Trans. Temp

Congrats on your new ride. We have a 2006 Dmax and have pulled many hills and passes without issue.

I figure the ambient outside temp. plus a 100 degrees, give or take 20 degrees on the temp gauge.

So if it's 100 outside, the trans temp will be right close to 200. On long pulls in the heat it may be a little more.

jamesu wrote:
Got my new truck (below). Traded in my 1/2 ton Ford F-150 for this 3/4 ton Chevy 2500 diesel. Love the difference when I'm towing. It was meant for towing.

Question: What's a "good" transmission temperature range when towing? At what tranny temp should I get concerned, and what do I do if and when it reaches that temp? This is my first diesel.

Congrats on your new ride, you naturally got yoself one more hoss of a truck.
I have a 2009 D/A 2500 that has took us from Tx to Wash DC, Then from Tx to Northwest Ca. Never had a minutes trouble pulling our 33'Blue Ridge 5V.

Truck & 5V loaded combo weighs 19,200 on cat scales.

Tran (& motor) temp did get up to 220dg going up long steep grades in Montana & in Yosemite's west entrance.

We just stopped at pullovers & enjoyed the view for approx 15 mins & allowed all to cool back down.

The 2011 Allison has improved cooling over the 2010. You will be running under 200 towing, maybe a bit more on a big grade. If you are any higher the trans fluid may be overfilled.

With that truck and trailer don't even worry about it. Even driving through hell you won't cook the fluid with that truck and trailer. Go have fun! :)

I would say between 180-190 towing on flat land is normal. 200 in the mountains is also normal. 225 max! I wouldn't run it near 250 at anytime for very long!

I don't have a diesel and don't know if that makes a difference. My tranny runs 160-170 under normal towing. I hit 190 when it's working uphill. 200 is my max pulling my camper up the side of a mountain in second gear at 35mph.

I've seen my Alison get as high as 218 degrees pulling some grades but usually runs around 204 to 210 towing and 182 not towing.

Hi,

Modern trucks finally have decent factory cooling package on them. No secondary cooler is required with the 6.6L diesel, unless you really hopped up the power beyond what the factory installs.

Have fun camping!

Fred.

IIRC my OEM idiot light/alarm is set for 250*F

I have a tranny temp gauge which uses temp well on line from tranny to cooler

Depending on air temps I typically see 130*F to 150*F not towing and 150*F to 190*F towing my 14K 5vr.

Have seen 210*F/220*F when backing 5vr into a tight parking site.