Transmision Temprature
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Transmision Temprature
I have a 2015 F150. Does anyone ever look at the transmission temp while driving or towing? Mine is usually around 197 on normal driving. Yesterday while pulling a bass boat it was 210 for awhile then went down to 201. This seems high. Engine is the 5.0 with 3.78 rear end.
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
Likes: 157
From: Anchorage Alaska
Different model but same transmission I believe in my F-150 and even towing my travel trailer in the mountains i've never seen higher then 210 and that was hard to get to I was pushing it hard. It seemed to stick in the high 190s to 205 depending on grade.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,106
Likes: 385
From: Southern California
Mark is a retired tranny engineer from Ford who can answer your question with greater accuracy, but, IMHO, sounds all good to me........
From Auto parts maker Niehoff:
Automatic transmission fluid will provide 100,000 miles of service before oxidation occurs under normal operating temperatures of about 170�F. Above normal operating temperatures, the oxidation rate doubles (useful life of fluid is cut in half) with each 20� increase in temperature. The approximate life expectancy at various temperatures is as follows:
175�F 100,000 miles
195�F 50,000 miles
212�F 25,000 miles
235�F 12,000 miles
255�F 6,250 miles
275�F 3,000 miles
295�F 1,500 miles
315�F 750 miles
335�F 325 miles
355�F 160 miles
375�F 80 miles
390�F 40 miles
415�F Less than 30 minutes
Above 300�F, the metals inside the transmission will warp and distort in varying degrees depending on the severity of overheat. Because this damage occurs and fluid life is so seriously impaired, rocking out of snow, mud or sand should never exceed a very few minutes.
From Auto parts maker Niehoff:
Automatic transmission fluid will provide 100,000 miles of service before oxidation occurs under normal operating temperatures of about 170�F. Above normal operating temperatures, the oxidation rate doubles (useful life of fluid is cut in half) with each 20� increase in temperature. The approximate life expectancy at various temperatures is as follows:
175�F 100,000 miles
195�F 50,000 miles
212�F 25,000 miles
235�F 12,000 miles
255�F 6,250 miles
275�F 3,000 miles
295�F 1,500 miles
315�F 750 miles
335�F 325 miles
355�F 160 miles
375�F 80 miles
390�F 40 miles
415�F Less than 30 minutes
Above 300�F, the metals inside the transmission will warp and distort in varying degrees depending on the severity of overheat. Because this damage occurs and fluid life is so seriously impaired, rocking out of snow, mud or sand should never exceed a very few minutes.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 4
From: Seattle area
Interesting question. I seem to remember that anything above about 220 is where the oil starts to break down. But I can't even remember the source or if that was for my GMC Allison... I hauled back from MT last summer in some crazy heat and my Exlorer got as high as 217 degrees. I called my Service Rep and he couldn't tell me if that was bad. Clown.
Beechkid - Is that synthetic tranny oil or traditional? Just checking, since a lot has changed the past few years and I don't know how old that data is.
To the OP...might be a good idea to change it more regularly if you run those temps often
Beechkid - Is that synthetic tranny oil or traditional? Just checking, since a lot has changed the past few years and I don't know how old that data is.
To the OP...might be a good idea to change it more regularly if you run those temps often
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
There is some old information being passed around here. Beechkid's chart hasn't been true in quite some time. I remember when Mark Kovalsky was asked a few years ago about that same info in a different thread.
And here's a more recent one:
These transmissions have a thermostat, and that regulates the temperature. You can install a radiator from a semi truck as your transmission cooler and it's still going to operate around 200 degrees. You aren't hurting anything, and your transmission is gonna last longer than 25,000 miles. Can we let the decades-old transmission mythology go? It's 2016 for cryin' out loud! 
No, I do not agree with ANYTHING in that chart. I'm undecided if the person that made that chart just doesn't know anything about the subject, or used data from 1960 when that chart was probably right, or is just plain lying. I can't tell which of those three are right, but at least one is.
There is no rational reason for never letting the transmission get over 200 degrees. The people that push this chart and the 200 degree limit just don't know anything about modern transmissions and fluids. They are clueless.
When I was at Ford we supplied 4R100 transmissions to an off road race team. We won several championships and the Baja 1000 several times. One time the trans coolers got plugged with mud. There was NO transmission cooling. We made the decision to keep going because we we leading. The temp gauge was pegged at 340°F for a long, long time. The trans still worked fine and we won the race.
After the race the standard procedure is to get the trans back and tear it down. The solder had melted out of the solenoids in this trans! Solder melts at 451°F. The fluid was NOT varnish, and the friction material was NOT all burnt up. There was definitely some heat damage, but nowhere near as much as that chart suggests would happen at 315°F.
There is no rational reason for never letting the transmission get over 200 degrees. The people that push this chart and the 200 degree limit just don't know anything about modern transmissions and fluids. They are clueless.
When I was at Ford we supplied 4R100 transmissions to an off road race team. We won several championships and the Baja 1000 several times. One time the trans coolers got plugged with mud. There was NO transmission cooling. We made the decision to keep going because we we leading. The temp gauge was pegged at 340°F for a long, long time. The trans still worked fine and we won the race.
After the race the standard procedure is to get the trans back and tear it down. The solder had melted out of the solenoids in this trans! Solder melts at 451°F. The fluid was NOT varnish, and the friction material was NOT all burnt up. There was definitely some heat damage, but nowhere near as much as that chart suggests would happen at 315°F.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
It's completely normal. My current truck, my '13 F150, and my '11 F350 all ran between 195-205 degrees when fully warmed up in all weather. All of them are designed that way from the factory, and they have a thermostat that regulates temperature just like your engine cooling system. 
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,740
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
From Auto parts maker Niehoff:
Automatic transmission fluid will provide 100,000 miles of service before oxidation occurs under normal operating temperatures of about 170�F. Above normal operating temperatures, the oxidation rate doubles (useful life of fluid is cut in half) with each 20� increase in temperature. The approximate life expectancy at various temperatures is as follows:
175�F 100,000 miles
195�F 50,000 miles
212�F 25,000 miles
235�F 12,000 miles
255�F 6,250 miles
275�F 3,000 miles
295�F 1,500 miles
315�F 750 miles
335�F 325 miles
355�F 160 miles
375�F 80 miles
390�F 40 miles
415�F Less than 30 minutes
Above 300�F, the metals inside the transmission will warp and distort in varying degrees depending on the severity of overheat.
Automatic transmission fluid will provide 100,000 miles of service before oxidation occurs under normal operating temperatures of about 170�F. Above normal operating temperatures, the oxidation rate doubles (useful life of fluid is cut in half) with each 20� increase in temperature. The approximate life expectancy at various temperatures is as follows:
175�F 100,000 miles
195�F 50,000 miles
212�F 25,000 miles
235�F 12,000 miles
255�F 6,250 miles
275�F 3,000 miles
295�F 1,500 miles
315�F 750 miles
335�F 325 miles
355�F 160 miles
375�F 80 miles
390�F 40 miles
415�F Less than 30 minutes
Above 300�F, the metals inside the transmission will warp and distort in varying degrees depending on the severity of overheat.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 4
From: Seattle area
I'm glad Cowboy bumped this thread back up. After no one could answer my question, I proposed it to the "Ask a Ford Engineer" thread. The reply was basically over 275 degrees is bad; otherwise don't worry about it.
Response is on page 4 here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-topics-4.html
Response is on page 4 here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-topics-4.html
