DuraMelt trans temp while towing

[matches]

A friend of mine has an 05 Duramelt 3/4 ton 4x4, bone stock and tows a 38' toy hauler, tripple axle that wieghs in at 15500 lbs, loaded. He told me he sees 250 on his trans temp guage regularly! Not sure how hot that allison can get! He says he always tows in tow/haul mode. What temps do you guys normally see.

 

[MMeier]

A friend of mine has an 05 Duramelt He told me he sees 250 on his trans temp guage regularly! Not sure how hot that allison can get!

I'm sure he'll be finding out shortly !!! :-laf

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I recently drove a friends Duramax (during a cool day while it was raining) pulling a CTD 3500 on a trailer and the engine temp would easily hit 220-230 on the slightest hill.

 

[Eric_77]

My 96 is the only truck I have gauges on (the others are stock power). I have the transmission temp in the line running to the cooler and I have seen 190 going towards 200 in stop and go traffic with 25k load.



The transmission fluid life table I have seen shows very very short fluid life over 200 and the transmission fluid life is halved every 20 Degrees above 175 so at 250 degrees so that means at 250 roughly 1/16 life expectancy ouch, that is fluid not transmision so I guess if you changed fluid every 500 miles you would be fine.

 

[Dieselnerd]

My '05 has never gone above 185 towing heavy in hot weather. Normally runs around 175 in the summer while towing, around 165 empty.

 

[Mhannink]

from my understanding the hotter the transmission fluid the shorter the transmission life thats why the dodge trannys only last 100k because the run so hot if u can keep the fluid under 200 ur doig great but my buddies transmission runs up to 280 real easy running stock w/ a 99 24v. the reason why the heat ruins the transmission is it thins out and allows more slippage which makes more heat and tears up the clutches also it warps the thin aluminum in the valve body. it basicaly tears theres things up. i would suggest an aftermarket cooler w/ electric fan that runs full tilt when the ingnition is on and can move alot of fluid. also a deep sump pan would help cool it down. i like to run right around 150. these high temps we see are the reasons why none of these trannys last anyways i hope that helps

 

[TX Gooseneck]

My main driver has(d) an 05 Duramax. He blew the engine at 115k only to sink $8500 into the rebuild (this was after GM covering 50%). On July 3rd he was heading out to California with a load of trailers (2, one gooseneck, one pintle hitch, both tilts, Gross load was 24,xxx with truck and trailers).



His transmission temps said to be in check and the truck downshifted on him from 5th to 4th (This was between Seligman, AZ and Kingman, AZ) He began slowing to grab the next exit. Truck shifted hard into 3rd and stayed there. He drove over the road back on to the entrance ramp (all in 3rd) and parked the truck. He got out and the truck was saturated in ATF (as well as my trailers). He popped the hood and the truck ignited (hot turbo + boiling ATF x air = no more duramax) His truck became engulfed in flames and he had enough time to get his suitcase, phone and 3 5 gal cans of diesel out of the back of his truck before it went completely up. His truck was only a shell by the time the FD arrived (My trailers lost some paint but checked out fine structurally and only need some paint/wiring)



Apparently the heat of the ATF in the case was enough to cause the torque convertor to pop, so to speak, and spray its contents on the back of the engine, turbo, etc. He has sinced informed me that this has happened to several other people.

 

[socal610]

my duramax was bought back do to overheating and the trans running hot#ad

 

[KBalzuweit]

My 06 Duramax keeps its temps in check. Even in 100 degree heat the trans temp never goes over 200 (thats pulling a load, 160 or so empty). Engine temps are around 200 also empty or loaded. I changed my allison's fluid @ 100k and it was clean and smelled fine.