Okay. What do I do now?

[jungleexplorer]

Well, after a lot of debate and advice I decided to stay with my current TV and see how it would do.


My TV: 2007 Silverado 1500, Quad Cab Short bed.
Engine: 5.3 V8
Trans: 4 speed auto with overdrive
Diff Ratio: 3.23
Tow Package: Stock with auxiliary trans cooler.

My TT: 2005 Kodiak 19FL

Length: 23ft
UVW: 3780 pounds
LVW: 5000 pounds (estimated loaded vehicle weight).

Okay. Today I took my rig for a test run. I have a bluetooth OBD2 scanner and the Torque app to monitor my transmission temp with. It was 100 degrees here and the trailer is weighing around 4000 pounds (still dry with only some clothes and stuff in it). I made it only 7 mile on flat ground before my trans mission temp hit 200 degrees. I drove 300 miles yesterday in my truck, unloaded without the trailer, and my transmission temp never got over 167 degrees and it was just as hot yesterday as it is today.

I was think about adding a an additional trans cooler but I don't know if it would just be better to get a lager TV. Advice?

[BenK]

smkettner,

Thanks, learned something and changes my DB...always thought a TrueTrac was a
locker because it's from Gleason Corp's 'Torsen' diff

Looked at them for my K5 and the 2 seater (trying to find $$$ and time to
restore) way back in the 70's

Again, thanks and gotta update my noodle's DB

[time2roll]

Truetrac Differential

The Eaton Detroit Truetrac® limited-slip differential is the pioneer in helical gear based traction technology. Wheel spin out is limited by the differential, which employs pinion- and side-gear separation forces to automatically transfer torque to the wheel with the best traction. Mobility, stability and handling are enhanced, and drivers can be confident knowing that up to 3.5 times more torque is being transferred to the high-traction wheel.

http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsServices/Automotive/DifferentialsLockingDifferentials/PCT_317264

[2112]

smkettner wrote:

APT wrote:
Would 3.73/4.10 gears be better? Yes, but $1500+ with 4WD on an 8 year old truck doesn't seem like a wide investment. Save the $$$ until you can replace it with one that has 6+ gears in the trans.

Same thing was told to me back in 2006. Spent $3,000 as I also upgraded both differentials to limited slip Truetrac. Truck is still running and pulling great. Sand, mud, snow is also much improved. The OP just needs to decide if he will be keeping the truck another 5+ years. Lots easier to keep driving it when it is working well.

For the OP, I agree you should get an auxiliary transmission cooler if you currently just have the integral transmission/radiator cooler.

Nowhere does he say it's a 4WD. The best thing he could do for his tranny at this point is get rid of the 3.23 if he plans on keeping the truck. I'm sure he wants to keep the great gas mileage but that might cost him down the road.

[BenK]

Nit...but a 'TrueTrac' is not a LS, but a locker

Agree...you should find a better mechanic if he did say adding another
aux cooler will cause problems with the AC...yes anything added will
'slightly' reduce air flow, but not enough to offset the benefits

[time2roll]

APT wrote:
Would 3.73/4.10 gears be better? Yes, but $1500+ with 4WD on an 8 year old truck doesn't seem like a wide investment. Save the $$$ until you can replace it with one that has 6+ gears in the trans.

Same thing was told to me back in 2006. Spent $3,000 as I also upgraded both differentials to limited slip Truetrac. Truck is still running and pulling great. Sand, mud, snow is also much improved. The OP just needs to decide if he will be keeping the truck another 5+ years. Lots easier to keep driving it when it is working well.

For the OP, I agree you should get an auxiliary transmission cooler if you currently just have the integral transmission/radiator cooler.

[texasclarks]

jungleexplorer wrote:
Not sure what caused the extreme heat up yesterday, but I did not make it too 200 degrees today over 150 miles from with a 1300 foot climb in elevation. The trans temp made it to 199 degrees for a short time while climbing the steepest hill on the trip with outside temp at 103. It ran about 188 the whole way except for when I was pulling steeper inclines.

