Auto Trans, too hot?

[HENCHR]

This past weekend was the first time I used my truck to tow a trailer for more than ten miles. I drove about 250 miles to pick up a 45 Jeep and on the way back with the loaded trailer I noticed a burning smell whenever I pulled up to a light and had my windows open. I just chnged the fluid and filter and wonder if I should do it again because of this, the oil looks fine and does not smell burnt, but my temp gauge(which is on the pan) showed 170 degrees. Should I change the fluid again? Also I just added 285's, could they be causing a problem for the trans?

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1999 red QC slt short bed 4x4 with auto, spa gauges, clarion vcp, clarion tv and 2000 polished aluminum rims with bfg MT's. More to come.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

The burning smell may just be oil from the puke tube. As for 170 degrees in the pan, that is not bad at all. About 220 in the cooler line is where you start to get worried. So i would not be too concerend. I dont tow much, so ill let a towing TDR member clear anything else up as far as temps go.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I tow a 13K fifth wheel and my temperature taken at the hot line rarely exceeds 150. If you are towing and your torque converter is not locked up you will get higher temps. If you are not towing in OD, you should. I normally tow in OD and have never had a problem as long as I'm going fast enough to keep the RPM's over 2000 which is easy with my 4:10's. As for your other question, 170 is not a bad temp but it's better to take it at the hot line going to the cooler. By the time you see a high temp in the pan, it's too late.

[This message has been edited by Dieselnerd (edited 05-21-2001). ]

 

[Cooker]

Be careful about towing in OD. Make sure you keep the RPM's up.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I was just at Goerend Bros. trans shop in Iowa over the weekend. I picked Dave's brain about these very issues. Towing in OD sets you up with the most potential for problems. Out of OD leaves you in a 1 to 1 situation with the transmission - no planetary gears involved. This is the safest. I have 3. 54 gears, by the way.

I installed my trans temp gauge in the cooler line and saw temps up to about 160 when towing my 6,000 lb trailer down to Iowa. It got up to around 200 when I was backing into my campsite. Dave said this was all ok. Getting up into the 230 range starts to get you closer to danger. As long as my TC was locked, my temps stayed nice and low - another reason to stay out of OD - keep those RPMs up and the TC locked. I watched the temps climb when I was in 2nd for too long (like starting up a long hill from a stop. It's an interesting exercise to try to balance the trans and EG temps on a long grade!

Just my . 02 cents. It doesn't sound to me like you hurt your fluid or anything.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; BedRug; Forest Green; Isspro Pyro, Boost, and Trans Temp Gauges; 27' TT