I am starting my towing season. My new truck has the Trans Temp on one of the screens. What is the max trans temp we should see when towing? So far I have seen around 192 degrees in non towing driving.

 

i have seen 199 towing 8k lbs. have read of guys in 4x4 getting it to 204.

don't worry about it. If you tow heavy use tow/haul. if it gets too hot, idiot light will tell you

 

Minimum normal operating temperature is 175 degrees F.

200-225 would be normal.

 

Agreed. I've seen as high as 204 on mine but usually in the high 190s.

(added) I have a 2011 F150 FX2 5.0L

 

I've seen it as high as 206 in 4x4 (2011 F150).

 

What's in bold is not really good advice. When the idiot light goes off it's too late.

It does amaze me though, I've never seen 200 degrees hauling ~16k in my DRW.

Now I wouldn't be worried until I was around 220. TF life really does start to go downhill the more you're above 200 though.

TFT in normal driving should be roughly 100 degrees over ambient if you allow it to warm up.

 

Tex - your advice is about above 200 is dead on for the older trannys.

The newer 6-speed trannys need higher operating temps (mine is routinely near or slightly above 200 under no load - 90 degree ambient, highway driving) to maximize efficiency.

Lots of people probably still recall this picture:



It simply doesn't apply to the newer transmissions.

 

As far as I know it's what Ford still recommends for their Mercon LV TF (which I think is the latest formulation, if there really is a difference between that and the older Mercon).

Now I don't know if that's specific to the TS trannys behind the SDs or not.

Now Ford could be on the conservative side, I know I probably would me if I was them.

 

since ford doesn't specify max tranny temp in the owners' manual then the idiot light is the only way to know. It should come on when fluid is too hot, not when its too late and fluid an/or tranny is ruined.

 

Why would the manual list specific temps when the stock gauge has no number value on it? At least it doesn't on my 2010. The owner wouldn't have the ability to know which position of the gauge sweep means what and considering each sweep actually translates into at least a 50 degree difference (or something like that on the 6.0s anyway), how would you know if you are on the low or high end of that difference? Ford isn't going to assume that people are going to put a/m gauges on their trucks. I have both OBD-II and analog gauges on my 6.0, but none on my 150.

If the light only comes on when the fluid is too hot for normal operation, that's too late. You want it to come on before it gets too hot that way you have time to do something about it, pull over let it cool down etc. If the fluid is already too hot, it's already caused some damage, how much depends on how long it takes you to react and pull over.

 

I just put the obd2 on my 04 2004 f250, I've yet to see my trans temp go over a 100 degrees not toweing. What should I set my alarm at for when towing 205 degrees?

 

the information center in the 2011+ trucks includes a trans temp screen so you DO get to see the actual tranny temp on the newer trucks (or at least what the computer thinks it is).

 

Interesting topic. I have been wondering myself. I just bought a used, low mileage 2014 F150 SCREW, 5.0, 2wd. At full operating conditions, after a couple hours on the road (it takes almost an hour to reach max temp) mine settles at 199-201 F, no load, about anywhere from 50-70 F ambient. The gauge at the top is in the middle of the range or slightly below middle. So, if the gauge calibration and the actual temp are in line, then this would lead one to believe this is normal. I have not experienced any towing yet, so I don't know how it will react to that yet. Is this what others are seeing?

 

adeller, I have the same truck (but 2013) and I've experienced the exact same thing as you with trans temp, except my ambient temps have been 75-95. I haven't towed yet either...

 

There is a lot of bad info in this thread....

The 6r80 has an internal thermostat which controls the minimum temperature at which the transmission will run. That is why they all run in the upper 190's with no load in warm weather. The coolers are very effective also, which is why they don't seem to run much hotter when towing.

The stock transmission temp gauge only has 4 positions. "cold" which it displays below 50 degrees F, "normal" which is in the middle of the normal range which it displays from 50 to 220 degrees F, "elevated" where the needle points to the yellow zone on the gauge which is displayed from 230 to 250 degrees F, and "danger" where the needle points to the red above 250 degrees. Those are the only programmed needle positions for the gauge.

The gauge is programmed for a slow sweep, so If your needle is higher than usual but not quite to the yellow, the trans has exceeded 220 and the needle is working its way to the yellow. If it is hanging out below the yellow, you are probably exceeding 220 but then cooling back down below 220 before the needle settles in the yellow zone.

Ford's standard is up to 220 is normal and you can run all day at that temp, and you can run up to 250 for up to 30min at a time. You should not exceed 250 if at all possible as there are some internal components that dont like to behave properly above 250.

These all come from our resident ford transmission guru Mark Kovalsky. Search for his numerous posts on transmission temps to get it straight from the horse's mouth.

Hope it helps.