Jump to content

Transmisson Operating Temp

cowboy21

Recommended Posts

cowboy21 Enthusiast

cowboy21

Posted
Posted

What is the best operating temp. for our transmissions? While pulling my enclosed trailer I noticed the temp got to 185 degrees in stop and go traffic. What is the hottest temp the tranny can run at without doing damage. I always pull in drive 3 and not in overdrive to keep the tranny in good health.

 

Thanks

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted
What is the best operating temp. for our transmissions? While pulling my enclosed trailer I noticed the temp got to 185 degrees in stop and go traffic. What is the hottest temp the tranny can run at without doing damage. I always pull in drive 3 and not in overdrive to keep the tranny in good health.

 

Thanks

I've seen 200 once while pulling my boat on a hot day in the hills. Otherwise, 160 - 180 is pretty normal. Not sure what the danger zone is...

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted

your a Canadian too aren't you 2000silv2500.

 

95*F would be a super cool trans.

 

I would say somewhere in the same range as your thermostat is normal. Unless you have a tow package the trans is just cooled by the engine coolant.

chris83 Enthusiast

chris83

Posted
Posted
your a Canadian too aren't you 2000silv2500.

 

95*F would be a super cool trans.

 

I would say somewhere in the same range as your thermostat is normal. Unless you have a tow package the trans is just cooled by the engine coolant.

 

 

Yep I would be a canadian from delta, BC

todoubled05 Enthusiast

todoubled05

Posted
Posted

pulled my buddies duel jetski trailer yesterday from a distance of 20 miles hottest temp was 194..in the summer (texas) 200 trip avraged at 185 hauling nothing.around town 176 to 180

ChrisNJ Enthusiast

ChrisNJ

Posted
Posted

I don't remember exactly the numbers, but it was something like over 200 is the fluid doesn't like it, 210 starts breaking down a little, 220 starts breaking down a lot, 230 forget-about-it. But this may have been with the the old stuff, not sure if it was with the new dextron 6, and not even sure if the nbs' are getting dex 6 or not. my 06 allison 6sp had dex 6 and it was new new to it, couldn't even find it other than a dealer. and I think the dex 6 is some kind of synthetic, not sure if it's semi or full synthetic. hopefully someone can elaborate better than me.

My 6.2 6sp got to a high of 203 towing 8K this past summer with an average of 185.

luc Enthusiast

luc

Posted
Posted

First,I'm not sure how accurate our tranny temp gauge are.

I know that on my 01 Yukon XL with the 8.1 engine, the water temp gauge read about 10* to 15* higher than the reading from my OBD2 scanner/tool.

 

That said, on my truck,towing a 24' enclosed trailer weighting about 11000#s at about 65mph,the average temp is about 170*/180* but can go as high than 215* when going up a very long and steep road in 100* + weather.

 

I believe than, on gas engines, the cooler used on the 3/4 ton is exactly the same than on the 1500 or Tahoe/yukon and a little bit on the small size.

 

I changed mine to a much bigger one but frankly, I have not seen a reduction in temperature.

I change my tranny fluid evey 30,000 miles and it always look and smell almost like new.

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

Cowboy, from all the research I have done on this, you are in good shape in the 180 range. Even 200 is not awful but if you are running 200 in flat lands or small hills, you will move up 20 or 30 degrees in the heat of the summer in some good hills or mountains. It is my understanding the trans temp warning light in our trucks does not come on until 250. This is too hot in my opinion. The new Dex VI is a full synthetic and it will certainly tolerate higher temps than conv. fluid. I still would not want to see 250.

 

luc, you are correct in saying the aux cooler used on 1500 and 2500 gas burners are the same. GM used this cooler as a good compromise. In my opinion it is too small for hot regions of the country like where I live but is likely just right for really colder regions. It is difficult to overcool a trans but in extreme cold climates a really large and efficient cooler could keep the fluid so cool it would never thin out and flow well.

