Trans Temp?

[Jsb55]

The transmission in my 2014 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 gears gets up to 190 to 193 degrees when it is warmed up under normal driving. This is about 10 degrees higher than my 08 with 5.3 and 3.73 gears. What type of trans temps are you guys seeing?

[bcazier]

I'm at 181 driving to work with 5.3 and 3.42. Outside temp is 76.

 

Make that 185. Traffic driving in atlanta. Will update with peak temp from 45min commute.

 

189...

Highest I got was 196 in bad traffic then dropped back down a few degrees once I got moving.

[MikeNH]

Normal. I've had mine get into the 185-190 range under normal conditions. Highest was like 213 when towing in stop and go traffic. The six speeds run hotter but since they use synthetic fluid I wouldn't worry.

[GMC-AT]

2 hour highway trip today... 80mph....92 degrees outside..... trans was staying around 197-199

[blckthree]

Mine is also a 5.3, 3.42 rear gear, runs around 198 when the outside temp is 90.

 

My previous Avalanche, same tranny and rear end was always around 198 also, except when towing and it would sometimes get in the low 200s.

 

Mike

[Jsb55]

Thanks guys! Good to know we are all about the same. I'm going to tow with it tomorrow for the first time and am anxious to see how it does. ( only about 2000 lbs. )

[Schodackbassman]

I was wondering the same thing about the high temps. I just picked up a 2014 Sierra Allterrain SLT with 5.3 and even here in cool upstate NY it is running 10-20 degrees warmer (185 to almost 200 degrees) then the 08 Z71 with the old 5.3 I traded in. Guess this is the new normal. Oil temp is the same but the transmission temps were a surprise. Hats off to GMC for the many many improvements to this truck.

[Black02Silverado]

These higher temps that the trans are running is all the more reason to keep it fresh every 50k miles and don't go the 100k that is recommended. At least that is what it is on our 6sp in the Acadia.

 

Personally I would keep it fresh every 30k, not like it is very expensive. I pulled a sample on a friends 2011 Traverse and the transmission fluid was in bad shape at 69k miles.

[TorkFaze]

Guys,

Something you may not know.....on the new K2xx LD trucks, there is a trans fluid 'thermostat' that will, much like the thermostat in the coolant system, help warm the trans up to a minimum temp and keep it there, again, just like the thermostat in the coolant system. This helps with many things. The minimum temp that it tries to keep the trans at during normal driving may be a bit warmer than some of you 'cold weather state' guys are used to in the winter with your GMT900 products running empty down the highway, but is WELL under where you need to worry about changing fluid early.

 

TF

[Schodackbassman]

So at what Temp should there be concern?

[gone_fishing]

Guys,

 

Something you may not know.....on the new K2xx LD trucks, there is a trans fluid 'thermostat' that will, much like the thermostat in the coolant system, help warm the trans up to a minimum temp and keep it there, again, just like the thermostat in the coolant system. This helps with many things. The minimum temp that it tries to keep the trans at during normal driving may be a bit warmer than some of you 'cold weather state' guys are used to in the winter with your GMT900 products running empty down the highway, but is WELL under where you need to worry about changing fluid early.

 

TF

 

My 2010 Toyota Tundra had a similar setup. It had a simple trans temp guage that just went from cold to hot so I had no idea what the actual temp it was running. I do know that the needle always ran straight up and never went any higher (even when towing). I did notice that the needle would rise pretty quickly before settling at the 12 o'clock position. Even if the vehilcle was idling it would be slowly climbing.

 

Today I drove 50 miles when it was about 29F out. I noted the trans temp being about 100F when I got out of town. About 15 miles later, it was maybe 130 and took almost the entire 50 mile trip to reach 180F. I'm guessing 185-190 is about what it wants to reach in this weather and not towing. It did surprise me how long it took to get there. If there is some sort of thermostat that helps bypass the trans cooler, it doesn't seem to be aiding it warming up the trans fluid as fast as my Tundra did. Something I will have to keep monitoring out of curiousity. If anyone has access to parts diagram, it would be intersting to see the trans cooler plumbing.

[Chris]

I have an 04 and 150 is about my average

 

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[Schodackbassman]

Yesterday I towed my Bass Cat for the first time with the new truck. Was interesting to see the transmission temp running about 30 degrees LOWER (mid 160's) then when not towing! I was thinking the same thing regarding a thermostat and that it must have opened while towing reducing the temps. I will check when I tow again to day to see if the same thing happens.

[2014 Sporty Shorty]

I wouldn't worry about the tranny temps unless your staying above 220 while towing. These are much better box's than the 4L60's they replace. They also run synthetic oil in them now which can handle the hotter temps and still provide protection.

[DanielAcosta]

My 2010 Toyota Tundra had a similar setup. It had a simple trans temp guage that just went from cold to hot so I had no idea what the actual temp it was running. I do know that the needle always ran straight up and never went any higher (even when towing). I did notice that the needle would rise pretty quickly before settling at the 12 o'clock position. Even if the vehilcle was idling it would be slowly climbing.

 

Today I drove 50 miles when it was about 29F out. I noted the trans temp being about 100F when I got out of town. About 15 miles later, it was maybe 130 and took almost the entire 50 mile trip to reach 180F. I'm guessing 185-190 is about what it wants to reach in this weather and not towing. It did surprise me how long it took to get there. If there is some sort of thermostat that helps bypass the trans cooler, it doesn't seem to be aiding it warming up the trans fluid as fast as my Tundra did. Something I will have to keep monitoring out of curiousity. If anyone has access to parts diagram, it would be intersting to see the trans cooler plumbing.

The tranny temp on my Tundra got hotter during slow off-roading in the summer when there wasn't much airflow over the transmission cooler. In similar instances in the Sierra it stays between 192-200, most of the time pegged between 194-198, so I'm guessing those are the trigger points for the thermostat.