I recently got a 5th wheel camper that I will be towing with my 2011 Silverado 1500 LTZ. It has the HD trailering and HD cooling packages (RPO codes K5L and Z82). What would you consider to be high transmission temperature? I can monitor the temp. from the info panel on the dash. The short trip bringing the camper home (10 miles, city, flat with one hill) going 40-45 avg it got no higher than 183F. What temps would I see on the highway going 55-60 tops?

In an '09 Silverado C1500 (with tow package, tranny cooler) that I use to pull the trailer in my signature, I'd routinely see 180s and 190s. If coming off highway and to a quick stop (lack of airflow over radiators), I'd see it spike to 205 to 208, before starting to come back down. Discussions on this topic seem to indicate we are okay with very short spikes to 220 or 225. As temps rise, life of the transmission fluid is shortened. There are tables with the temps / miles flowing around on the Internet.Hope this helps.

When I first got my 07 tahoe, the temps during the first pull (short trip, flat lands) spiked up to 200. I then added the additional factory cooler (which I am guessing you have already) and the temps now stay around 190. Grade, outside temp and humidity, all have an effect on this. I think the highest I have seen is 205, during a climb, or during a high temp high humidity situation. This also occurred directly following a slight increase in engine temp, before it fell back within normal range.I think your temps are fine. When I see 200 I start paying attention, just to be sure it comes back down, which it always does.

All the experts will agree that 250 is no problem with modern fluids. At 270F you better start thinking about doing something. It's a mute point anyway. If you are not over the GCVWR you won't even see close to these temps. 100 + ambient is a rule of thumb and close to what you should be seeing.In short, with a modern truck you don't have to worry about tranny heat if loaded correctly.

I'd personally shut down at 230* (stop at a pullout, idle truck to circulate fluid and help cool transmission). I hit 223 the other weekend while pulling in 95-105 ambient. All was well climbing the grade until we caught a motorhome, then a dump truck with a pup, and I was screwed. I was in 1st gear fluid coupling only, not going fast enough to get a decent amount of air across the coolers. We got stopped at some construction for a few minutes so I kicked on the high idle at 1500rpm to spin the fan faster and draw more air across the cooler, helped it cool down about 10*. Once we topped out and got going fast enough to lock the torque convertor again (above 25mph) the trans cooled right off to just under 200.I was pulling only ~6500lbs. I pretty much had worst case scenario.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:All the experts will agree that 250 is no problem with modern fluids. At 270F you better start thinking about doing something. It's a mute point anyway. If you are not over the GCVWR you won't even see close to these temps. 100 + ambient is a rule of thumb and close to what you should be seeing.In short, with a modern truck you don't have to worry about tranny heat if loaded correctly.x2

Tranny temps: how hot is too hot? | Good Sam Community

Tystevens
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
TXiceman wrote:
Most ATF can handle normal operating temperatures of 175 to 190 degrees F. But as the operating temperature goes up, the life of the fluid drops. For every 20 degree increase in fluid temperature beyond the normal range, the life of the fluid is cut roughly in half!
Temp chart

1973 called; they want their temp chart and 8 track back. :B

X2! We had made it through a couple transmission threads without that chart ... I thought it may be gone for good! Oh well ...
NMace
Explorer
Jul 21, 2015
Does not radiant heat also have a role? Even with where the transmission is located, I would think when the road heats up to 150+ degrees, it would raise the trans temp much above the rule of thumb 100 degrees above ambient temp.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jul 20, 2015
TXiceman wrote:
Most ATF can handle normal operating temperatures of 175 to 190 degrees F. But as the operating temperature goes up, the life of the fluid drops. For every 20 degree increase in fluid temperature beyond the normal range, the life of the fluid is cut roughly in half!
Temp chart

1973 called; they want their temp chart and 8 track back. :B
crcr
Explorer
Jul 20, 2015
TXiceman wrote:
Most ATF can handle normal operating temperatures of 175 to 190 degrees F. But as the operating temperature goes up, the life of the fluid drops. For every 20 degree increase in fluid temperature beyond the normal range, the life of the fluid is cut roughly in half!
Temp chart

It's right there on the interweb, so it must be true, right?
TXiceman
Explorer II
Jul 20, 2015
Most ATF can handle normal operating temperatures of 175 to 190 degrees F. But as the operating temperature goes up, the life of the fluid drops. For every 20 degree increase in fluid temperature beyond the normal range, the life of the fluid is cut roughly in half!
Temp chart
crcr
Explorer
Jul 19, 2015
NMace wrote:
Some of you guys are giving precise readings like 254, do you have an after market digital trans gauge? None of the factory gauges I have had are that accurate.

I use an CTS Edge Insight monitor in my 2004 Ram. It pulls the TFT (trans fluid temp) off the vehicle computer. In past vehicles, I have used the Scan Gauge II, which pulls TFT in the same way. Factory gauges for TFT and Coolant temperature, by design, do not show any detail, and in fact, commonly lag showing real temps. The drive trains in these vehicles sometimes run at very elevated temps, and the manufacturers do not want owners getting alarmed at same and pestering dealers.
ib516
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2015
NMace wrote:
Some of you guys are giving precise readings like 254, do you have an after market digital trans gauge? None of the factory gauges I have had are that accurate.

My Ram has a digital readout in the EVIC. Many others are the same.
NMace
Explorer
Jul 19, 2015
Some of you guys are giving precise readings like 254, do you have an after market digital trans gauge? None of the factory gauges I have had are that accurate.
LowRyter
Explorer
Jul 19, 2015
I think you're fine until the light comes on. If it does, pull over and let it idle until it cools off. That's with my old 6.0 2500

Happened only once going up Monarch pass pulling my 5th wheel (bicyclist on road, lots of stop and go). I pulled over and let it cool down. When I got back home, went to shop and checked the fluid. All ok.
chops1sc
Explorer II
Jul 18, 2015
Well I didn't mean to start a war, lol! After a relatively short trip I saw the temp rise to 200 while on the interstate going 60-65. But once I exited I noticed it creeping up around 215. I'm assuming this is the "soaking" effect? Anyway, I had no issues during the trip other than the right side brake light not working. The tail light works (2 filament bulb) but no blinker/brake. I'll have to take a closer look once we're back home.

BTW I drove in M6 with tow/haul on while on the interstate. Everyone was passing me like I was standing still, lol!

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Tranny temps: how hot is too hot?

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