Trans Not Getting Up to Temp

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Jun 21, 2013 | 02:58 AM

A/Ox4

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From: Missouri

Trans Not Getting Up to Temp

I have noticed that in the past 1-2 months my trans probably has just kissed 150*. Even on warm/hot days. Lately its just been 120-140 all day every day.

Can this cause any problems? It used to go up to 150-170 when warm, now it takes a hot day to get there.

I assume its fine, but just checking because I have, admittedly, neglected my trans fluid.

Jun 21, 2013 | 03:17 AM

Yahiko

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From: Spanaway

Well one thing if you don't get up to the 180 mark is
any water in the system has a much harder time evaporating.
At least that is what we use for engine oil (aircraft).

Sean

Jun 21, 2013 | 04:39 AM

Pitcrw6

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Joined: Apr 2010

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From: Panama City, FL

Do you have the 6.0 cooler installed? If so then those temps seem to be right on par. I had to install a Derale T-stat to bring them back up.

Jun 21, 2013 | 06:47 AM

projectSHO89

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: St Louis

Your temps are fine. Quit worrying and go drive.

Jun 21, 2013 | 07:58 AM

Toreador_Diesel

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From: Houston, Texas

That's about right if you have a 6.0 trans cooler. I've had one since 2009 and temps never really exceed 150 degrees unless it's hot out. The last few days it's been around 175 to 180.

Jun 21, 2013 | 08:35 AM

Snowseeker

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Joined: May 2005

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From: Stevens Point, WI

I have the original cooler in my X. After installing my gauges I finally got to see what temps my trans gets to while pulling the train in my sig.

On the whole trip only once while going threw hilly terrain did my trans get to 180f. Most of the trip it was around 160. The X by itself the most I ever see is 140.

Jun 21, 2013 | 09:24 AM

Tom

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From: Isanti, MN

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectSHO89

Your temps are fine. Quit worrying and go drive.

I don't agree, there are a couple of issues that can occur from the transmission never getting up to temp. The biggest one is rust that can happen if water accumulates in the fluid without getting hot enough to evaporate out. This can kill the transmission, and is one of the problems with using a 6.0L cooler. The 5R110 was designed to use a thermostat to control fluid temp and ensure proper warm up, but the 4R100 never was.

I installed a Derale bypass in the Excursion to fix this issue, I highly recommend it.

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Jun 21, 2013 | 11:01 AM

Shake-N-Bake

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Joined: Sep 2003

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From: Mesa AZ

Trey,
Do you have AE or a Scangauge? I would be curious to see if the temp reported by the OEM sensor matches your gauge. I think temps that are 60-80 degrees over ambient are just fine. Is that about where you are running?

Jun 21, 2013 | 11:07 AM

#10

A/Ox4

Thread Starter

9 ECHO 1

Joined: Aug 2009

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From: Missouri

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shake-N-Bake

I'm going off of my aftermarket gauge. It is about 50-80 above ambient most of the time because ambient is usually 75* year round. But once in a while we will get a 90* day and it'll just barely creep up

Jun 21, 2013 | 12:06 PM

#11

Shake-N-Bake

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From: Mesa AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by A/Ox4

Sounds fairly normal to me. Trans temps will vary some depending on driving conditions as well. According to my overhead display, the outside temps have been 107-109 during my drive home the past few days, during which I've been driving my F450 truck. Yesterday, the transmission fluid temp hovered around 170ish on my gauge and 178 according to the PCM. The day before it was 180ish on the gauge and 190 via the PCM but there were two bad accidents that backed the freeway up and it was stop and go for about 5 miles. Creeping forward in a 11,000 lb truck sure warms up the trans fluid quickly. Once everything got moving again, the temps came down about 5-8 degrees and stabilized until I got home.

During the cooler months, when the ambient temps are around 75 ish, the trans fluid in my pickup trucks runs about 130-140 degrees most of the time.