Help! Trans Too Hot

[evldsl]

I need a cooling kit for my auto trans in my 4. 5 3500 diesel. I am tired of watching the trans gauge climb up to 240+ deg. every time I drive it in the desert weather out here in Santa Clarita California. I have it serviced and the band checked every 20,000 miles and I change the fluid every 10,000 miles still even the deep high cap mag tech trans pan doesn't help. I need a kit I can install to cool my fluid anyone out there have one or know of a kit from experience?:{

 

[Ducman82]

my buddy on long halls, has a cooler full of ice that he has his trans line run threw in the bed of his truck. works like a champ, just need to replace ice.

 

[monkeyman]

They make one, I have to install mine, it fan and cooling radiator that sits under truck. First I would have a extra large pan and use synthetic fluid. Actually I would check sending unit first!
Rick

 

[WUnderwood]

240! good gravy

 

[fox]

Did you have the cooler circuit flow tested? I'd also get that check ball out of the circuit.

Get the valvebody modified to run in lock -up in the gear you are using.

BTW, what gear?

 

[evldsl]

in low gear,around town, in the desert, 1st, 2nd, 3rd. How do you lock the tc in this year trans?

 

[fox]

The valvebody needs to be modified and them a switch installed.

Is it a stock torque converter? A tighter fluid coupling converter may be alll you need.

I recommend you talk with these people. DTT

Diesel Transmission Technology - DTT Performance Diesel Transmission and Power Accessories



Also, schaeffers customers report 30 degree drop in temps using thier trans fluid. SAT204.

 

[cerberusiam]

Is it a stock torque converter? A tighter fluid coupling converter may be alll you need.

A tighter converter is going to drive the temps higher and faster in fluid coupling, especially in the conditions he is talking about.



Bellyscrpaer, I take it you are playing on the desert and running trails an slow speed sdriving in town when this happens. Deraille makes a flat cooler that works pretty well and has a fan on it. I would not reccomend using an external cooler unless you shift kit the trans to get the pressures up to handle the extra coooler restriction. Deifinitely remove the ball from the check valve as it could cause issues.



Acutally, with 240 as max temps you are not really that bad off. ATF+4 is easily capable of handling that temp and as long as you change the fluid frequently the seals seems to handle it fine also.



Using a lockup switch in the lower gears and what you describe is going to be expensive as you will need some billet shafts and controllers to handle the lockup control. Depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[WhiteSheep]

I echo cerberusiam's comments. 240 F isn't that bad, depending on where is your temperature sending unit is located. If it is the line where the fluid exits the trans, I wouldn't think 240 F is too bad. My sending unit is in the pan (single MagHiTech) and I have seen 220 F 4x4ing. (Please don't start a thread about how the pan is the wrong place for the sending unit. There are already plenty of those. )

 

[steved]

Ummm, did anyone consider the sending unit or guage might be providing false readings???

I towed 8k in 100*F+ temps out of western NM and the temps never got above 140*F in the pan in my 99...

I'd double check with a second guage to verify it is actually that hot... then I would suspect other issues. If it is getting that hot with the converter locked, you may have other issues.

 

[cerberusiam]

Ummm, did anyone consider the sending unit or guage might be providing false readings???



I towed 8k in 100*F+ temps out of western NM and the temps never got above 140*F in the pan in my 99...



I'd double check with a second guage to verify it is actually that hot... then I would suspect other issues. If it is getting that hot with the converter locked, you may have other issues.

Ummm. I would question your reading of 140. Thats way to low for a 47RE or 48RE even in the pan. The 240 is close to what I see if I run around with the TC unlocked in hot weather and working the truck.

 

[steved]

Ummm. I would question your reading of 140. Thats way to low for a 47RE or 48RE even in the pan. The 240 is close to what I see if I run around with the TC unlocked in hot weather and working the truck.

It was verified with two guages... I typically ran around 40*F above ambient.

 

[evldsl]

Who is the best DTT guy around is it Fred?

 

[monkeyman]

My modified trans, with Amsoil, Flex lite fans, large pan. in 90 degree weather never gets over 190
Rick