Transmission temperatures seem high

[JordanB]

Need some help. I've got a Isspro transmission temperature guage with the Diesel Manor transmission cooler line/sender port adaptor. My question is what is the "normal" temperature in various situations? Here are my approximate temps:



Highway: usually right at 160 or a little above

City driving (stop and go): 190 and above (around 210)

Extended idling (in drive - about 5 minutes): quickly goes above 190 - I saw about 250 while waiting in the Arby's drivethrough last week!



Needless to say, this extended idling scares the bageebees out of me! The temperatures come down as soon as I start driving again or if I put the transmission in "park" or "neutral". Are these normal temps? My truck is stock. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TCDiesel]

250 is Hot. . I would have it check out.

 

[robertyoke]

what was your ambient temperature when you saw the 250 at idle?



the 190 in stop and go in traffic sounds about right. on the highway at 160 sounds right. this is what I see in the summer. the winter would bring it down a tad.

I see 250+ when backing a heavy trailer, I stop put it in neutral and let it cool, then proceed.

with the ac on the temp will rise when sitting in gear and stopped, I have seen as high as 220 but never 250.

-robert

 

[JordanB]

It was only about 70 outside and my AC was not on. I wonder if my gauge isn't messed up again? The first trans temp gauge was busted from the beginning - never read any temperatures. It probably isn't though, considering the other temperature readings during other driving situations seem normal.

 

[JordanB]

Anybody else have any ideas?

 

[NLeach]

I have the same thing. Hit 200 driving to the airport the other day,speed around 40mph,then on the highway at 65-70 it drops to 160 or so. Outside temp 55 no ac on. This worries me but if it overheats dodge can fit the bill cause it should never hit 200 on an empty truck to begin with. And at 200 I never saw any lights on the dash tell me she was getting that hot.

 

[CLynch]

This may not help much but it's a good idea to put the transmission in neutral rather than park if you are going to be stopped for extended periods of time. It lets the fluids circulate better. Also consider a Mag Hy-tech pan and a bigger cooler.

 

[Blue Ox1]

Mine temps are pretty close to the same as your's I think it is just it being in the output line is why the temps are so high.

Joe

 

[JordanB]

I realize the temps will be higher with the sensor in the output line but I'm still a little concerned. I wonder where the factory sensor is located... if there isn't a factory sensor, I wonder where other manufacturers measure their temps - in the output, return, pan, or elsewhere?

 

[RAlberg]

Anybody else have any ideas?

I tested my gauge with a voltmeter that had a temperature sensor attachment. In my case the temps were the same.

 

[Disel Dave]

Mine runs 180 normal driving and when IM towing my 15K 5er in stop and go trafic it goes above 220 and starts shifting hard. I have an issue But dont know what it is. Im going to try flushing the cooler backwards and see what comes out. My thing is Im seeing these temps with the sender in the front test port that is really a case temp not like you having it in the front line that oil is comming right out of the converter where it is as hot as it is going to get. if im seeing 220 case temp i dont want to know how hot it is really getting.

 

[OL RATLR]

This may not help much but it's a good idea to put the transmission in neutral rather than park if you are going to be stopped for extended periods of time. It lets the fluids circulate better. Also consider a Mag Hy-tech pan and a bigger cooler.

Mag Hy- Tech pan will help you a lot and you are correct in put it in neurtal

when stopped also.

 

[cerberusiam]

IIRC, the break down on the ATF-4+ is somewhere around 310 degrees. The 250 is well within the parameters of this fluid.

 

[puller]

I have about the same temps as you, I am concerned also. I have installed a Mag hy-tech double pan and still have experienced these high temps. My next step is to order a VERY large transmission cooler (25000 lb )with a fan attached. as soon as I get it installed I will let you know how it goes from there.



Puller

 

[y-knot]

I would add an automatic transmission cooler to your future mods if you want that trany to stay healthy. Check out the Super Cooler at www.proweldperformanceparts.com . It will lower temps and improve performance guaranteed.

