What is considered high tranny temp while pulling? Getting mixed answeres in another forum. I installed 3 autometer gages last week and we be pulling my 14,000lb trailer later next week. If I get to high we probably go with a tranny cooler.

 

You'd be MUCH better off by running a trans cooler anyway!! It is highly suggested...so much so that Ford installs them when you buy the trailer tow package!! I think they are trying to tell us something. Tis much better to keep it cool than to cheap it out and guess!

Even if the temp only gets CLOSE to being too high, you are already cooking the fluid. Just install the cooler and save your tranny.

 

Check out this link, it helped me alot when determining proper tranny temps. It's easy to understand too.

http://www.tciauto.com/tech_info/tra...expectancy.htm

A fellow FTE member hooked me up with it.

 

That chart is completely useless for any modern transmission or ATF. If you are running a 1960's fluid, then pay attention to that chart.

Max allowable sustained temperature is 220°F, with short excursions to 245°F.

 

TCI has no idea about modern trannys or fluid...
Who do I beleive.......tranny specialist or random internet poster?

 

It's your choice.

 

How about Ford?

How about Southwest Research Institute? SWRI is an independent lab that anyone can hire to test things, particularly fuels and lubricating fluids. The following are excerpts from the SW Research Institute's standard qualifying test for MERCON tranny fluid.

Quote:

Friction Durability test

115*C = 239*F

Quote:

Cycling Procedure

135*C = 275*F

Read the whole test for yourself:

http://www.swri.org/4org/d08/Abstracts/Mercon.pdf

 

I'm glad someone else is getting tired of seeing that friggin' chart. Those old enough remember seeing it back in the 70s.

I run Type F fluid in my Falcons (only because Type A is no longer available). I run Mobil 1 MERCON in my 4R100.

That chart probably is accurate for Type F but any testing (if indeed, any actual testing was done), used a fluid far inferior to modern tranny fluids like DEXRON IV, MERCON, MERCON V, MERCON SP or ATF+4.

Unlike socks, gloves and condoms, one size does not fit all.

C'mon man. Take that tape out of your Betamax and join the rest of us in the 21st Century.

 

So if that was all inferior stuff, my tranny should have no problems running at 300+ temps with todays fluids?

 

What a ridiculous comment.

Put on your glasses and read the posts again.

 

I'm not claiming to be an expert or even play one on TV, but from what I can tell the info in the chart is still valid. Other than the type of fluids being mentioned, old VS. new what makes the chart so far out of date that only an idiot(like me I guess) would find it somewhat helpful. Please enlighten me.

 

Based on . . . . . ?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jschira

Ever heard of ALT? (Accelerated Lifetime Testing) One common technique to speed up wear asnd shorten testing time is to increase the temperature. So, just because they run these tests at some relatively high temperature, that doesn't mean that they are ideal in normal use. You can; however, conclude at least one thing: these temps aren't high enough to cause a quick, catastrophic failure.

As for the claim of “Normal” operating range, 51° F to 248° F, -- I don't doubt that; however, I simply don't believe that a tranny that runs around 240F will last as long as the same tranny that runs around 190F, for instance.

 

Information I have recieved here and from talking with people who work on transmissions for a living. From what I gather the link and the info others has posted tells me the same thing=good operating temps for an AT tranny are 175-200, and anything around 220 or higher is getting dangerous. Am I out of line in that assumption? After going through the posts again, I noticed a maybe a 20*-30* difference between what I would run, and what your quote about ford gauges goes by. Personally I prefer havings temps listed on my gauge as opposed to colors. The fact that after they give normal operating temps only, and up to 248, how do you know that the tranny isn't hitting 300* in the yellow portion of the gauge. It did state you could run in that range, just not for extended periods. That would make my previous comment somewhat valid as well.

I am willing to take into account the fact my truck is only an 85, and that newer vehicles with all there electronic doo-hickeys have higher tolerances for certain things. Could you not have stated something like "Hey, that chart is out of date for todays vehicles and fluids" instead of saying "the info you posted is worthless" . I come to this site to offer help when I can and learn as well, not to be critiscized for a mistake I wasn't even aware I had made yet. I'm not trying to start a fight or anything, I am just trying to understand, and hopefully learn something as well.

 

I don't know either, but Ford, who has actually tested the 4R100 with MERCON, says up to 248* is OK. Ford says a lot of BS, but no one has given me a very good reason for not believing Ford on this. I live by my Ford gauge. When it gets to yellow, I'll slow down. Until then, I'm not worrying about it.

Isn't that what I did?


As I do as well. The problem is, there is so much misinformation that keeps getting reposted over and over again. There is also some difficulty is separating "want" from "need".

Many poeple "want" to modify their truck. That "want" gets turned into a "need" when giving advice to others.

So, some people "want" their tranny to alway be below 180*F (because of the chart, or what someone told them or for whatever other reason). Someone else comes to the board and asks, "what should my tranny temp be?". Suddenly, the 180* "want" becomes "you gotta keep your tranny below 180*. I recommend that you spend $100s immediately on this mod or you will toast your tranny getting out of your driveway.".

This is not helpful. This is giving misinformation. If I lumped you into the misinformation camp too quickly, I apologize.