Trans Temp while towing??
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Trans Temp while towing??
I have an 01 7.3 SD 4x4 with a 4" turbo back exhaust and a Superchip tuner, in the Tow safe mode, everything else is stock. We just got a 28 foot TT toyhauler and on the first outing I noticed my trans temp slowing climbing. I have an Autometer gauge and the needle stopped about halfway between the 180 and 210 graduations. The outside temp was around 95-98 degrees and I was having to pull some hills. Once on the interstate running between 65-70 it lefeled off around 180. Is in this in the normal Temp range? Should I get an extra Trans cooler, and if so is there room to mount it in front of the radiator? I am new to diesels as well as pulling this much weight so any info will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Hal
Thanks,
Hal
Senior User
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From: The Casa
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 173
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From: Lakewood, Washington
I would say those are good numbers for that outside temp. I also run a SC tuner in tow safe mode towing 11000#. Trans temps on the flats level at outside temp plus about 80*. I run a tru-cool cooler in line with my stock, but mine is a 97 model so stock wasn't as good as your 01 will be. It fits to the left of the stock one and takes up the entire left side of the grill. I would say your good for now at those temps. You can't go wrong with adding more cooling using a thermal bypass valve in cunjucntion with another cooler. My 2 cents.
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Senior User
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Thanks for the input guy's. I know that cooler is better so I may look into geting an add on cooler. I think the V10 trans cooler will fit and it's bigger than the one I have now BUT, being a Ford part it may cost more than an aftermarket cooler.
Thanks again,
Hal
Thanks again,
Hal
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
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From: Simpsonville, KY
Actually you can go wrong with too much... if the temperature is too cool you will damage the engine faster than if its too hot. Okay, that's an exageration... but you get the idea. Think about when you are not towing... you don't want to be running all those coolers when the engine isn't under load. The transmission needs to be hot to run properly with proper lubercation. Don't overdo the cooling 
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
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From: Nothern Indiana
Heat is the number one killer of auto trans. 190 degrees is normal if its hot outside and just watch that 200 mark . If you get around 200 start to back out of it and try to cool it down . I run about 160 to 190 depending on outside temp and how hard I push it .
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41
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From: Western KY
More Trans Heat Questions...
Red Monkey - I don't want to hijack your thread. I have a related question, with a twist. I think this is an appropriate place to ask.
I recently traded for my first psd, a 2003 F-350 drw with the 7.3 psd and 4.10 rear end. Everything is stock. Truck just turned 27,000 miles. I am pulling a 13,700# gooseneck horse trailer.
Like Red Monkey, on my first big pull (5-hour trip) I noticed the trans temp gauge starting to climb. It is the factory gauge - - - registers from Cold to Hot with a little yellow band near the Hot. One time the gauge shot into the yellow. Most of the time it was in the middle. But, when it started to climb upwards I got worried, basically out of ignorance.
1) do you trust the factory trans temp gauge? If not, what gauge do you recommend?
2) if I should consider an additional trans cooler, what is recommended?
As mentioned, I'm very new at this and know I am towing a heavy load. Don't want to screw up the truck.
I recently traded for my first psd, a 2003 F-350 drw with the 7.3 psd and 4.10 rear end. Everything is stock. Truck just turned 27,000 miles. I am pulling a 13,700# gooseneck horse trailer.
Like Red Monkey, on my first big pull (5-hour trip) I noticed the trans temp gauge starting to climb. It is the factory gauge - - - registers from Cold to Hot with a little yellow band near the Hot. One time the gauge shot into the yellow. Most of the time it was in the middle. But, when it started to climb upwards I got worried, basically out of ignorance.
1) do you trust the factory trans temp gauge? If not, what gauge do you recommend?
2) if I should consider an additional trans cooler, what is recommended?
As mentioned, I'm very new at this and know I am towing a heavy load. Don't want to screw up the truck.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Nothern Indiana
Don't trust the factory gauge. Get a good trans temp gauge from one of the sponsors of this site or have one installed if you don't know how.This should be the first thing to do when pulling any kind of load. The factory gauge will get you way too hot before it reads hot and the damanage is done. Been there Done that . Not fun being broke down on the side of the interstate 900 miles from home pulling a trailer.
If you get a good gauge and can keep temps below 190-200 degrees you will be fine . The newer trucks seem to have a good coolers but the older ones need help if your pulling hard and the temps get to high.
If you get a good gauge and can keep temps below 190-200 degrees you will be fine . The newer trucks seem to have a good coolers but the older ones need help if your pulling hard and the temps get to high.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
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From: Utah County, UT
if you are going to put a different ford cooler in, then put in the cooler from the 6.0L diesels. It is quite a bit larger and will mount in stock locations. Minor adapting needed for the lines. I see them on ebay every so often under 200.00, i'd check there. I put in a trucool 4739 cooler before I knew about the 6.0 cooler fitting. Your temps are normal given your setup though.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by firesoutmatt
Don't trust the factory gauge.
* * *
If you get a good gauge and can keep temps below 190-200 degrees you will be fine.
* * *
If you get a good gauge and can keep temps below 190-200 degrees you will be fine.
So if you expect the factory gauge to go red (or even yellow) at 190*, you will be disappointed.
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 679
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From: Mesa, AZ
I just got back from towing and my tranny was runnin about 210 up a really steep grade with it being 120 outside in the middle of the desert. I just made sure my stock one didn't move up to the "yellow zone".
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by jschira
The factory gauge is actually quite accurate. It is, however, calibrated for the factory-recommended temperatures, which are far higher than what you recommend.
So if you expect the factory gauge to go red (or even yellow) at 190*, you will be disappointed.
So if you expect the factory gauge to go red (or even yellow) at 190*, you will be disappointed.
I believe my tranny will last longer by not going over 190*-200* than someone using factory gauge and waiting untill it hits the red mark.
I'm not taking the chance to see at what temp the factory gauge goes to yellow or red.. So I really can't say its accurate or not. I've only read on these forums that its not .
So at what temp does the factory gauge go to red or yellow at ?
What temp do you think is to hot ?