dieselengineer
Charter Member
Does anyone monitor their tranny temps while towing? If so, what is the temp for the type tranny.
Tranmission temperature while towing
- Thread starter dieselengineer
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I monitor my 4R100 auto in my F350 DRW all the time when towing our 3055.
Highest temp ever reached was 200 in rush hour stop and go city traffic. Just returned from a trip through the Rockies and my highest temp was 190 while climbing, I also slowed down and put it into tow/haul when I saw the temp climbing through 175. I'm sure it would have climbed higher leaving OD engaged and as temps are very dependent on ambient temperature. It was a very cool, late evening when I did that portion of the trip.
Running empty I rarely see above 160 even on the hottest day pushing it hard.
Highest temp ever reached was 200 in rush hour stop and go city traffic. Just returned from a trip through the Rockies and my highest temp was 190 while climbing, I also slowed down and put it into tow/haul when I saw the temp climbing through 175. I'm sure it would have climbed higher leaving OD engaged and as temps are very dependent on ambient temperature. It was a very cool, late evening when I did that portion of the trip.
Running empty I rarely see above 160 even on the hottest day pushing it hard.
davebennington
Senior Member
I have a temp gauge on the hot line from the tranny before it gets to the coolers (factory and a aux I installed). I usually run about 160 towing and it may get to 190 when I am in traffic or backing up. I also installed a double deep Hy-Tec tranny pan.
Very rarely do I see temps over 190, hot day sitting in traffic maybe.
Dave
Very rarely do I see temps over 190, hot day sitting in traffic maybe.
Dave
yes, I watch tranny temps on my 2004 Dodge - it's a 4-speed designated as 48RE and I tow with OD locked out.
Right now I'm towing 14,000# (21,700# combined gross) and I can see trans temp spikes in a lot of circumstances. I actually have two gauges, one on the hot-line output and the other tapped the factory internal sensor. The hot line output stays around 140 most of the time, however the internal sensor will run at ambient +120 degrees on the highway.
Towing long grades or steep grades will tweak my temps. And, of course, any time I end up doing stop and go, or stop and go on a hill... the temps will climb a lot. The internal gauge is typically higher all the time, but the hot line sensor will respond faster and zoom past the internal in 30 seconds if I hit it hard from a stop up a hill.
I've towed this setup about 5,000 miles so far and the highest temps I've seen are around 250 on both gauges. The highest sustained temp I've seen was about 230 pulling hills in PA - but only on the internal sensor. The hot sensor was around 160 then.
So... it depends on where you measure for sure.
Right now I'm towing 14,000# (21,700# combined gross) and I can see trans temp spikes in a lot of circumstances. I actually have two gauges, one on the hot-line output and the other tapped the factory internal sensor. The hot line output stays around 140 most of the time, however the internal sensor will run at ambient +120 degrees on the highway.
Towing long grades or steep grades will tweak my temps. And, of course, any time I end up doing stop and go, or stop and go on a hill... the temps will climb a lot. The internal gauge is typically higher all the time, but the hot line sensor will respond faster and zoom past the internal in 30 seconds if I hit it hard from a stop up a hill.
I've towed this setup about 5,000 miles so far and the highest temps I've seen are around 250 on both gauges. The highest sustained temp I've seen was about 230 pulling hills in PA - but only on the internal sensor. The hot sensor was around 160 then.
So... it depends on where you measure for sure.
My 05 Cummins with 48RE runs around 175 on normal hot days but like some of the posts state it will be dependent on the ambient temperature you are running in. You can count on it running around 90 degrees above ambient while underway. Spikes will occur under certain driving conditions but from what I have read this does not hurt the fluid if its only for a few minutes. Some things I have noticed though are worth mentioning. Backing up or driving in stop and go very slow traffic for extended periods will push the guage to over 200. My gauge is located in the output line from the transmission. As soon as I begin moving forward at a continuous speed the temp drops dramatically back to normal. I consider 160 to 180 a normal range. Another important thing I have learned while driving in the mountains. Never never pull a long hard grade and then pull over at the top to rest or take pictures. You are generating significant heat when pulling hard and the sudden stop before the coolers have time to bleed off the heat will cause your transmission to drastically overheat. Fluid does not live long in this situation!! Always crest a hard pull and then drive a few miles to let her cool down before shutting down the engine!! Those large dark spots in the pavement at overlooks are from people who came up and abruptly stopped, shut down the engine and heard their wife say " honey what is all this red stuff on the ground under the truck"
Ray LeTourneau
Senior Member - Past Moderator
We have the LB7 Duramax/Allison. Not towing ranges from 150 to 160, towing no hills, 190 or so. Hills it will get in the 220 area.
Ford F350 SRW 4x4, built transmission, pulling a 3670RL.
This has been a point of concern, for me - I've been watching my temps get into the 200 degree range pretty consistently when I'm pulling a hill. Takes a while to get there, takes a while to cool down, too. Driving around town, it went up to 220. I shut it down and got some diesel.
When I shut it down, it seems to cool back down to 100 within about 20mins.
I don't know if I should be concerned or not - I need to talk to my tranny guy about it.
This has been a point of concern, for me - I've been watching my temps get into the 200 degree range pretty consistently when I'm pulling a hill. Takes a while to get there, takes a while to cool down, too. Driving around town, it went up to 220. I shut it down and got some diesel.
When I shut it down, it seems to cool back down to 100 within about 20mins.
I don't know if I should be concerned or not - I need to talk to my tranny guy about it.
tkdmike
Member
I maintain about 140 empty and 175 towing unless its exceptionally hot or hilly - then can get to 200. I have upgraded by putting a tranny cooler from a 6.0 liter Ford diesel in my 7.3 and adding an aftermarket cooler and filter.
Have overheated once in a light truck (F250) coming over Wolf Creek Pass with 10k lb fiver and torque converter and exhaust break used to maintain safe speed. Other than that, no issues.
Have overheated once in a light truck (F250) coming over Wolf Creek Pass with 10k lb fiver and torque converter and exhaust break used to maintain safe speed. Other than that, no issues.
2005 GMC duramax cc 4x4 normal driving no trailer warmed up around 160, pulling 3055 5'ver most I've ever seen on 105 degree day on 65 north of Branson pulling one of those long hills was between 200 and 210. And I'm supposed to have one of those overheaters, hasn't happened yet.
leftyf
SSG Stumpy-VA Terrorist
Having been over the same creek WITHOUT towing anything..that truly is saying something.
NewCyclone
Active Member
Dave, did you install the transmission pan yourself? I am seriously thinking about adding that to my truck since tempratures here in the high desert can reach 120 easily. 4wheelparts.com has the pans on sale right now. How much fluid does the transmission hold? Curious how hard the install was.
chrischaster
Member
As soon as I get the chance I will post my temps for the '06 dodge megacab dually auto with the BD pan.....
Last edited:
porthole
Retired
Wide range of temps here for sure.
140 after the cooler isn't saying much.
140 in the trans then the trans is not warmed up.
I don't know where GM pulls the temp reading from and I never really followed the gauge with the old TT.
I put in a Banks tuner with the PDA and that includes a digital temp gauge (from the trucks ecm). There are also alarm limits that can be set.
Most of the time it stays around 190-200, which is operating temperature.
I did hit 240 coming back from the PA rally last summer when I made a wrong tune and went up a very steep hill, 14 degrees IIRC.
The Banks engine temp and trans temp alarms were going off
I think the limits for both were set for 235.
Something to consider, when I was a dealer tech we never considered a trans fully warmed up until the vehicle has been driven about 10 miles, preferably highway miles.
After that the fluid level can be checked. And a quart overfilled is just as bad or worse then a quart underfilled.
140 after the cooler isn't saying much.
140 in the trans then the trans is not warmed up.
I don't know where GM pulls the temp reading from and I never really followed the gauge with the old TT.
I put in a Banks tuner with the PDA and that includes a digital temp gauge (from the trucks ecm). There are also alarm limits that can be set.
Most of the time it stays around 190-200, which is operating temperature.
I did hit 240 coming back from the PA rally last summer when I made a wrong tune and went up a very steep hill, 14 degrees IIRC.
The Banks engine temp and trans temp alarms were going off
I think the limits for both were set for 235.Something to consider, when I was a dealer tech we never considered a trans fully warmed up until the vehicle has been driven about 10 miles, preferably highway miles.
After that the fluid level can be checked. And a quart overfilled is just as bad or worse then a quart underfilled.
PULL DOG hit the nail on the head
PULL DOG makes a perfect statement concerning temps in transmissions. He is exactly right! We pull many commercial hauls and one of the sins of travel is stopping when very hot, it causes boil off and there is no air or flow to carry the excess off. In our experiances without trailers attached the temps are ambient plus 100 degrees. Trailers on any where between 125 and peaks of 220-235. I have found one thing though, we put ATF by amsoil in the truck we pull our 3580R and the temperature dropped an average of 50 degrees across the board, don't know why it just did.
PULL DOG makes a perfect statement concerning temps in transmissions. He is exactly right! We pull many commercial hauls and one of the sins of travel is stopping when very hot, it causes boil off and there is no air or flow to carry the excess off. In our experiances without trailers attached the temps are ambient plus 100 degrees. Trailers on any where between 125 and peaks of 220-235. I have found one thing though, we put ATF by amsoil in the truck we pull our 3580R and the temperature dropped an average of 50 degrees across the board, don't know why it just did.
bill40
Well-known member
I have noticed that with the Banks system my temp. have been a lot cooler than prior to having it. I think the big intercooler has helped with both water and trans temps.
During our last trip out west I saw a temp of 190(trans) leaving Needles. It was 126 that day and that is a 14.5 mile climb at 7%. The down side is I have to run a front cover this time of year or the trans temp and water stay below operating temps.
During our last trip out west I saw a temp of 190(trans) leaving Needles. It was 126 that day and that is a 14.5 mile climb at 7%. The down side is I have to run a front cover this time of year or the trans temp and water stay below operating temps.
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