death Valley?
06-30-2013, 01:45 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Acura TL & Death Valley?
Just curious, but how would the TL/TLS do in death valley with a outside temp of 134 degrees? Would it make it through? Overheat? Could you drive thru it with the AC on?
06-30-2013, 03:04 PM
#3
Racer
I don't know if this was a hypothetical question or not but it is no coincidence that it is call "Death Valley". While this is one of the most beautiful places to see, at 134 degrees, it is dangerously hot. Maybe the car will survive, but will you? There is no margin for error in temperatures like these. In the much cooler (110 - 120 degrees) Lake Mead area, Park Rangers are being posted at trailheads warning people to not hike. until it cools a bit, the ate better places to see right now.
06-30-2013, 03:19 PM
#4
Team Owner
It should make it but your safety margin is a lot thinner. You have 134 degree ambient air. It passes through the AC condenser and comes out at 150+ degrees and then through the radiator. Thermostat is what, roughly 180 degrees? You end up with only 30 degrees separating the cooling air from the desired coolant temp. You've got a 40 degree buffer between normal temp and engine damage temp.
Not running the AC would be a tremendous help but I doubt that's going to happen. Getting creative with the deceleration fuel cut would be a good idea but some don't cut fuel when the AC is on.
I don't know. I might take a Ford truck with the towing package over the TL in those temps. From my experience with the work fleet they have a huge reserve cooling capacity. Older cars seemed to come from the factory with just enough cooling capacity for normal days and if you had to climb a hill or it was a hot day they might overheat and have nothing wrong with them besides they just didnt have enough cooling capacity. I remember in the '90s going over the grapevine there were always cars on the side of the road overheating. There were even the signs saying to turn off the AC. Now you never see anyone overheating.
Not running the AC would be a tremendous help but I doubt that's going to happen. Getting creative with the deceleration fuel cut would be a good idea but some don't cut fuel when the AC is on.
I don't know. I might take a Ford truck with the towing package over the TL in those temps. From my experience with the work fleet they have a huge reserve cooling capacity. Older cars seemed to come from the factory with just enough cooling capacity for normal days and if you had to climb a hill or it was a hot day they might overheat and have nothing wrong with them besides they just didnt have enough cooling capacity. I remember in the '90s going over the grapevine there were always cars on the side of the road overheating. There were even the signs saying to turn off the AC. Now you never see anyone overheating.
Last edited by Steven Bell; 06-30-2013 at 06:17 PM. Reason: Merged Posts
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Acura_Dude (06-30-2013)
06-30-2013, 05:01 PM
#5
David_Dude
It should make it but your safety margin is a lot thinner. You have 134 degree ambient air. It passes through the AC condenser and comes out at 150+ degrees and then through the radiator. Thermostat is what, roughly 180 degrees? You end up with only 30 degrees separating the cooling air from the desired coolant temp. You've got a 40 degree buffer between normal temp and engine damage temp.
Not running the AC would be a tremendous help but I doubt that's going to happen. Getting creative with the deceleration fuel cut would be a good idea but some don't cut fuel when the AC is on.
Not running the AC would be a tremendous help but I doubt that's going to happen. Getting creative with the deceleration fuel cut would be a good idea but some don't cut fuel when the AC is on.
That'd make me extremely nervous if I was in that situation. I'd make sure I'd have a couple of coolers of water and powerade in the trunk on ice, newer (if not new) tires on the car, check my radiator hoses (replace them to be safe as well as coolant) and maybe a new t-stat. TVL65 IDK if you could be over-cautious driving through Death Valley.
I don't know. I might take a Ford truck with the towing package over the TL in those temps. From my experience with the work fleet they have a huge reserve cooling capacity. Older cars seemed to come from the factory with just enough cooling capacity for normal days and if you had to climb a hill or it was a hot day they might overheat and have nothing wrong with them besides they just didnt have enough cooling capacity. I remember in the '90s going over the grapevine there were always cars on the side of the road overheating. There were even the signs saying to turn off the AC. Now you never see anyone overheating.
