When is it too hot

[redcloud1]

Was watching the temperature on the transmission while going to the resort and it was goin over 200 degrees, what is considered to be too high of a temperature on the transmission ?

[youroo]

What is your TV? Youroo!!

[strat56]

Here's a chart that might be helpful.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE/TEMPERATURE CHART

Also found this:

“General Motors’ in-house towing team expert provided RV Clinic with this statement: The maximum allowable automatic transmission fluid temperature is dictated by the transmission oil itself. The oil begins to degrade significantly above 270 degrees Fahrenheit, so we design vehicles so that in all but the most extreme conditions, the fluid temperature in the transmission sump stays below 270 degrees F.

We allow for up to 285 degrees F in extreme conditions (i.e. towing a trailer with combination loaded at GCWR in Death Valley). But for customer usage anywhere else in the country, even at GCWR, transmission sump temperature should stay well below 270 degrees F. Above this point, certain internal components, such as seals, begin to disintegrate rather quickly. Although newer synthetic fluids can withstand higher temperatures we still recommend this (270F) as a maximum temperature. "

[Happy Vibe]

Just remember this chart is from a company trying to sell you a "transmission protection kit". i would like to see the testing they did to come up with those numbers.

[Islander]

My 2 cents

When I had my transmission 'updated' , basically a complete rebuild,
I did it because the 400r transmission has been known a weak link,
I made sure that I had a heavy duty torque converter installed as well.

Along with that I installed a 'True-Cool' transmission oil cooler in series to the stock one.

Prior the additional cooler I would see temps hit 225F , which is ok for short durations but not for long hauls.
Now with the added cooler and an even larger 5th wheel I have never seen 200F and runs at least 40+F cooler than ever before.
My transmission Guru told me a 'cool transmission is a happy transmission'.
I also run a semi-synthetic transmission oil as well.
So IMO a larger or additional tranny oil cooler is good insurance.

Hope this helps
Islander

[SpringerPop]

Islander, did you mean a 4R100 transmission? That's what your 2000 F350 should have.

Pop

[strat56]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

Just remember this chart is from a company trying to sell you a "transmission protection kit". i would like to see the testing they did to come up with those numbers.

I doubt they did any testing. That chart is all over the net in different formats.

[Dave Lyon]

My TV has the factory tow package and all HD cooling available. I typically run 85 degrees Celsius (185 degrees Fahrenheit).

On a trip last summer ambient temperature was 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with some hills in my travels and the highest transmission temperature I encountered was 95 degrees Celsius (203 Fahrenheit)

[j free]

The over heat number from strat56 are the same numbers pre set in my truck from ford Motor. It is also the same numbers found in my owners manual. You should get a warning light when you get 10 to 15 degrees from the pre set limit on a newer truck. But I would invest in a cooling package if you are in the 220's any extended period of time

[conceptumator]

In our old RV, a V10 gasser, with around 5,000 lb toad, I would see transmission temps that always stayed within a few degrees of 200F. Climbing the pass at Chattanooga, they would go up by around 10-15F temporarily. I just watched for anything outside those parameters as they were normal. On my Jeep, not towing anything, they stay around 205F. Seems to be a pattern there.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

Does it stay that high? Mine spike at 205 at times when going up hills and depending on the outside temp, but then it drops to about 190-195 while rolling. As long as it doesn't hang up in those high temps, you should be OK.

[redcloud1]

TV is a Silverado 1500 Lt, I don't think it stays high.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

Originally Posted by redcloud1

TV is a Silverado 1500 Lt, I don't think it stays high.

I tow with a '14 6L 1500 as well and it spikes to 205 at times, especially going up hills here in New England , but it drops right down. My 2010 1500 spiked to 210 -215 at times.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by bagged123

I tow with a '14 6L 1500 as well and it spikes to 205 at times, especially going up hills here in New England , but it drops right down. My 2010 1500 spiked to 210 -215 at times.

The tranny temp will no doubt match the radiator temp as that's where the majority of the cooling takes place.

[jhoppmann]

My situation.

I have a 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (6400# towing capacity). My wife and I just bought a Rockwood Mini-lite 2306 travel trailer for camping. Our travel trailer is pretty light at 3800 dry, 4700 GVWR. Its 24' long and has a pretty big frontal area (8'x10'). We just took our first trip up to the Rim. My Taco complained a bit going up some of the grades. We were in 2nd a few times doing 50 at about 3800 rpms. Not bad but according to Torque the trans temps were eeking up there (230 pan, 245 torque converter). Engine temp only got over 200 once.