 

[pwr2tow]

IIRC, the break down on the ATF-4+ is somewhere around 310 degrees. The 250 is well within the parameters of this fluid.

Correct, again new technology vrs. old school technology. The fluid temperature charts need to be updated for current fluid recommendations.

You guys that are seeing higher temps driving in traffic or stop and go traffic should lock out OD. Most of the fluid drops back into the pan unless the TC is locked up. When the TC is locked up all the fluid is traveling to the coolers.

 

[NLugo]

I installed Isspro gauges on my a-pillar as well as a double deep May-Hytec, so I never knew what my transmission temps were with the stock pan. My transmission gauge temps are as follows towing about a 10K trailer (8200lb dry):

Flat 60-65mph 160 degrees
Hills 45-50mph 170 degrees
Backing up trailer when I first it! almost 200 degrees

When I'm not towing, it might reach 145 degrees. I hope my gauge is reading correct

'06 Dodge CTD Megacab 4x4

 

[nunya]

I`m using the transmission temp guage built into the Juice/Attitude and the temps pulling my 3400RL run into 215-217 pulling grades in the mts. If I can stay locked in 2nd they run200-205, 75 outside temp. Any thoughts or camparisons? Thanks, I was wandering if these temps are too high?

 

[y-knot]

Wow..... it's amazing how much bad information you can find on these sites. I can not anyone with reasonable intelligences would believe there transmission would hold up to temps in the above 250°. And to the other extreme of 350°... I guess you really can sell anything to anyone if they hear what they what to hear?????



While you may think (very unlikely) that your new transmission fluid will last to 350°, I can assure you the transmission itself would not. The best temps for automatic transmission fluid just happen to coincide with the best temps for the transmission itself. For MAXIMUM life, transmission temps should stay on or under 175°, this is on all automatic transmission, and the fluid should have a life expectancy of around 50,000 miles. After you exceed 195°, all fluids start to degrade and life expectancy is dropped by half, and another half for each time you manage to run your fluid/transmission higher by 10°. So 195° life expectancy is 25,000 mile. At 205 LE is 12. ,500 miles, at 215 it is 6,250 miles, at 225 it drops to 3,125 miles and at 235 it goes to 1,562. 5 miles. Once the temps grow to beyond 245°, the fluid has started to burn and turn brow instead of bright red, the lubrication properties are all but lost and the fluid is now useless.

The funny thing about transmissions and there fluid, is that you only need to spike the fluid once, and the damage is done, you could have run at 235° all day or for only a very short time, the damage is the same and permanent.



The transmission it self is more susceptible to damage then the fluid. Since heat is the number one killer of transmission, automatic or manual, every effort should be maid to keep those temps in check. Permanent damage to the transmission starts at temperatures over 200°. The many seals, O-rings and gaskets inside the transmission start to loose there shape, shrink, or cease to retain there shape with temps over 200°. These combined with the fluid's breakdown and lack of lubrications starts the transmission one it one way spiral down hill. Over heated transmission do not work well, this only adds heat to the situation as clutches and belts slip more, causing more and more heat. All damage done while over heating is permanent, and is what leads to an eventual failure.



Yes there are some transmission fluids that can take considerably more heat then others, but just because the fluid can take the additional heats does not mean the transmission itself can, the extra heat will still continue to destroy the transmission regardless of it's heat rating.

 

[NLeach]

Going through the same thing. Diesel manor cooler line and dipricol gauge. Towing or empty the gauge will read 160 one second and spin right around and go past the 280 mark,this is outside temps ranging from 60-90,on the highway. I know my gauge is bad because I never saw a transmission temp light from the dash and the transmission's performance never changed. I had the same readings while towing cross country with 500#s in the back and trailer was around 5k. I am trying to get ahold of diesel manor but if I dont hear from them by wed I am calling dipricol direct. Just for some inside info,I got 2 different harnesses with my gauge and one worked(the one I am using now) and the other didnt work,wont even light up the LEDs.