Transmission Upgrades?

[JoelMartin]

My buddy has an 05 2500 5. 9 48RE with about 45K and no mods. Whenever he pulls his tractor at slow speeds up big hills the transmission temp light comes on. What would you recommend to fix this problem? An aftermarket TC and a valve body or a cooling fan? If so what brand and what would it cost? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[raxley]

wow, if the transmission temp light is like other 'idiot' lights, reliably it will come on while damage is being done. I'd get this checked out right away
Maybe the torque converter isn't locking up for whatever reason (operator error or other) sometimes the trans can get hot from this. Check the fluid, and probably replace it, it won't have much life left! I guess it's possible if your friend was pulling something heavy w/o torque converter lockup, that could be the problem-maybe somebody else will know.
I have the same year truck and I think you can put it into lockup with that lever on the right sticking out of steering column, I should know but I haven't towed yet. I think a light saying if it is or isn't in lockup will come on in the dash.
The 'standard advice' before getting any mods done to get gauges, and after EGT and boost transmission temp is probably the 3rd most important gauge. I got the Quadzilla Commander for the looks, price and utility (cool data logging software that I don't know how to use too) Nice to know before the trans is too hot that you might have a problem

 

[JoelMartin]

This only happens when going about 5 mph on back roads in the mountains so no the TC is not locked. He's not looking for more power; he just would like to save his transmission. So what would you recommend to keep his transmission cooled down?

 

[RankRam]

If those backroads are gravel, he could use 4 low.

 

[Hoefler]

This only happens when going about 5 mph on back roads in the mountains so no the TC is not locked. He's not looking for more power; he just would like to save his transmission. So what would you recommend to keep his transmission cooled down?

Bingo!!!! No lock up!



Like RankRam said, I would use 4-lo to get the trans to lock up.

 

[JoelMartin]

4-lo is not always an option cuz of sharp corners and sometimes it might be pavement. So what brand TC would you recommend to help lock-up and also what else would help besides 4-lo?

 

[raychem]

4-lo is not always an option cuz of sharp corners and sometimes it might be pavement. So what brand TC would you recommend to help lock-up and also what else would help besides 4-lo?

A TC will also require a VB. What you friend needs is a controller which locks the TC in 2nd and 3rd gears so he does not overheat the trans. DTT has a smart controller: Diesel Transmission Technology - DTT Performance Diesel Transmission and Power Accessories that you can use. The smart controller also requires a VB to go along with it since they work in unison.



Richard

 

[JoelMartin]

A TC will also require a VB. What you friend needs is a controller which locks the TC in 2nd and 3rd gears so he does not overheat the trans. DTT has a smart controller: Diesel Transmission Technology - DTT Performance Diesel Transmission and Power Accessories that you can use. The smart controller also requires a VB to go along with it since they work in unison.



Richard

So if he got the controller and a VB he could keep the stock TC or would you recommend replacing that also?

 

[cerberusiam]

A TC will also require a VB. What you friend needs is a controller which locks the TC in 2nd and 3rd gears so he does not overheat the trans. DTT has a smart controller: Diesel Transmission Technology - DTT Performance Diesel Transmission and Power Accessories that you can use. The smart controller also requires a VB to go along with it since they work in unison.



Richard

At 5 mph that won't help as the trans will never get out of first gear. If that is the max speed then you will need the VB to lockup in 1st gear also which is doable if the controller will allow it.



Another option is an additional cooler to try to get the temps read by the senosr back in line. In this case, a trans temp gauge would be a really good thing to have.

 

[raychem]

So if he got the controller and a VB he could keep the stock TC or would you recommend replacing that also?

No he could keep the stock TC and just add the VB and the controller. Its the extra power over stock that starts to add strain to the transmission, I never recommend anything over 60 hp.

At 5 mph that won't help as the trans will never get out of first gear. If that is the max speed then you will need the VB to lockup in 1st gear also which is doable if the controller will allow it.



Another option is an additional cooler to try to get the temps read by the senosr back in line. In this case, a trans temp gauge would be a really good thing to have.

I agree with what you say on the cooler and the trans temp gauge... if you tow it is a MUST! Also... Joel quoted"Whenever he pulls his tractor at slow speeds up big hills the transmission temp light comes on" thats why I recommeded the controller it will not lock in 1st gear, only 2nd and above. I see a lot of high temp problems on trannies BC people dont get to lock the converter in city traffic.



Richard

 

[cerberusiam]

This only happens when going about 5 mph on back roads in the mountains so no the TC is not locked

I was going off this bit of info so unless he does a custom VB and controller the problem will probably still exist as that is 1st gear territority even in low range. I am not sure in low range 5 mph is enough rpm to build decent pressure to keep the TC locked tight.



Definitely lockup in 2nd is going to help immensely as there is a lot of heat generated in traffice. It doesn't take much to see 220 constantly on the gauage.

 

[JimB1]

This is a future problem for myself with long heavy RV pulls into mountain backcountry drycampsites. Reading a lot of Bill Kondolay & DTT posts, any of the DTT torque converters have low stall characteristics thus run much cooler when unlocked as compared to extremely high stall MoCo TC's. Also unlocking front hubs will allow 2wd lo. Don't have the gear ratio chart right handy but I'm thinking 5 mph has to be darn close to shift into 2nd and TC lockup. Road has to be mighty primitive to not allow lo range to ever get out of 1st gear.

 

[JoelMartin]

Thanx for all the replies! I'll run these options past my buddy and see what he wants to do.

 

[CPittman]

One of these might help... http://proweldperformanceparts.com/Supercoolers/SuperCoolerStory.html

 

[nunya]

so has anybody actually installed the Proweld cooler and if so what kind of results have you too tell about? Sure sounds as if this may be the answer to cool the transmission. Thanks for the info