Question on Tranny Temp

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Mar 24, 2009 | 11:26 PM

Thor80

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Question on Tranny Temp

Hi All,
THis may be a no brainer, but its been bugging me for a few weeks. I just got my F-350 6.0 a few months ago and here in Eastern Washington it gets pretty cold during the winter. Mornings are 10-30F (Getting to mid 30's now) but one thing I noticed is that I'll start my truck and let it idle for 10 minutes or so (It has high idle) and I've noticed that my tranny temp guage has always been up at the low end of "normal" and my engine (coolant) temp hasnt budged and doesnt till I drive it for a few miles. Is the operating temp on the tranny that much lower? And does it warm up that fast just from circulating in park? Again, may be a dumb question but i'm curious....

THanks

-Torsten

Mar 24, 2009 | 11:35 PM

260karl

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From: Kendallville IN

I live maybe 10 miles from work and if it's that cold out and I'm driving into the wind sometimes it will never even get warm to let overdrive kick in all the way home. So the other two trucks in the family are the same way too so I guess it's "normal" in the extreme cold. I always wanted to put two valves up front and bypass the trans cooler and see if it would make a differnce??? But I have not got the ambition to yet.

Mar 24, 2009 | 11:47 PM

ReAX

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Joined: May 2006

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From: Central Florida

I'd think it has more to do with the engine having a larger cooler. The exchanged coolant gets enough time to cool back down and the temps show as low. Where as the fluid in the transmission is getting pumped, run through worm trails and t/c vanes and flowing through a tiny little cooler. I also don't believe there is a thermostat in the transcooler, so it's always flowing coolant and not giving it much chance to cool down.

It's the opposite for me. The engine gets up to normal temperatures about 10 minutes before the trans does. Although in the summer, I've cranked up to the transmission being near normal temperature in the mornings.

Mar 25, 2009 | 08:11 AM

Mark Kovalsky

Frmr Ford Trans Engr

Joined: Aug 1999

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From: SE Florida

The calibration of the trans temp gauge is the problem. It's calibrated to go to the middle of normal when the trans temp is at 50F. The engine has to be much warmer before the gauge gets to normal.

If you're interested in changing that you will have to learn how to program the instrument cluster computer. That's where the gauge calibration is. I have no idea how to do it.

Idling a cold engine for 10 minutes is not doing it any favors. It's much better to idle for less than a minute and drive it gently until it warms up.

Mar 25, 2009 | 09:01 AM

senix

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From: Frederick, MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

Amen to the idle issue. Sitting there for extended periods of time be it a gas or diesel does it no good. Better to crank it, let it idle long enough to put your seat belt on, adjust the temp control and radio and drive off. Just don't run it fast. This is much better on the trans and eng as it tends to cirulate and warm up faster/better.

Mar 25, 2009 | 09:14 AM

87mh

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Joined: Dec 2008

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From: In the Airstream

See Post #26 in this thread

The Stock Ford Tranny Temp Gauge is just a bit more informative than an idiot light (as are most of manufacturers Oil Gauges).

See this thread for more information.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...xcursions.html

Mar 25, 2009 | 09:33 AM

Thor80

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Thanks for all the info. That makes sense if the guage is calibrated at a much lower temp. As for the idling, i'll definately make the change and just head out slow in the morning. (The g/f likes a warm truck and i figured 5-10 minutes wouldnt be too bad, but I payed enough for this truck and i plan on keeping it for the next 10 years or so whatever i can do to extend its life is fine by me.

)

-Torsten