Hot NV5600 !!!

[SMorneau]

The only way to know the temp bias between the inside and outside of the case is to measure them both.



I just switched to Amsoil and so far it is working noticeably better than it ever did with the factory lube. Drops into gear much easier and quicker. I was surprised by the improvement based on the lack luster experience of others. Time will tell.



The lube I dumped out was very clean after about 25k miles and there was very little yellow metal glitter, same as the last time, so lets hope the tolerances are acceptable.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The only way to know the temp bias between the inside and outside of the case is to measure them both.

A possible shortcut, would be for someone reading this, already with a probe immersed in the transmission lube, and also has a infra-red temp gun, to actually check with them both and report any differences...



Any vollunteers? :-laf

 

[steved]

In any case, temps s high as the OP stated certainly do NOT sound right - even in the WORSE heavy towing in long steep grades, the outer case temp on my 5600 rarely exceed 160 degrees with my setup, and that only for a few minutes - I also am running about 8 quarts of lube, with the extra cooler/filter capacity and overfilling - NO transmission issues so far...

The simple explanation is the temperature guage is slightly off... which is not unheard of.



Before I installed FastCoolers, I saw temps as high as 235*F.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The simple explanation is the temperature guage is slightly off... which is not unheard of.



Before I installed FastCoolers, I saw temps as high as 235*F.

Still, it would be nice to know what, if any differences there actually are between outer case temps and the temp of the lube inside - if the difference is there and significant, it needs to be factored into the equation...

 

[steved]

My readings are in fluid...

 

[Lmoore1624]

Still, it would be nice to know what, if any differences there actually are between outer case temps and the temp of the lube inside - if the difference is there and significant, it needs to be factored into the equation...

My temp is taken in bottom of 'FastCooler'. My SW TransTemp gauge was calibrated before installation using a 'candy thermometer', so I guessing it's fairly accurate.

 

[BDaugherty]

I don't very much heavy towing with my truck. Honestly, the last time I towed heavy for any distance, it was my power steering that got hot. I will have to move my trans temp probe from the oil filter base to the transmission so that I can get some data as well.



That said, I'm not trying to start a brand loyalty war, but I have an objective question.



I see that there are 2 different types of bolt on coolers that are commonly used by TDR members: the Trans-cool and Fast Coolers. Just looking at the pictures, it looks to me like the Trans-cool would be much more effective. I see that there are deep internal fins that run in the same direction as the oil circulates. The fast coolers certainly have more cooling on the sides, but reusing the stock PTO covers would seem to greatly limit heat trasfer. I think that having fins on the surface where there is the most oil movement would be most effective.



Does anyone have an objective comparision of these 2 products?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I don't very much heavy towing with my truck. Honestly, the last time I towed heavy for any distance, it was my power steering that got hot. I will have to move my trans temp probe from the oil filter base to the transmission so that I can get some data as well.



That said, I'm not trying to start a brand loyalty war, but I have an objective question.



I see that there are 2 different types of bolt on coolers that are commonly used by TDR members: the Trans-cool and Fast Coolers. Just looking at the pictures, it looks to me like the Trans-cool would be much more effective. I see that there are deep internal fins that run in the same direction as the oil circulates. The fast coolers certainly have more cooling on the sides, but reusing the stock PTO covers would seem to greatly limit heat trasfer. I think that having fins on the surface where there is the most oil movement would be most effective.



Does anyone have an objective comparision of these 2 products?

I tend to agree with your observation - the actual cooling of the FastCoolers would seem less than the Trans-cool - probable greatest advantage of both types may be the increased lube capacity - it was my suspicion along that line that motivated me to at least add the supplemental cooling fin assemblies seen on my setup - dunno if it helps or not, but sure can't hurt!

 

[Curious Dave]

I bought an Autometer Trans. Temp Guage setup and then I tapped into my FAST cooler covers (aluminum) and installed the sensor. My oil takes awhile to heat up and empty she runs @ 180-200 on an average spring day in OK. I also see @ 210 empty on a hot spring/summer OK day. I run 10 qts. of a MS-9224 compatible oil. I think on the next service I will try the Amsoil and see how that does. No real reason... Just to try it and see if it is any better in allowing the trans to function smoother. I guess we'll see if the hype is more than lip service.

I thought about a cooler/filtration setup... but I am no longer pulling my 16k fifthe wheel... so no need for the extra expense at this point.

