Transmission Temps and a better cooler.
So after our first weekend trip with our (new to us)2011 E450 6.8L Class C MH from Cruise America. I noticed the transmission temp hovered around the 210-220*F range. I am using a Bluetooth dongle plu...
Forum Discussion
Pffffttt! 220F? You are worrying too much, Friend. The coolant, oil and trans fluid temps on a working engine should be about the same as the full open temperature of the coolant thermostat. About 212-220F. Old school thinking, that.
All of those fluids and parts can survive short term transients without worry. More so with modern engineered fluids.
The coolant/trans heat exchanger serves to warm cold trans fluid and cool hot fluid. They are very effective and I'm guessing you are under estimating its capacity. Tru-Cools are excellent! Suggest following T-C's recommendation of adding your supplemental cooler after the heat exchanger & before it returns to the transmission. Don't bypass the heat exchanger. T-Cs are thermostatically controlled by the viscosity of the fluid. If you don't need the extra capacity, the fluid bypasses the cooler. And,it will cool only as much as necessary. Cooler is not better....
One usually thinks there is a need for increased cooling capacity while the transmission is under heavy load. Somewhat... But I think the real need is when you go from a heavy work load and then slow down where the engine RPM is reduced and airflow over the radiator are reduced. Like coming to a traffic jam at the end of the off ramp after steaming along on the interstate; a stop sign at the top of a hill or exit ramp. Little airflow and low RPM don't allow efficient dissipation of the built up heat. That's where the TC earns its keep by helping shed those BTUs.
The temperature/damage charts are at least 50+ years old and are, IMHO, worthless onsidering modern engineering, metalurgy, and improvements in fluids. They do sell transmission coolers.....lots of coolers. If you are concerned about fluid breakdown change it at mfg's recommended intervals and just use their recommended fluid.
Put your dongle and iPad in the glove box....drive on....
All of those fluids and parts can survive short term transients without worry. More so with modern engineered fluids.
The coolant/trans heat exchanger serves to warm cold trans fluid and cool hot fluid. They are very effective and I'm guessing you are under estimating its capacity. Tru-Cools are excellent! Suggest following T-C's recommendation of adding your supplemental cooler after the heat exchanger & before it returns to the transmission. Don't bypass the heat exchanger. T-Cs are thermostatically controlled by the viscosity of the fluid. If you don't need the extra capacity, the fluid bypasses the cooler. And,it will cool only as much as necessary. Cooler is not better....
One usually thinks there is a need for increased cooling capacity while the transmission is under heavy load. Somewhat... But I think the real need is when you go from a heavy work load and then slow down where the engine RPM is reduced and airflow over the radiator are reduced. Like coming to a traffic jam at the end of the off ramp after steaming along on the interstate; a stop sign at the top of a hill or exit ramp. Little airflow and low RPM don't allow efficient dissipation of the built up heat. That's where the TC earns its keep by helping shed those BTUs.
The temperature/damage charts are at least 50+ years old and are, IMHO, worthless onsidering modern engineering, metalurgy, and improvements in fluids. They do sell transmission coolers.....lots of coolers. If you are concerned about fluid breakdown change it at mfg's recommended intervals and just use their recommended fluid.
Put your dongle and iPad in the glove box....drive on....