 

If you changed your cooler to a much larger one and did not see any drop in temps, I am guessing you replaced the OE Stacked Plate cooler with a Tube and Fin style? A 5" x 11" x 3/4" OE stacked plate cooler will perform as well, if not better than an old style tube and fin cooler twice it's size. The stacked plate design is much more efficient and flows with less restriction. I have a 11" x 11" x 3/4" stacked plate cooler on my Yuk XL and on a 95+ degree day in moderate hills pulling a 6500lb camper, my highest temp has been approx 170 degrees. It typically runs low 160s when towing on a really hot day.

 

Check out what you have and you may want to replace it with a stacked plate cooler.

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted
Cowboy, from all the research I have done on this, you are in good shape in the 180 range. Even 200 is not awful but if you are running 200 in flat lands or small hills, you will move up 20 or 30 degrees in the heat of the summer in some good hills or mountains. It is my understanding the trans temp warning light in our trucks does not come on until 250. This is too hot in my opinion. The new Dex VI is a full synthetic and it will certainly tolerate higher temps than conv. fluid. I still would not want to see 250.

 

luc, you are correct in saying the aux cooler used on 1500 and 2500 gas burners are the same. GM used this cooler as a good compromise. In my opinion it is too small for hot regions of the country like where I live but is likely just right for really colder regions. It is difficult to overcool a trans but in extreme cold climates a really large and efficient cooler could keep the fluid so cool it would never thin out and flow well.

 

If you changed your cooler to a much larger one and did not see any drop in temps, I am guessing you replaced the OE Stacked Plate cooler with a Tube and Fin style? A 5" x 11" x 3/4" OE stacked plate cooler will perform as well, if not better than an old style tube and fin cooler twice it's size. The stacked plate design is much more efficient and flows with less restriction. I have a 11" x 11" x 3/4" stacked plate cooler on my Yuk XL and on a 95+ degree day in moderate hills pulling a 6500lb camper, my highest temp has been approx 170 degrees. It typically runs low 160s when towing on a really hot day.

 

Check out what you have and you may want to replace it with a stacked plate cooler.

 

Would there be any way of strapping a fan to the stock cooler? That would help flow out a bit, and if its already a fairly efficient unit, would probably double its ability and cost way less than buying an aftermarket cooler.

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

I considered adding a cooler the size of what I have along with a thin line fan in front of it. Hayden now makes this as a unit but at the time I was doing it they did not.

 

I checked with my contact at Hayden and they suggested not doing this unless it was going to be mounted in a remote location with little to no airflow. He said if you did add a fan in front of the cooler you would limit the air flow when the fan was not running making it run even hotter. Of course when the fan was on it would be great but you would not want to run the fan all the time.

 

A good stacked plate cooler is not all that expensive and is a really easy swap.

luc Enthusiast

luc

Posted
Posted

Trey:

 

no, I replaced mine with a Earl stacked plates sized 12X5X1.5 ( the factory one is 11X3.3/4X3/4)

I wanted to reuse the factory lines, so the the spacing between the ports dictated the size.

I tthink thay my "issue" is may be that the cooler is too thick to get good airflow through it.

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

luc,

 

You have hit the nail on the head. According to Hayden, they stopped offering the 1.5" thick models just for that reason. They are not as efficient and the same size cooler in a 3/4" thick model. Oil cooling is all about air to surface contact and the thicker models do not offer enough surface contact. GM used the 1.5" model until 99 when the 800 series trucks came out and then they moved to the 3/4" model.

 

Not sure where you are located in the country or your climate, but if you are in a hot climate with mild winters, I would suggest a 11" x 11" x 3/4" model. If you are in a colder area, step this back one notch.