I have not run everything over scales but I know we have to be pushing it on rear axle (payload) weight and combined vehicle weight. I have an Equalizer weight-distribution hitch and Prodigy brake controller on the Taco now. On the flats and even downhill, everything is fine. No bob or sway and the trailer brakes work great. When we get to a hill is when things aren't so great.

I think the Taco would probably be ok as long as I keep an eye on the trans temp and change the fluid more regularly, but its the whole riding vs. driving thing. With a full-size I could enjoy the scenery without stressing out looking at Torque every few seconds to see if we need to pull over. So I'm thinking about selling the Taco and upgrading to an older diesel for less money.

[Islander]

Originally Posted by SpringerPop

Islander, did you mean a 4R100 transmission? That's what your 2000 F350 should have.

Pop

Yes that is correct ...it does have the 4r100.

The engine is know to be bullet-proof...however, the tranny not so .
But having said that.... I went on the side of precaution and had it done prior to some long trips. I was not experiencing any problems with the transmission.

My transmission cooling does not go through the water radiator thus the 2 transmission coolers does a nice job for me .

Islander

[PhoneDude 8289]

Ours is a 2008 tundra with the 5.7 and stock 6 spd trans with the factory tow pkg. Temp will always run 190º - 200º towing or not, takes a long time to get there, I do tow heavy at 9K+ GVW @ 15K+. A few times I have seen it reach 220º climbing some pretty good mountains with 95º+ air temp but doesn't stay there long. I asked the transmission tech at the dealer how hot was too hot for these He said if it reaches 230º better let it cool down. These are sealed units on the Tundra, no way to pop the hood and check the fluid, no dip stick. Toyota recommends service at 100K miles. Mine has had complete fluid flush at 50 and now 75K. Cost a couple hundred to get it done but I do feel better and I do tow heave for the truck. I use tow haul when towing and I downshift allot when slowing or going down steep grades. Still will shift like day one.

[Klbrown53]

PhoneDude

I have same TV and I do the same thing. I did not start pulling heavy until 2 years ago but changed transmission fluid last fall at 60,000.

My heat gauge is just a simple C on one side and H on the other (2007). I have never seen it above "normal' which is the same place it stays unloaded. I am pulling around 8000 pounds. I pulled it up to Colorado late last year and from Estes Park to Durango up and over 11,500 feet and the transmission heat gauge never moved.

And I also drive and tow similar to you in Tow mode and in lower gears a lot of the time when it makes sense.

Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[PhoneDude 8289]

Originally Posted by Klbrown53

PhoneDude

I have same TV and I do the same thing. I did not start pulling heavy until 2 years ago but changed transmission fluid last fall at 60,000.

My heat gauge is just a simple C on one side and H on the other (2007). I have never seen it above "normal' which is the same place it stays unloaded. I am pulling around 8000 pounds. I pulled it up to Colorado late last year and from Estes Park to Durango up and over 11,500 feet and the transmission heat gauge never moved.

And I also drive and tow similar to you in Tow mode and in lower gears a lot of the time when it makes sense.

Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

My tundra came with the same temp gauges that you have. I added a scangauge II and get exact water, trans and intake air temps. The scangauge has many more monitors built in but I leave it set to monitor the fluids. The "C and H" gauge doesn't move much when compared to the scangauge. Below is a picture of the scangauge when I started the Tundra a couple of mornings ago.

[Klbrown53]

Phone Dude 8289,

I want to thank you for our discussion on transmission temperatures. After you saying you used a ScanGuage II I did some research on them and liked both it and the price so I ordered one. I just installed it yesterday which was just plug and play. Then last night I figured out the Toyota codes for trans temp and put them in this morning. Seems to work like a champ setting in the drive way. I can watch both coolant temp and trans temp rise. Now just need to hook up the RV and go for a ride here in a few weeks......

Have you played with the horse power feature any? Curious how accurate it will be.

Thanks again.

PS

Looks like by your name you may be a telecom worker? I am retired from Lucent Tech/ATT/Southwestern Bell Telephone. Went to work for SW Bell in 1966 and retired in 1999 although I did continue to work in the telecom industry until 2011.


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums