Trans. Temp. ????

[rideandslidejim]

Towing my TT, under 5,000 # with my 4.7 Dodge Ram, it's has a trans, temp. display so what is the normal or acceptable temp. ??

Thanks Jim

[Ken / Claudia]

I do not same truck, see that listed below. The tranny shop I go to has a chart and shows 220 to be the highest that is safe in auto trannys. Mine is normally 125 range empty, 180 when pulling and going up big grades it has been at 205-210 for awhile in hot summer temps. I put on a cooler 2 times the size of the factory cooler and added a electric fan mounted to the cooler to use on those big grades. The fans does work to lower the temps. There are others ways to help also. Your truck likely runs at different temps but, remember 220 tops

[cabinfever]

220 is the danger zone. Transmission fluid starts to break down at 220 and turns to paste at 260. If you get to 220 you need to get it to cool down soon. Running at ,or slightly over 220, for an extended period will start to break down the fluid and a fluid change would be a good idea. Towing our 303 here in NW PA I have pulled some decent and long grades. The highest temp I have is 185-190 and it drops very quick when I crest the hill. My Silverado has the tow haul mode which I am told helps keep things cool. I personally don't use it. I don't like the shift patterns with it and gas mileage goes down in tow haul. However, I try not to allow the transmission to keep looking for a different gear when going up hill by keeping the RPMs up. That being said, if I ever venture through WV mountains and see the temps go above 195 I would use the tow haul and hope it keeps things cooler.

[Andymon]

this brings up a question...if the tranny temp gets to 220 should you pull over and shut of the truck or pull over and let it idle?

[cabinfever]

this brings up a question...if the tranny temp gets to 220 should you pull over and shut of the truck or pull over and let it idle?

I would say if you are about to crest a hill, then I would think no. If that hot and you have a way to go to get to the top, I would pull over and idle. If you shut down then you loose all cooling. If you are that hot on flat roads I would think there is a problem.

[Ken / Claudia]

I agree with ideing at a stop. Once shut down all temps. will raise, best to stop and idle, try to get engine area cooled down, raise hood, dump, hose, pour water onto the outside of raditor will help also. Thats all for a temporary over heat problem.

[gkainz]

and depending on the vehicle, put it in Neutral or Park. Some vehicles don't circulate the transmission fluid in Park.

[rideandslidejim]

Thanks all, so i'm presuming as long as you stay under the 220 mark,you doing ok ?

Jim

[tileman]

We have a dodge 3500 with DRW
Last year we where towing outside temps where pushing 109 :eek:
The truck temps motor was around 210-215 Transmission was 170-185

Towing in in temps around 80 to 90 the Transmission run around 160-165

[Hansel]

Well I drive a Ford F-250SD and they don't like temps over 230* for very long or your going too toast it:eek: so I'm guessing around the same temps for you, if they get too high pull over and let it idle to cool things down.

[bobbecky]

There is a product, Red Line High Temp ATF synthetic fluid that's supposed to hold up at higher temps. Have no experience with this fluid, but it's advertised to give up to an additional 70 degrees of operating temperature with high loads. Might be something to consider if high fluid temps are seen. Might avoid a tranny failure.

[JRTJH]

There is a product, Red Line High Temp ATF synthetic fluid that's supposed to hold up at higher temps. Have no experience with this fluid, but it's advertised to give up to an additional 70 degrees of operating temperature with high loads. Might be something to consider if high fluid temps are seen. Might avoid a tranny failure.

Many of the new transmissions are very tempermental when it comes to using fluid that's not engineered for that specific application. Unlike years gone by when "if it's golden it goes in the engine and if it's red it goes in the grannyglide." Before putting any high temp transmission fluid in your truck, first make sure it's compatible, often times it's not. :(

[Ken / Claudia]

The question about what to do if the tranny temps get to 220. I have not had it happen since I got the gauge. But, if it does I will travel to the next area where I would have the fluid changed and hope no damage is done. Thats just my opinion not based on any tranny shop experts.

[cabinfever]

Thought this article may be helpful in this thread.



http://etereman.com/blog/toyota-automatic/keep-your-automatic-transmission-cool/

[rideandslidejim]

Thanks All

Going to take our first long ( to us, about 300 mile round trip ) in a few weeks, we took it out for a test drive and to set the brake controller, the only time it hit 200 was when we crossed ( as a test ) a very steep suspension bridge, truck did great, maintained 60 mph but did downshift up to 4,000 on the tach, but no loss of power. I just remember seeing 200 that one time ??

Jim

[Western Traveler]

Thought this article may be helpful in this thread.



http://etereman.com/blog/toyota-automatic/keep-your-automatic-transmission-cool/

Good article...Thanks!

[DirtyOil]

Thought this article may be helpful in this thread.



http://etereman.com/blog/toyota-auto...smission-cool/

X 2 great article

Although, Dodge/Chrysler trannys use ATF+4 since 2005, as a full synthetic it has ratings of -65F/-54C to +520F/270C, pre 2005 they used ATF+3. Running at 220C or even 240C for short periods will not hurt the tranny. As the synthetic fluid has a higher flash point then regular tranny fluids, you can run at higher temperatures without fear of "burning up".

If you are worried about higher temperatures I suggest you have auxiliary transmission cooler installed. The aux coolers are cheap $$ and easily installed, or you can have a good tranny shop supply and install one for you.

Check out this post lots of info by others as well http://keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15168

[Ken / Claudia]

That article about trannys was good information. I think it was 06 when I upgraded my tranny. The aftermarket cooler, 2x the size of fords with the electric fan was 225 that was with the shop installing them also. That was cheap compared to a ford tranny was 3000 and the one I got was 5400. I wished I would have spend the 225 first and not needed a new transmission.