First post - transmission running hot when towing
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First post - transmission running hot when towing
Hey everyone, first post here, so hopefully I do this right! I have a 2011 F-350 6.7 SRW with egr delete, def removed, Bully Dog chip etc with 112,000 miles and I tow a 14,500 5er almost constantly with it. I've had no issues until about 1000 miles ago when the transmission temperatures started spiking, going all the way up to 237 degrees! When that cooling fan kicks in at 231 degrees it sounds like the truck is going to lift off into outerspace!! Anyway, it took me awhile to figure out what was going on as the fan kept turning on and off as the temperature fluctuated up and down. I decide to get the transmission oil changed but that made no difference, as the next day the temps still climbed right up to 233. Oil temps stay right at 203 and coolant stays at 188, its just the tranny fluid that gets hot. Can anybody help me out with why this would suddenly be spiking?? This is my first diesel truck and I maintain the fluids really well but I am virtually illiterate when it comes to understanding the actual mechanics of the engine, so speak as plainly as possible, haha 
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Millersville, MD
I have heard the our Transmissions do not get along well with the Bully Dog chips. They are documented with talking out the tranny's. You might think about removing the Bully Dog and taking it in to a good trans repair facility near you for a check-up.
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From: Wyoming
I don't have my SuperDuty yet but I'm seeing a similar issue with my 1/2 ton. Maybe my perspective will help and maybe it isn't even close.
I've done some mods that raise the HP/TQ numbers of the engine by at least 10% (never dyno'd it so I'm guessing). The engine can lug along at a much lower RPM level without batting an eye. The downside of that is that the RPM's to the transmission are lower and that affects the torque converter pump. It simply isn't pumping enough fluid now to keep up. I'm no engine/transmission expert, I've learned this stuff on a forum, so some of my terminology may be off.
There are two things I've done to combat this:
1. Gear down on inclines. This gets more fluid pumping through the transmission.
2. Increase the line pressure within the transmission. This is an internal tuning parameter that makes the transmission understand that the engine has more torque.
I also added an additional transmission cooler. Some guys swear by these. It helped a bit in my case but if enough fluid isn't pumping then all the transmission coolers in the world aren't going to help.
I've done some mods that raise the HP/TQ numbers of the engine by at least 10% (never dyno'd it so I'm guessing). The engine can lug along at a much lower RPM level without batting an eye. The downside of that is that the RPM's to the transmission are lower and that affects the torque converter pump. It simply isn't pumping enough fluid now to keep up. I'm no engine/transmission expert, I've learned this stuff on a forum, so some of my terminology may be off.
There are two things I've done to combat this:
1. Gear down on inclines. This gets more fluid pumping through the transmission.
2. Increase the line pressure within the transmission. This is an internal tuning parameter that makes the transmission understand that the engine has more torque.
I also added an additional transmission cooler. Some guys swear by these. It helped a bit in my case but if enough fluid isn't pumping then all the transmission coolers in the world aren't going to help.
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Thanks for the feedback! I had not heard about the Bully Dog causing problems, I will look into that. As for previous running temperatures I don't recall as I wasn't really paying attention as the dash gauge never showed an issue and the cooling fan had never kicked in before. I wish i paid attention but I didn't 
I am going to take the truck to the car wash and clean out the rads as there is quite a bit of bug guts in there, but I am not scheduled to tow the 5er til March 1st now as we are settled in Florida for the winter, so I won't know if it does any good. All I know is that when that cooling fan kicks in at 231 degrees it scares the bejeezus out of me, haha, and I want to know why its happening now. I have towed about 15,000 miles in the last year and it has never done that including the climb from Palm Springs to Phoenix in 95 degree heat and nothing happened, so it has me nervous now.
I am going to take the truck to the car wash and clean out the rads as there is quite a bit of bug guts in there, but I am not scheduled to tow the 5er til March 1st now as we are settled in Florida for the winter, so I won't know if it does any good. All I know is that when that cooling fan kicks in at 231 degrees it scares the bejeezus out of me, haha, and I want to know why its happening now. I have towed about 15,000 miles in the last year and it has never done that including the climb from Palm Springs to Phoenix in 95 degree heat and nothing happened, so it has me nervous now.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
I pull heavier than you and don't see those for the tranny. Somewhere around 210-220 maybe on the mountains is about it.
Remove the bully dog and try again.
How is your secondary cooling system? I don't think that has anything to do with it, as I recall it is not part of the trans cooling but still might check that.
Remove the bully dog and try again.
How is your secondary cooling system? I don't think that has anything to do with it, as I recall it is not part of the trans cooling but still might check that.
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It's weird that it would be fine for the last 15,000 miles then all of a sudden be a problem, right??? I have to change rv sites in the park in a couple weeks, maybe I will take the rig for a drive and get temperatures up without the BullyDog on and see what it says. Thanks!
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From: Middle Tn.
It's weird that it would be fine for the last 15,000 miles then all of a sudden be a problem, right??? I have to change rv sites in the park in a couple weeks, maybe I will take the rig for a drive and get temperatures up without the BullyDog on and see what it says. Thanks!
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From: Millersville, MD
I am guessing that you will continue to see the higher temps - even without the BD installed as the damage has already started. Before you make that run, back wash the rad and insure the fins are clear of bugs and trash. Hopefully, it is packed with crap and if you clean it it will cut your temps back to (your) normal. ( MAY have to pull the radiator to get to the trash between the rad and intercooler.)
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