transmission temps and vibration

[seabees]

I was driving home yesterday and noticed a little vibration and howling. I could not tell if it was the tires or drivetrain. The trans temp was around 222 degrees. I am running the stock firestones still. After I got home I let it sit for about an hour and took it out for a spin and everything seemed fine. Trans temp is around 191 at this point. This was happening at around 75mph. Anyone have any issues like this?

2019 ram 2500 limited crew cab 4x4
22k miles, cummins auto trans

 

[NIsaacs]

My '21, 2500 with 6k miles wants to stay at about 168F. I would guess yours is excessive at 191F, much less 222F.

 

[Ozymandias]

220 just goin down the road empty is excessive.
Warranty awaits.

 

[Rob S]

There is also a recall on the 2019 6ref for overheating and fluid then forced out of the dipstick tube onto the turbo, and then a possible fire hazard
FCA
W03 recall

 

[kthaxton]

Agreed. Too hot for normal driving. I've never seen my 68 get even close to that even when towing in the mountains.

 

[seabees]

I was driving home yesterday and noticed a little vibration and howling. I could not tell if it was the tires or drivetrain. The trans temp was around 222 degrees. I am running the stock firestones still. After I got home I let it sit for about an hour and took it out for a spin and everything seemed fine. Trans temp is around 191 at this point. This was happening at around 75mph. Anyone have any issues like this?

2019 ram 2500 limited crew cab 4x4
22k miles, cummins auto trans

That is what I assumed, thanks for the replies. Set up to go back in to the dealer next week

 

[seabees]

Trans temp sensor went bad. Had it for 2 days and now back in the shop for leaking oil from the top of engine. Anyone know of any tall cliffs?

 

[NonFord]

Dang dude! Something not right. I do have the AISIN and most of the time its rock solid at 167, once in awhile I'll hit 187 in the mountains but I never seen higher than that!!!! I'd change my underwear with those temps....

 

[nukegm]

a friend of mine used to own a transmission shop. he used to say at 225 or higher the fluid gets compromised, and needs changing asap. just forwarding info. cheers!

 

[JR]

220°F will not cook modern ATF oils in short order. If you are running prehistoric oil specs that "other" Ram "HD" transmissions spec that is a whole 'nother topic. Not to say there isn't an issue with the OP rig especially since he notes a vibration and a howling which seems irrelevant to the trans temp at this point.

 

[sag2]

My old motorhome with a C6 transmission saw 300°+ on almost every trip, especially pulling the boat. I pulled it down at 40,000 miles as I was sure it was cooked. The seals were just as soft as the ones I put in, and you could still read the inked on PN's on most of the clutch plates. I'm sure the fluid 15 years ago was not nearly as good as it is today. I did change the fluid about every 10k.

 

[bcbender]

Trans temp sensor went bad. Had it for 2 days and now back in the shop for leaking oil from the top of engine. Anyone know of any tall cliffs?

I feel your pain, but everything mechanical and made by man has or can have a part failure... Mine was EGR valve at 9k miles which left me stuck in MT for the weekend... My wife and I did enjoy Billings tho and the Yellowstone River... I do understand wanting to push it off a cliff, I thought about selling mine because I gave up a perfectly good running 04 HO to avoid this very issue of breaking down... But other than that its been a good truck. I would not worry about the oil, keep an eye on the level / temps and change it when due. If the sensor went bad, likely it was reporting a false value and the temp was not actually that high, but I have the AISIN and mine has never gone higher that 167 at full GVWR.. normally stays around 165.

Best of luck and enjoy the truck!

Brian

 

[kthaxton]

a friend of mine used to own a transmission shop. he used to say at 225 or higher the fluid gets compromised, and needs changing asap. just forwarding info. cheers!

He is leaving out an important factor....time at the given temperature.

Some time ago Transengineer stated something to the effect of how long a trans is at a high temperature is just as critical as how hot (within reason of course), but basically, a few minutes at 225 isn't doing much harm whereas 40 minutes at 215 might (for example).

 

[Ozymandias]

I think that a modern transmission with a modern oil can run for hours on 220 without being harmed.
These 220 are a recommendation from 50 years ago.
Sure it isn't wrong to keep it as cool as possible, I'm absolutely in for that.
But freaking out about 220, nope, not me.

 

[BigUglyRacing]

Still fighting a little fever with my AISIN. Tech says its all good and normal but i say 175 after a 12 mile drive empty is a bit high

 

[kthaxton]

That's like.....7 degrees more than what most see as normal. I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over it. You engine's coolant is what gets the temperature up when you're not working it hard.

 

[Cummins12V98]

165-167 in ALL temps is a normal unloaded trans temp with the AISIN. I never see 175 unless it's really hot and pulling serious grades at 35k combined.

 

[bcbender]

yep...Me either, my AISIN never got over 167 pulling grades in in MT in 100deg heat driving 75 at Max GVWR. Seems odd, but this is my first Auto Ram so others may chime in on the temp swing range. Normal running empty is always 162-165 consistently independent of outside ambient temp.

 

[BigUglyRacing]

I am on board with the temps you guys are seeing . In fact before the issue those were the temps i was useto seeing. I have even had it spike up to the 180's with no load.
It will sometimes continue to climb untill it pulls the radiator temp up to the 206 mark. and the fan cycles. It may somehow be tied to the drop in mileage. Should prob start my own thread on this.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Some sensor or????? is at fault!!!