OBDLink MX+ Monitoring Your RV Tow Vehicle
With the thousands of miles Joan and I cover each year with our RV, we’ve always been concerned with the performance and monitoring of our F-350 engine and transmission when we tow our 5th wheel. Our largest concern centers around the amount of heat generate during a tow. We wanted a product such as the OBDLink MX+ to monitor our engine and transmission.
We were most interested in three main areas:
♦ Engine coolant temperature
♦ Engine oil temperature
♦ Transmission temperature
This became more of a concern recently when our daughter and her family were towing their camper in the mountains of North Carolina. Just a few miles from the campground as they traveled back home, the engine temperatures pegged, warning lights abound, and they were back at the campground while waiting a couple of days to have the truck electric fan replaced. We too had issues last year with DEF heaters shorting and a blown turbo hose. Many times, a detailed presentation with meters showings growing changes in heat or the ability to diagnose an engine code quickly can mean the difference in a low cost repair and preventing substantial damage to the towing vehicle.
Not all OBD readers have the
ability to read large diesel engines.
Why Choose the OBDLink MX+
With this in mind, we started our research for a Bluetooth capable OBD reader that would provide the ability to display a graphic representation of various engine and transmission parameters along with the ability to quickly diagnose engine warning light codes. Adding to the challenge in finding an OBD reader, our towing vehicle is a Ford F-350 with a 6.7 turbo diesel. Not all readers have the ability to read these large diesel engines. From our research, we felt confident the OBDLink MX+ would meet our needs.
Installing the OBDLink MX+
This installation of the OBDLink M+ could not have been easier. With the well written instructions in hand, I plugged the unit into the truck’s OBD port, downloaded the OBDLink app to our smart phone from the app store and followed the online instructions. A few minutes to register the device, another few minutes to upgrade the unit firmware and finally another few minutes to download the enhanced add-ons for the F-350 and the unit sprang to life. Pressing the display button on the app, we were provided with a standard application display with 6 meters. But we didn’t stop there.
Easily create your own
custom display.
Building my custom OBDLink MX+ display
The OBDLink MX+ app is feature rich with the ability to easily create your own custom display. Simple search of the OBD parameter to monitor, pick the desired display and a wide range of options to configure size, colors, ranges and more present the meters preferred on the smart IOS or Android phone or tablet.
Results
The presentation and performance was much better than expected. Clear presentation of the meters we preferred along with the added benefit to quickly diagnose engine warnings if needed. A low cost application to ensure our engine and transmission are operating properly when towing our heavy 5th wheel.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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