Transmission Temperature Issues

[ChevyDuneGuy]

I have a new 2020 Silverado Trailboss with a 6.2 and 10 speed transmission. I was out playing on the dunes yesterday and was keeping an eye on my trans temperature. I saw temps from 190 to 200 during what I would call normal hill climbing. After a few drag races the temp made it to 220 before i quit to let it cool. I've been drag racing my trucks at Silver Lake Sand Dunes for 20 years (wow, I feel old saying that) and I've never had any transmission issues. Has anyone else experienced climbing trans temperatures while offroad?

 

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[Balls]

220 isnt an issue after WOT racing the 420hp 6.2 it in the sand.  285F driving 75mph down the highway is!  I had that happen with the 6 speed though, due to a bad trans thermostat.   I would just check to see that your trans cooler lines are hot,  mine were air temp when trans read 285F.  

 

[kpanza]

Of course it's going to get warmer in the sand!  But 220 is fine...you start getting over 240-250, the fluid starts breaking down faster and you should change the fluid more often than the factory calls for.  Sand has huge amount of resistance, gonna build heat in the tranny very quick.  Are you shifting "manually", as in, using the shift buttons to hold gears?  That should help a bit, but the torque converter is gonna build up lots of heat in that environment.  Frankly, I'm impressed it only went to 220 with what you describe. 

[Grumpy Bear]

Call a few major trans shops and see if you can find one that thinks anything over 180 F steady state is good to go.

 

PATC. B&M, TCI, Sonnax, you choose. 

 

Everyone worries about the fluid.

Worry about the seals, the adhesives that bond the clutches, and for the 6 speed the TCM.

Who thought putting the computer in boiling oil was a good idea? 

[Black02Silverado]

Playing in the sand will definitely heat up the transmission.  Did you ever try to pull a wagon out on the beach. Not easy. That is how hard the vehicle has to work.  Hitting 220° F once isn't to bad but keep it up and issues will develop. Like stated above, seals and other parts will degrade fast at high temps.  

 

What gets me is my 2014 Cruze diesel's transmission runs at 225° F just cruising down the interstate on a hot summer day. Not something I like but it is the nature of the beast with this transmission. This is why I run AMSOIL's ATF in it and change it out every 40k miles.    Now my 2019 has yet to get over 160° F. So far the only towing I have done is with my little utility trailer and my 1,000lbs zero turn mower on it.  

Running a quality synthetic can help keep the heat down and will hold up longer at higher temps, but the heat it's self is what causes the seals to not last as long.

 

I just might hook up our 10' x 20' enclosed Ainsley's Angel's trailer that is about 4klbs and run it down the interstate to see how my 2019 with the Max tow package and 6.2, 10sp does.  My 2002 pulled it well and the transmission temp would get to 198°  to 205°. 

[ChevyDuneGuy]

Well I've been playing in the sand with Jeeps and Chevy trucks for 20 years (throw a couple Toyotas in the mix as well). This is easily the warmest I've had a transmission out there and I've been much harder on other vehicles. My 2018 Zr2 rarely climbed over 150 out there. It seems to just run warmer all the time though, with the highway being the coolest where it stays right at 150.

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