With Temps Rising...

[jro909]

with the outside temps rising, any recommenations for keeping the strain off trucks? i know its kind of a random thread but i know with it being hot outside it effects things differently(example:towing)

 

i don't really tow, just drive empty most of the time..i have the factory trans cooler but ive already had to replace front and rear seals in the trans which i was told by overheating??

[FarmerDave]

Hottest my transmission fluid ever got was in stop in go city traffic with 6 inches of snow...

 

Sorry for hijacking your thread

[Nytemare]

with the outside temps rising, any recommenations for keeping the strain off trucks? i know its kind of a random thread but i know with it being hot outside it effects things differently(example:towing)

 

i don't really tow, just drive empty most of the time..i have the factory trans cooler but ive already had to replace front and rear seals in the trans which i was told by overheating??

If the trans don't overheat in Texas, California...etc etc etc...I don't think you have to worry.

 

Stopping regularly while towing and not forcing gear changes will keep the temps down....And if you exceed 80% of your tow rating, get a larger trans cooler.

Also, Synthetic ATF is less heat sensitive, but its not for the faint of heart....Synthetic fluid isn't cheap, and the capacity of the trans is substantial...Mine took 17 quarts at 13 bucks a quart, and its not something you can do in your driveway, it needs to be pumped out. Total for my trans was 415 bucks, and I got a deal on the fluid...I have RP, think M1 is around that price regularly.

[jro909]

i just have my trans pan dropped and the fluid just changed with the filter no flush..at the dealer they still put dex 3 in it i thought dex 4 was the new thing? i don't really tow very often, i hauled 30 bails of hay in the back of my truck but that diden't even squat it, i never force a downshift if i do hit a hard hill i lay off the gas and let it downshift itself...coolants brand new and the dex 3 has maybe 10k on it....i'm just trying to feel this out so i don't lose another grand worth of seals again...i assume the a/c puts some strain on the motor too?

[FarmerDave]

A/C pump takes 2-3 hp to run give or take, not a big enough draw to let yourself melt in the cab

[brims]

There is no Dexron IV it's Dexron VI (6). From what I understand GM no longer certifies Dexron III so they recommend using VI since you can't trust anything that says III to actually be up to spec.

[jro909]

oh wow, i just dug my goodwrench sheet out and it states dexron III...hmm well thats interesting

[Nytemare]

oh wow, i just dug my goodwrench sheet out and it states dexron III...hmm well thats interesting

Yeah, Dex III is for older trans...New ones take VI (and its synthetic, III is Not)....you shouldn't mix without a flush...that's why you got III

[desrtrat]

i do not know where you live but, here we have a lot of dust blowing all the time. what i do is take the fan shroud off and take a air compressor and blow out the trans/oil coolers and the radiator from the front to the motor. clean out the inside of the radiator, then flush out with water. you be surprised at all the crap that can come out. sand/stones leaves dead bugs..

 

good luck

[RaddHazzard]

to answer your original question, upgrading to dex VI would be a good thing for a hot tranny. It resists foaming, shear, and carries heat better than dex III (among other things.)

[Nytemare]

i do not know where you live but, here we have a lot of dust blowing all the time. what i do is take the fan shroud off and take a air compressor and blow out the trans/oil coolers and the radiator from the front to the motor. clean out the inside of the radiator, then flush out with water. you be surprised at all the crap that can come out. sand/stones leaves dead bugs..

 

good luck

Yeah I do that with the pressure washer all the time, either my own or at a spray bay.

[jro909]

could this be why my trans acts a bit different when its been driven alot in hot hot weather? any ideas what would make the front and rear seals go bad? i've beat this question to death with no legit answer...also what is the mileage that the dex 3 should be swapped out at? 25k sound too early? i got a 103k on the trans so flushing may not be a good idea at this point, i drive mostly highway with very minum city driving(i hate stop and go traffic with a pashion)

[Nytemare]

could this be why my trans acts a bit different when its been driven alot in hot hot weather? any ideas what would make the front and rear seals go bad? i've beat this question to death with no legit answer...also what is the mileage that the dex 3 should be swapped out at? 25k sound too early? i got a 103k on the trans so flushing may not be a good idea at this point, i drive mostly highway with very minum city driving(i hate stop and go traffic with a pashion)

You should be doing a pan service every 25K and a full flush every 50K

Yeah your rad and cooler may be dirty, give them a spray with the pressure washer, not on high pressure streem, the fan spray pattern.

 

Your seals gave out because its a common problem, its called the lowest bidder syndrome.

[Z'06]

could this be why my trans acts a bit different when its been driven alot in hot hot weather? any ideas what would make the front and rear seals go bad? i've beat this question to death with no legit answer...also what is the mileage that the dex 3 should be swapped out at? 25k sound too early? i got a 103k on the trans so flushing may not be a good idea at this point, i drive mostly highway with very minum city driving(i hate stop and go traffic with a pashion)

 

If you are worried about flushing it, then do a pan drop, which will remove some, but not all, of the fluid. Change the filter, add a TransGo HD2 shift kit and TransGo hardened separator plate, new OEM solenoids, and a Sonnax pinless forward accumulator piston, and then reinstall the pan *with a drain plug* so you can drain the pan as frequently as you like from then on and slowly but surely begin replacing most of your fluid that way.

 

I also agree with the recommendation made above that you begin swapping your fluid with Dexron VI, which is backwards-compatible. I use Castrol blend Dexron VI in mine.

[Nytemare]

could this be why my trans acts a bit different when its been driven alot in hot hot weather? any ideas what would make the front and rear seals go bad? i've beat this question to death with no legit answer...also what is the mileage that the dex 3 should be swapped out at? 25k sound too early? i got a 103k on the trans so flushing may not be a good idea at this point, i drive mostly highway with very minum city driving(i hate stop and go traffic with a pashion)

 

If you are worried about flushing it, then do a pan drop, which will remove some, but not all, of the fluid. Change the filter, add a TransGo HD2 shift kit and TransGo hardened separator plate, new OEM solenoids, and a Sonnax pinless forward accumulator piston, and then reinstall the pan *with a drain plug* so you can drain the pan as frequently as you like from then on and slowly but surely begin replacing most of your fluid that way.

 

I also agree with the recommendation made above that you begin swapping your fluid with Dexron VI, which is backwards-compatible. I use Castrol blend Dexron VI in mine.

 

 

or just take the hit to the wallet and do a complete flush and fill...your trans will love you for it.

 

I use Royal Purple Max ATF in my truck...and it is awesome. Not sure if you can use that in your trans...cant go wrong with Dex VI though.