Temp Guage At 220f And Trans Temp 210f

[flukehit]

I have an 09 silverado LS extended cab with the 4.8L and tow package. Lately the temp guage goes from 210 up to 220-225 and the trans temp goes up to 210f. It stays this way for a few minutes, then goes back to what I guess is normal operaing temp (210f.) I plan on driving this truck till either one of us dies. I alway do the scheduled maintenace at the dealer.

My 30,000 mile check up is due. What if anything should I tell the dealer to do besides the normal 30,000 mile scheduled maintenace stuff. I took some pictures of the guage when it happened to show them.

[tanked_darren]

I have an 09 silverado LS extended cab with the 4.8L and tow package. Lately the temp guage goes from 210 up to 220-225 and the trans temp goes up to 210f. It stays this way for a few minutes, then goes back to what I guess is normal operaing temp (210f.) I plan on driving this truck till either one of us dies. I alway do the scheduled maintenace at the dealer.

My 30,000 mile check up is due. What if anything should I tell the dealer to do besides the normal 30,000 mile scheduled maintenace stuff. I took some pictures of the guage when it happened to show them.

 

What are you doing when this happens? Long idling in hot traffic will heat up the tranny and so does hill climbing.

[flukehit]

I do alot of ideling, since the truck is my mobil office. (highway construction)

Happens while driving highway as well as extended idle.

I'll change out whatever I need to in order to extend the life of the truck.

If I dont idel the truck, my amber rotating warning lights will kill my battery in a hurry.

Also its my only place of refuge from the crazy heat and sun as well as freezing cold here in the North East.

[txab]

Are you low on coolant at all? If the problem just started, maybe the 'stat is sticking.

 

Other ideas to consider:

 

If you have the tiny factory trans cooler, replace it with a larger one since you're idling a lot.

 

Maybe even look into a larger radiator as well

 

Might want to have your e-fans kick on a little sooner too.

[Black02Silverado]

Sounds like the T stat is sticking. You should be able to idle all day in 100 degree heat and not have any issues. I've sat in 98 degree heat in traffic for 45 minutes and never had any problems. The trans temp will rise since it runs through the radiator and that being heated up from the engine running hot more than likely caused the trans temp to rise. The fact that it goes up for a short period and then goes down sounds like a slow to open T stat. I would get it checked or at least change it out.

[Zembonez]

I think this is a potential problem. I never see above 180 on the trans temp even on the hottest days. Engine temp is generally well under 210 as well.

[flukehit]

Thanks for the insight. I will ask the dealer to change out the thermostate. Maybe for one that opens sooner and keeps the temps lower. Also will look into larger fan and trans cooler. Hope the high temps didn't hurt anything.

[Bob D]

I will ask the dealer to change out the thermostate. Maybe for one that opens sooner and keeps the temps lower...

I was going to respond until I read Black02Silverado's post, which was exact to my diagnostic guess.

I would stay with original thermostat temp spec.s. Operating properly, you should have no issues.

[tanked_darren]

I think this is a potential problem. I never see above 180 on the trans temp even on the hottest days. Engine temp is generally well under 210 as well.

If you sit and idle long enough or do any mountain trails the transmission will go over those temperatures (at least my 4L60E and all the other GMT-900's Ive been in). The fan kicks on when I hit 106C (220F or something like that). Only ever seen it happen in the summertime though.

 

If you only drive on the freeway you would never see this.

 

Engine, now thats a different story. I never see it budge from the 100C mark.

[nathan60]

do you hear the cooling fans coming on? their hard to miss.

[flukehit]

Going to dealer monday morning for 30,000 mile check up.

Today I cleaned my CAI and checked the oil and coolant levels and both were low.

Oil is one quart low, about 4,000 miles since last changed.

Coolant was about an inch below full mark.

 

And yes I can hear the fan.

 

I'll let you know how I make out.

[BadBowtie1]

In hot weather the trans temp will rise, but you should idle for hours with the ac on and not have any problems.The only time my truck engine gauge moves is when I am pulling 5-7 thousand pounds up some steep grades and it only move to about 215 or so never any higher than that.The other time the engine gauge has moved is when I was hauling butt up the same grade in 115 degree heat without the trailer and the ac on but i only got to 215 and that's about it,my trans has a big cooler on it and it see's temps as high as 190 under towing or racing around.

[tanked_darren]

Going to dealer monday morning for 30,000 mile check up.

Today I cleaned my CAI and checked the oil and coolant levels and both were low.

Oil is one quart low, about 4,000 miles since last changed.

Coolant was about an inch below full mark.

 

And yes I can hear the fan.

 

I'll let you know how I make out.

Yeah alot of GM's burn some engine oil being a quart low at 4000 miles is annoying but normal. My coolant has been an inch or so low every once in a while, maybe once a year or so I add a little bit to it, make sure your truck is cold when you check this.

[flukehit]

Dealer said he checked the t-stat and it was functioning properly. Also said he topped all the fluids but when I got home and checked the coolant level it was about the same as it was before I brought it in. I will check it again before I start it tomorrow. The fan is kicking on when I hit 220 and it goes back off at 210.

30,000 mile checkup plus an alignment ran me $310.00. That includes a discount since I have a CAI and he didn't rotate the tires.

Nothings changed as far as temp goes. I worked last night and it was 30f outside (below freezing) and it still climbed to 220f.

I was a little worried when he told me the temp guage can go to the 3 o'clock position and still be at normal operating temp. Thats 260f on my guage. WTF.

God as my witness the temp guage never went beyond 210f for the first 12 months I've owned this truck.

[b00001]

You took it in, they said it was ok. You could run it. Some gauges are not exactly "calibrated" either. Get a mechanical gauge and bypass truck's gauge for a few days and see what it says.