nv4500 operating temps?

[DDeFreece]

Just reinstalled the nv. Drove it yesterday and today. I touched it after 1hr of sitting and it is very hot probably around 180. I could hold my hand to it about 5 seconds. What is the normal op temps? Seemed too hot for a manual trans.



It ran about 100 - 125 before tops. But I started driving it at end of Jan when it was cooler. Does anyone have experience with other oils and temps? I ran 1 gal of syntorq before with 2 qts royal purple Max Gear (I needed to top off due to larger pto covers).



BTW, third gear syncro came apart was one reason I was 'reinstalling' it. The other was the clutch disc came apart, all at 3000 miles. All other syncros were ok, but changed them all.



4BT, NV, NP205, 4. 56 gears



Thanks for the input

 

[FordCummins]

Was this all high speed highway driving? The ZF6 in my truck (which has a pump and cooler on it) will get up to 180 on the highway after 2hrs of highway driving at 75mph or so. And thats WITH the cooler. What was the ambient temp? Sorry I dont have more in fo relating to the NV, but it might give you some idea of what to expect from the manual trans.

 

[DDeFreece]

Ambient was close to 90. going 50 to 65 for about an hour.



What kind of pump do you have circ the oil through the cooler?

 

[FordCummins]

The ZF6 transmissions have a pump built into the transmission which drives off of the input shaft. It circulates oil through a cooler built into the radiator. With those speeds, and that ambient temp, I dont think it seems to out of wack to see 180 trans temp. Before I converted my truck to 12V power, the trans ran alot hotter than it does now. I attribute this to the fact that the PSD ran so much warmer then my 12V does. Obviously this wont apply in your case because there is no cooler on the radiator. With good gear lube in there, i dont think you have anything to worry about.

 

[RTao]

Fordcummins, my gauge may be off, but I haven't seen over 140 degrees unloaded on the highway. My cooler is not in the radiator, though. Could it be that the radiator is raising the temps in your application? I have the stock for 2000 model years air to oil cooler, not even the V10 cooler. Interesting what the difference is.



Rusty

 

[FordCummins]

Yes, there is a good chance that my radiator is actually warming the transmission up. When the PSD was still in the truck (PSD ran at 195-200) my trans ran much warmer overall than it does now with the 12V (12V runs at 165). This tells me that the motor was actually warming up the transmission through the radiator. Judging by your setup as well, it does look like mine is running warmer because of the engine temp. I still dont feel that 180 is too hot for what I am doing, and it should be said that 180 was seen when towing a large enclosed trailer on the highway... .

 

[DDeFreece]

I looked at the oil bottles from GM a little closer - synchromesh. I don't know how I missed that other than I asked for the syntorq nv4500 oil and didn't question it. Oh well. Caught it second day so all is well other than I am out the money. I called Royal Purple and the tech guy said the Max Gear is the syntorq equivilent and that there is nothing in the oil that will harm the carbon fiber syncros.



I also have yet to read anything definitive that says an oil that is rated by the manufacturer to be GL4 caused a failure. Some say different opinions on the shift ability, life of trans, etc. but no repetitive lab testing results, etc.



I used it and I'll keep everyone informed. Newly rebuilt trans. Starting fresh.



Will be driving 80 miles per day round trip to work, 5 days per week. 20,000 miles per year to work. Probably 5000 other. Almost no towing. Mix highway and city.

 

[DDeFreece]

I have been called paranoid for a reason.



Put a temp guage in and it is running 135F during the hot part of the day. I did make an exhaust shield which helped a lot.