IHC FTW
06-30-2013, 05:28 PM
#7
Team Owner
Trending Topics
06-30-2013, 06:32 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
It should make it but your safety margin is a lot thinner. You have 134 degree ambient air. It passes through the AC condenser and comes out at 150+ degrees and then through the radiator. Thermostat is what, roughly 180 degrees? You end up with only 30 degrees separating the cooling air from the desired coolant temp. You've got a 40 degree buffer between normal temp and engine damage temp.
Not running the AC would be a tremendous help but I doubt that's going to happen. Getting creative with the deceleration fuel cut would be a good idea but some don't cut fuel when the AC is on.
I don't know. I might take a Ford truck with the towing package over the TL in those temps. From my experience with the work fleet they have a huge reserve cooling capacity. Older cars seemed to come from the factory with just enough cooling capacity for normal days and if you had to climb a hill or it was a hot day they might overheat and have nothing wrong with them besides they just didnt have enough cooling capacity. I remember in the '90s going over the grapevine there were always cars on the side of the road overheating. There were even the signs saying to turn off the AC. Now you never see anyone overheating.
Not running the AC would be a tremendous help but I doubt that's going to happen. Getting creative with the deceleration fuel cut would be a good idea but some don't cut fuel when the AC is on.
I don't know. I might take a Ford truck with the towing package over the TL in those temps. From my experience with the work fleet they have a huge reserve cooling capacity. Older cars seemed to come from the factory with just enough cooling capacity for normal days and if you had to climb a hill or it was a hot day they might overheat and have nothing wrong with them besides they just didnt have enough cooling capacity. I remember in the '90s going over the grapevine there were always cars on the side of the road overheating. There were even the signs saying to turn off the AC. Now you never see anyone overheating.
It was hot in Norcal around Sacramento when I went this weekend in particular city of Olivehurst (114 degrees), my TL kept me cool, but I think it may need a recharge for A/C didnt feel cold cold like it use too two years ago when I bought it.
I understand heat soak can bog motor down for unresponsive shifting, but A/C seems to be working harder to keep inside cool in the same hot weather.
Desert temps be cray cray...
07-01-2013, 08:23 AM
#14
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Surprised nobody has mentioned the Ultimate Cooling Mod...
07-01-2013, 09:05 AM
#15
Moved to the LOU
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Put what part of death Valley? Your picture shows you were at just over 5,000 feet of elevation... The lowest part of Death valley is 200 feet below sea level. That's where all the record temps are taken.
07-01-2013, 09:50 AM
#16
Racer
It was almost 120 here in Phoenix this weekend. I was running around and have to say I was impressed how quickly it cooled down after sitting in the sun for 3 hours.
07-01-2013, 10:57 AM
#17
Drifting
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Anyone know what temp is considered "overheating" for the TL? The highest I've gotten was 240F. The needle was at about 3/4 but nowhere near the very top. Still no knocking even at that temp. I didn't stay there long, probably only a minute or so. That was a few years back when I was stuck in rush hour traffic in Yuma, AZ. 115F outside, AC on. Turned the AC off and the coolant temp dropped to about 210F in 3-4 minutes.
07-01-2013, 11:16 AM
#18
Team Owner
Anyone know what temp is considered "overheating" for the TL? The highest I've gotten was 240F. The needle was at about 3/4 but nowhere near the very top. Still no knocking even at that temp. I didn't stay there long, probably only a minute or so. That was a few years back when I was stuck in rush hour traffic in Yuma, AZ. 115F outside, AC on. Turned the AC off and the coolant temp dropped to about 210F in 3-4 minutes.
07-01-2013, 11:19 AM
#19
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07-01-2013, 01:29 PM
#20
I would rather much take the new 2014 Sierra's or Siverado's or a 2013+ Ram 1500 with the new Pentastar V6 and probably the F150 XLT. Our TL's just feels down right weak especially when driving in stop and go traffic with 85*+ temp.
07-01-2013, 02:01 PM
#21
Drifting
OP u live in North Jersey? thats not the death valley
07-01-2013, 02:02 PM
#22
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^ he was just curious
07-01-2013, 02:52 PM
#23
Drifting
but I dont think it would ever get to 130 degrees where he lives
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