We just got back from a 6300 mile trip that took us west from Alabama to Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Jackson, Yellowstone, Rapid City and back home. Went through several mountain passes, and saw transmission fluid temps hit 250 F several times. The last pass we went up on Hwy 14 near Sheridan Wyoming was by far the most difficult and I had to stop several times going up to allow things to cool down. I refused to allow the transmission to get above 250 or the radiator temp to exceed 225 F. I was really flying blind coming out of Yellowstone, because we had no cell data and I could not solicit the internet for the best route. I chose Hwy 14 over Hwy 26 and that was probably the wrong choice? So the question I have is 250 F to hot for transmission fluid, and should I change it out now that I'm home and out of the mountains? It still has a pink tint, but not as pink as is was before we left.

It isn't "too" hot but it is getting up there. Also, you should have let the temp go above 225 since many cooling fans dont come on until 226~230 - which is perfectly fine.

Oh! 250! My Tahoe has never been over 205. I'd change it and check the cooling.

ScottG wrote:It isn't "too" hot but it is getting up there. Also, you should have let the temp go above 225 since many cooling fans dont come on until 226~230 - which is perfectly fine.This ^^^^^^. It's toasty but not too hot. Red line for me is 275; and it can even go above that for a short period of time. The real question is why did it get this hot?(Warning. Someone will post a 1950 chart showing how dangerous it is to have your AFT go above 15 degrees F before it is junk. :B)

I would change it and get a bigger, better transmission cooler, but that's just me. Had a transmission guy years ago tell me if people would just change transmission fluid every year he would be out of buisness. That said I change mine every two years. Good luck, John

I would go another 25 on each before I even backed off the throttle.Low gear will build some heat as the torque converter usually will not lock.It is OK to just go a bit slower too.Will not hurt to change... consider going synthetic if not already OEM fill.

Transmission Fluid Temperature | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Jun 11, 2017
I would go another 25 on each before I even backed off the throttle.
Low gear will build some heat as the torque converter usually will not lock.
It is OK to just go a bit slower too.

Will not hurt to change... consider going synthetic if not already OEM fill.
shadows4
Nomad
Jun 11, 2017
I would change it and get a bigger, better transmission cooler, but that's just me.

Had a transmission guy years ago tell me if people would just change transmission fluid every year he would be out of buisness. That said I change mine every two years.

Good luck, John
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 11, 2017
ScottG wrote:
It isn't "too" hot but it is getting up there.
Also, you should have let the temp go above 225 since many cooling fans dont come on until 226~230 - which is perfectly fine.

This ^^^^^^. It's toasty but not too hot. Red line for me is 275; and it can even go above that for a short period of time. The real question is why did it get this hot?

(Warning. Someone will post a 1950 chart showing how dangerous it is to have your AFT go above 15 degrees F before it is junk. :B)
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 11, 2017
It isn't "too" hot but it is getting up there.
Also, you should have let the temp go above 225 since many cooling fans dont come on until 226~230 - which is perfectly fine.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2017
Oh! 250! My Tahoe has never been over 205. I'd change it and check the cooling.

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Transmission Fluid Temperature

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