High tranny temp while towing
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 19
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High tranny temp while towing
Hello, I have a 2012 F250 fully deleted with a mini maxx tuner that I’ve had for about 6 months and I tow a 7k lb travel trailer. I’ve towed it several times with no issues but 3 1/2 hours in to our 4 hour trip I was getting tranny temps of 244-246 degrees. The a/c also was blowing warm air and the engine fan was running nonstop. It was 93 degrees out but I’ve towed it in the same temps before with no issues. All fluids are full. Has anyone else had this issue?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Those aren't excessive temperatures. It's warm, but not too warm. Modern transmissions are designed to run hotter than transmissions from even 10 years ago.
My advice, stop watching the transmission temp.
My advice, stop watching the transmission temp.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,085
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I agree that those temps are warm but not outrageously hot. What do you normally run, 230ish? What was the terrain like? Large hills or flat ground? Large hills while towing will ALWAYS lead to higher than normal temps. It will also cause your engine fan to run constantly as it tries to keep things cool. Adding in your a/c running while pulling hills and yes, things are going to be warm.
Basically you may not have a problem, but without more information about your trip, we can't really tell you anything.
Basically you may not have a problem, but without more information about your trip, we can't really tell you anything.
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 19
Likes: 11
I agree that those temps are warm but not outrageously hot. What do you normally run, 230ish? What was the terrain like? Large hills or flat ground? Large hills while towing will ALWAYS lead to higher than normal temps. It will also cause your engine fan to run constantly as it tries to keep things cool. Adding in your a/c running while pulling hills and yes, things are going to be warm.
Basically you may not have a problem, but without more information about your trip, we can't really tell you anything.
Basically you may not have a problem, but without more information about your trip, we can't really tell you anything.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
I would go with your gut. You know your truck better than anyone. I have a 2008 Ford F350 4x4 dually with new motor 12,000 miles ago and the transmission temperature never varies once it warms up. I've towed a fully loaded 30ft toy hauler through hills, hauled cinder blocks through the hills, not towing, and the trans temp stays the same. Whats weird is that your engine temp is right on, which might be a sign it is slipping. Is your trans fluid cherry red like out of the bottle or is it starting to turn brown? I would go for a complete flush and two new filters, not just drop the pan, one new filter and a few quarts of new oil. Find a shop that has the right machine to do a complete transfusion.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
Re-reading your last post, also check for any loose ground straps that could cause the instrument panel (false) warnings, which could possibly be related to the trans temp but not likely since the engine temp was steady and normal.
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2022
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I just went out to start trouble shooting and I had to jump start the truck. My tuner is giving a code of P068A but I don’t show anything on the instrument panel. After jump starting it the a/c is running nice and cold so that makes me think the hot air was related to the hot tranny and clutch fan running nonstop. This has my mind boggled I don’t even know where to start trying to problem solve on this thing. The answer to one question is that the tranny fluid is starting to turn brownish.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2022
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That code suggests that the ECM/PCM power relay de-energized too quickly. The computer keeps track of how quickly it de-energizes, or turns off. It is supposed to happen at a slow and controlled rate. One possibility is that the relay is malfunctioning and stayed on too long after the key was off and drained the battery, then the computer is tripping that code. Another possibility is that the code was tripped before since nothing was showing on the dash. This is slightly more likely since the relay only works when the key is turned off. In this scenario the relay turned it off too quickly before, and this last time just stayed on and drained the battery. Both of these scenarios point to changing the ECM/PCM power relay, which is much less expensive than changing the ECM/PCM. Keep in mind that that relay malfunctioning could possibly have damaged the PCM. I hope this helps. Very difficult to diagnose a intermittent electrical problem, especially an intermittent computer problem. To paraphrase Alexander Pope, "To err is human, to really foul things up, you need a computer." Change the relay first.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
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Correct. His temperatures seem much higher than they should be under the conditions he described.
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 19
Likes: 11
That code suggests that the ECM/PCM power relay de-energized too quickly. The computer keeps track of how quickly it de-energizes, or turns off. It is supposed to happen at a slow and controlled rate. One possibility is that the relay is malfunctioning and stayed on too long after the key was off and drained the battery, then the computer is tripping that code. Another possibility is that the code was tripped before since nothing was showing on the dash. This is slightly more likely since the relay only works when the key is turned off. In this scenario the relay turned it off too quickly before, and this last time just stayed on and drained the battery. Both of these scenarios point to changing the ECM/PCM power relay, which is much less expensive than changing the ECM/PCM. Keep in mind that that relay malfunctioning could possibly have damaged the PCM. I hope this helps. Very difficult to diagnose a intermittent electrical problem, especially an intermittent computer problem. To paraphrase Alexander Pope, "To err is human, to really foul things up, you need a computer." Change the relay first.
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