 

[steved]

I see that there are 2 different types of bolt on coolers that are commonly used by TDR members: the Trans-cool and Fast Coolers.



Does anyone have an objective comparision of these 2 products?

The reason a lot MORE of us have FastCoolers is simply because the "TransCoolers" weren't offered until only recently. When I purchased my FastCoolers, there was no other alternative.

 

[Lmoore1624]

The reason a lot MORE of us have FastCoolers is simply because the "TransCoolers" weren't offered until only recently. When I purchased my FastCoolers, there was no other alternative.

What's to prevent us from running both? Stack the TransCool on top of the FastCoolers. It would take longer bolts and some good gaskets/sealer. Is anyone out there running the TransCools on the NV5600?

 

[steved]

For those that are interested, the fluid temp was about 180*F after 300 miles of driving today... the external case temp (as shot with a IR thermometer) was 183*F, and the coolers were reading 176*F.



There was no big difference in temperature anywhere on the exterior of the case.



And further, with an aluminum cover and 85w140 RP gear oil, the rear diff was a smoking 136*F... and the tcase was 140*F.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

For those that are interested, the fluid temp was about 180*F after 300 miles of driving today... the external case temp (as shot with a IR thermometer) was 183*F, and the coolers were reading 176*F.



There was no big difference in temperature anywhere on the exterior of the case.



And further, with an aluminum cover and 85w140 RP gear oil, the rear diff was a smoking 136*F... and the tcase was 140*F.

AH!



Thanks a lot Steve - I was beginning to think relying only on outer case temp was misleading me to a false sense of security!



I realize even at that, there is likely a small bit of "temperature delay/drift" as the case more slowly reacts to rapid lube temp spikes - but should be close enough for my purpose...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Blair Pine tested the Trans-Coolers on his NV4500 five-speed and found them to help reduce maximum lubricant temperature and also to help it cool quicker. I found some years ago that New Venture chose Castrol Syntorq for the NV4500 to keep the temperature lower in the enclosure of the transmission tunnel. My testing some years ago showed that of the various lubes I dyno-tested, only Torco RTF had a similar low horsepower drag and kept the temperature about as low. Lubricants were re-visited in Issue 62, p. 21 (originally in Issue 33). Also, a lube engineer told me that Pennzoil Synchromesh (factory specification for the NV5600) is about like a 5-30 engine oil in viscosity, while RTF is like a 10-40. Thus, RTF should help at high transmission temperatures, in addition to giving GL-6 level gear protection.

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

I put on my two Fast Coolers today, and JB Weld-ed a computer heat sink on the driver's side PTO cover too. I mounted the cooler on the driver's side with the fill hole toward the transmission end. I lost count, but I believe I put right at 8 quarts in through the cooler fill plug. If anybody has done similarly, and then put more fluid into their trans through the shifter hole, how many more quarts were you able to get in?



Steve

 

[Curious Dave]

Steve,

I serviced mine a few weeks ago at a lube shop... The guy that did the draining forgot to put the dipstick back in and as I poured oil in the shifter hole... we got just about 9 qts in when the oil started coming out the dipstick hole. I think in the future I will use that hole and not take the shifter out. I may actually take that cooler off and punch the hole to a 3/4" plug and then I can fill easier there.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

What's to prevent us from running both? Stack the TransCool on top of the FastCoolers. It would take longer bolts and some good gaskets/sealer. Is anyone out there running the TransCools on the NV5600?

I just put the TransCoolers on this weekend and there is NO WAY you could stack them on top of the Fast Coolers as there's only about 2" clearance from the exhaust pipe on the pass side and 4" or so from the front drive shaft on the drivers side.

 

[GHart]

My beloved '93 had a Getrag 360 (bad reputation) back then there was a cooler sold called "cool man". It had a shur-flo electric pump plumbed to a regular auto-trans cooler. Pump was activated by a thermostat and I had a munual bupass switch. The whole thing was hooked up through the pto cover with supplied bulkhead fittings... really a slick little unit and it worked great. I ran a gross weight of about 19k (2k over factory spec. ) and had no problems in 60k miles before the truck was totalled. The Getrag had a really bad reputation.

ghart

 

[Motorhead]

Why not use a power steering pump? Make a drive pulley off of the driveline and mount it to the trans or transfer case. Run the oil through a non restrictive cooler. I have seen NASCAR pics and they use something simular.