Transmission Temperature Chart

[Bama Rambler]

Those seem to be normal temps, even at 180ºF you're not hurting your unit unless you drove it for thousands of miles that way.

[Hipshot]

I just returned from Elkhart IN with a Rockwood 2604SS. TV is a 2008 Silverado 1500 4X4 LTZ 5.3 3.73 rear and towing package. On the trip to Elkhart trans temp was around 150-160 in drive 19 mpg. On the trip back towing the 2604SS at 60mph in drive cruise control on trans temp 180-190 and shifting on every hill, sometimes down to second gear at 4000 rpms, 8.5 mpg. After about 100 miles I shifted to third 2600 rpms, cruise control off at 60 mph trans temp 155-164 rarley shifted and 9 mpg.

[mtnguy]

Originally Posted by Hipshot

I just returned from Elkhart IN with a Rockwood 2604SS. TV is a 2008 Silverado 1500 4X4 LTZ 5.3 3.73 rear and towing package. On the trip to Elkhart trans temp was around 150-160 in drive 19 mpg. On the trip back towing the 2604SS at 60mph in drive cruise control on trans temp 180-190 and shifting on every hill, sometimes down to second gear at 4000 rpms, 8.5 mpg. After about 100 miles I shifted to third 2600 rpms, cruise control off at 60 mph trans temp 155-164 rarley shifted and 9 mpg.

I very seldom use cruise control while pulling my trailer. I get much better gas mileage by loosing a mile or 2 on the speedo going uphill then the cruise control keeping the speed. If using the cruise control, then I feel compelled to lock out OD to keep the shifting under control.....which means more RPMs and worse gas mileage. In the rolling hills around here, I will leave the OD on, back off on the gas pedal a little on hills, and shift out of OD when I figure the tranny is ready to shift for itself. I do watch my tranny temperature via a ScanGauge II.....remarkable little instrument.

About the chart on post #1. I never noticed before, but that is the "average" temperature. My truck averages 150 to 170 pulling my Surveyor, but has gotten up to 200 on a long, hard pull up a winding moutain pass here. So my average should be pretty close to 160 or so, with the occasional spike under hard pulling conditions. A little relief to know that.

[CAN-DO]

I do like the gauge mounting package for the top of the dash!! This looks so much better than a pillar mount. Even if you don't purchase the Aerotech gauges, I am sure that their dash mount kits would work with the correct diameter gauges of another manufacturer.

CAN-DO

[Santaclause]

My toyota tundra has the c& h but it never wiggles pulling the camper nor does the eng temp gauge either even on the hottest days pulling through the adirondak Mtns it seems to do just fine

[herk7769]

I talked to my GMC about this very issue. I have the Allison transmission and I occasionaly pull my rig into the "hills" of PA.
My D.I.C. trans temps can get into the 200 - 220 range but rapidly fall back to 180 - 195 on the back side of the climb.
Normal temps on the highway 160 - 170.
I never got the warning on the DIC. So I asked when it was set to come on and they "thought" it was 250. They said if it even came on I needed to pull over and let the tranny cool down and bring it in for service (filter-fluid change) when I got back from the trip (no real need to rush; just get it done soon as I get back).
They said the Allison was built like a tank and would provide may years of hard service with regular maintenance.

Neat that the Allison has an external spin on filter.