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted
The highest temp I have seen mine reach was just under 95.. That was in the summer while pulling my 18' open car hauler

I've never even SEEN a trans at 95 degrees (warmed up)... The air is normally hotter than that here in the summer. Is that some kind of Vulcan temperature reading?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,837
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    bellssn690
    Newest Member
    bellssn690
    Joined

  • Who's Online   4 Members, 2 Anonymous, 832 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Chuck FB
      Gas Prices

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      Interesting, I suspect I would have fueled up in Lee Vining as the day prior I would have filled up either in Laughlin or near there and maybe again before I entered Death Valley and once out the other side late that evening as I kept on driving into the night up near Lee Vining. Next morning I most likely fueled up in LV before heading over Tioga Pass into ( as I refer to it as "Yose .... Mite" 😁 ). And again that was 19 years ago but the price then must not have jumped out at me like the 5 bill a gallon theme of nutty cult hippy country Big Sir or head so far up their rear Aspen. I'd be curious to know where the highest prices are in the lower 48, I probably would not be far off to guess somewhere in Cali forn ie. Coldfoot and Prudhoe bay may have those prices beat but that is a whole other world up there and when prices are more normal elsewhere that is about what they can be up there I believe in no mans land. Anyway interesting that the 395 corridor is hosing people and the thing is, its tourist season and its not like there are a lot of competition options when driving up that highway from what I could see. Yup, big ole Boaterhomes and various other RV's ahead and behind me at the Yosemite entrance gate and they have to get their fuel somewhere.  
    • Atlas
      Gas Prices

      By Atlas · Posted

      Those can be high, as well as the big California cities. The ones that will pop your eyes out are the 395 corridor on the Eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas. Lee Vining, $7.19 for regular and $8.89 for diesel is what the Google said right now.
    • newdude
      2020 Trailboss 6.2 replacement

      By newdude · Posted

      Correct.  2019-2021 model years are serviced by a different p/n.  19420611.  Recall 2021s use 19420611.   The recall engines 2022-2024 model years are serviced with 12740076.     The difference between 19420611 and 12740076 is GM changed injector size for 2022.  The injectors are smaller on 12740076 with smaller injector bores in the cylinder heads to match the smaller injectors.  So you can't install a 19420611 in a 2022-2024, and you can't install a 12740076 in a 2019-2021.     Both engines are the replacement engine p/ns that are in the L87 recall.  So both of these are the updated engines.     Here's a version of the L87 recall with the p/ns for all the parts needed.    RCRIT-25V274-7075.pdf   Note it shows 19420611 and 12740076 with an asterisk to a footnote "Use the VIN and the GM Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) to determine which part to order if two or more part numbers are listed for the same part, as it may vary by vehicle options."    
    • 2017Z
      2020 Trailboss 6.2 replacement

      By 2017Z · Posted

      Looking for advice from this group. Took my flawless 2020 6.2 TB to an unnamed shop for routine rear brakes and oil change. Tech forgot to put oil back in after the full service and needles to say, destroyed my engine.  It’s all on their shop video so they are responsible.   I had my Chevy dealer do the analysis and they confirmed its compromised and said engine replacement. The manager said they only get GM reman engines from GM with full 3 yr warranty and the one they would put in is not same as what’s they are swapping out on 21-25 for recall.    I am looking for advice why that would be a different engine because obviously I had the good 6.2 year and replacing it has my concerns with that recall for 21-15   Also what’s the pros and cons of accepting the engine swap vs telling the shop that bricked the truck to pay up so I buy a new truck. I’m concerned about stigma resale eventually if I just decide to get rid of it after the swap or other issues showing up after the swap out.  
    • GN2018
      AFM Disabler Question

      By GN2018 · Posted

      Just looked up my records.  I've never gone over 5000 miles between oil changes.  At 46K miles, I have 10 oil changes.  I hope that will help.  I also installed the disabler last year.  I've still had a few times when it didn't seem to engage (which I can tell because the start stop feature kicks in), but for the most part, I think it's working.  For some reason, GM did not include the number of cylinders running in the information screen like I had on other models.  In my Cadillac, it shows me when it's running on 4 cylinders on the fuel milage screen.  I can't find that on my '21 Denali.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...