My Towing Transmission Temps

[diyer2]

I have a 2012 Sierra 5.3L 6 speed 3.42's stock size tires.

Stock trans cooler and oil cooler.

Towing my 4 K pound boat in the mountains of Colorado.

The transmission temps I'm using are from the DIC and I know they can be off.

 

Went fishing today so I towed my boat to the lake and back. It's 50 miles each way. Lots of grade changes with a few long pulls each way.

It was 50 degrees this morning at 5 am at our house at 9200 feet. Left at 6:30 am and the temp was 55 degrees outside.

Transmission temp was 58 degrees when it was started. 

 

On the way to the lake my truck registered a high outdoor temperature of 60 degrees.

Highest transmission temp I noticed was 168 degrees pulling the long pulls.

 

Left the lake at 11 am. Air temp according to the truck was 70 degrees.

Highest air temp I noticed the truck register on the way home was 75 degrees.

Transmission temp stayed at 150 - 180 most of the way depending on the grades.

The last few miles to our place are steep grades and when I pulled into our driveway the transmission temperature was 208 degrees according to the DIC.

 

I unhook the boat then park the truck. I leave the truck running (fans are on) with the hood up until the DIC reads a transmission temperature of 180 degrees before shutting it off. 

This removes the worst of the heat IMO.

I then place a 20 inch box fan under the hood that runs on a timer for 10 minutes. 

 

I know  what you're thinking.  My wife thinks I'm nuts.

 

I always let my trucks run after towing to let it cool down some before shutting it off.

 

Again I quote Frank Sinatra " I Did It My Way"