Chevrolet: 2004 Malibu Maxx LT - Towing Question

"Andrew Rabbitt" <> wrote in message news: 
You're not going to two much at 1000 lbs. The engine won't be the problem
with towing. I guess the problem is the transmission. A medium sized
pop-up camper will weigh 2000 lbs loaded.

> You're not going to two much at 1000 lbs. The engine won't be the problem 

I didn't think it would be the engine. I just got off the phone with the
hitch installer who told me that my car had a factory installed
transmission cooler. That wasn't on any of the options lists. Why would
they have installed that at the factory? He also said that it was bigger
than the one they wanted to install...

I guess it's time to call GM and find out what they did...

Thanks for your advise!

Andrew

Another very important aspect of towing is the
brakes. If your trailer has brakes, it should increase
the towing capacity, unless, like my pop-up, the brakes are more a 'meet the
state law requirement' than actualy functional brakes. Many states require
trailer brakes when over 1000 lbs.
Your factory installed tranny cooler is a nice feature, and saves your hitch
installation.

Russg wrote: 

Yeah, breaks are my next concern. I just had these put in 7500 miles
ago, so they are still pretty new, but under a 2300 load I could clearly
feel the difference in breaking.

The plus side is that the coolant temperature was only slightly higher
while towing then while not towing. The engine RPM was roughly 250
higher while on flat roads, and 500-750 higher when climbing hills.

All in all I'm very impressed with the way the vehicle has coped with
towing, so far.

Thanks for the suggestion - I'm off to look at breaks!

Your engine runs noticeably hotter when you're towing?

Where are you?


"Andrew Rabbitt" <net> wrote in message
news:zfAei.5744$news.prodigy.net... 

4newsgroups wrote: 
Of course an engine will run a little hotter when towing. Since you are
putting more load, you will get more heat.

--
Cy Welch
89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI
03 Malibu

It's been years since I've owned a vehicle that I've noticed running hotter
under heavy load. Back in the day, I had a Toyota that would overheat if
you drove for extended periods at about 130 kph.

We've got three delivery vans, two newer Fords and an old Chrysler. Both
Fords, rock steady temperature loaded or unloaded. The Chrysler bounces
around quite a bit, but I think that's more a function of the sensor
location.

I just thought that the new (i.e. 2004 Malibu) would have adequate cooling
capacity under all but extreme (like +40C) conditions. I've never noticed
my 2000 Malibu run hotter and while I don't tow with it, I have taken long
trips across the parries with the AC cranked and fighting some pretty strong
headwinds.


"Cy Welch" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
<snip> 

4newsgroups wrote: 
Nobody said anything about overheating. Trucks tend to be overcooled
since they are setup for the max load expected, most cars however are
not setup for towing since that is such a small percentage who tow with
them, so the cooling system tends to not keep it as cool. Towing tends
to put a LOT more stress on a car than heavy load due to the drag of the
trailer, even more so than the AC and heavy headwinds. For that matter,
my experience has been that headwinds tend to make the cooling system
work better rather than worse. If you want to see the worst conditions,
try towing a large heavy trailer with a tailwind uphill.

--
Cy Welch
89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI
03 Malibu