I thinks it's okay to go. I think what happened yesterday was that I started off that 7 mile trip with some short starts and stops to adjust my new trailer brake controller. Starting and stopping seems to be what heats it up fast.

Continuous air flow over the cooler will definitely help the temperatures remain low. The start & stop is terrible for temperatures.

[ktosv]

jungleexplorer wrote:
I thinks it's okay to go. I think what happened yesterday was that I started off that 7 mile trip with some short starts and stops to adjust my new trailer brake controller. Starting and stopping seems to be what heats it up fast.

Yes, starting and stopping can heat it up real fast. From your post yesterday, I was going to say that if you had it in fourth and then dropped it to third and it started to spike, it may not have actually locked up the torque converter right away. At that point you would have seen the temps rising, you got concerned and stopped before it locked up.

I towed the trailer in my signature with a 05 1/2 ton Suburban with the 3.42 axle. I added a tranny temp gauge and one weekend when outside temps were >95F my tranny temps didn't exceed 210F. Even though you have the 3.23 axle, your trailer is smaller and I think you will find that your truck will do just fine for the most part.

[APT]

jungleexplorer wrote:
Thanks. I called my mechanic and he said that adding a bigger cooler in front of the the radiator is not advisable because it can restrict airflow and cause other over heating problems with the AC condenser. I am going to see if there is space to put one somewhere else. I have seen some that come with an electric fan that can go anywhere. I wish there were someone here that had one of these installed to tell me how they work for them.

I think you need to find a new mechanic. Keep enjoying the truck as is until you can afford something newer.

[jungleexplorer]

Not sure what caused the extreme heat up yesterday, but I did not make it too 200 degrees today over 150 miles from with a 1300 foot climb in elevation. The trans temp made it to 199 degrees for a short time while climbing the steepest hill on the trip with outside temp at 103. It ran about 188 the whole way except for when I was pulling steeper inclines.

I thinks it's okay to go. I think what happened yesterday was that I started off that 7 mile trip with some short starts and stops to adjust my new trailer brake controller. Starting and stopping seems to be what heats it up fast.

[Fordlover]

jungleexplorer wrote:
Well, after a lot of debate and advice I decided to stay with my current TV and see how it would do.


My TV: 2007 Silverado 1500, Quad Cab Short bed.
Engine: 5.3 V8
Trans: 4 speed auto with overdrive
Diff Ratio: 3.23
Tow Package: Stock with auxiliary trans cooler.

My TT: 2005 Kodiak 19FL

Length: 23ft
UVW: 3780 pounds
LVW: 5000 pounds (estimated loaded vehicle weight).

Okay. Today I took my rig for a test run. I have a bluetooth OBD2 scanner and the Torque app to monitor my transmission temp with. It was 100 degrees here and the trailer is weighing around 4000 pounds (still dry with only some clothes and stuff in it). I made it only 7 mile on flat ground before my trans mission temp hit 200 degrees. I drove 300 miles yesterday in my truck, unloaded without the trailer, and my transmission temp never got over 167 degrees and it was just as hot yesterday as it is today.

I was think about adding a an additional trans cooler but I don't know if it would just be better to get a lager TV. Advice?

I'm a bit surprised as well. My current setup has towed about 10K miles, and my TT is similar to yours. I don't know what the temps hit, but since it came from the factory with the upgraded tow package, I don't worry about it. Ford must have done OK building it because it hasn't blown up on me yet. (knock on wood).

[jungleexplorer]

On the road now making a 150 mike trip with the trailer in tow. Outside temp is 96. Temps have stayed around 187 so far after 40 miles

[kw_00]

Again 200 is normal, mine will reach that pulling my setup. No need to panic.

[BurbMan]

Before you spend money on anything, you need to confirm that the trans temp stays at 200 when towing, that is completely normal. You should be able to tow in D with tow/haul on and let the computer do its thing. Only go to 3 manually if it's shifting a lot, that adds heat. As long as the temps stay in 200-210 range you don't have anything to worry about. If they start climbing to 235+ then you need to address it.

I would change the fluid and filter first. Use Dexron VI fluid, it's what GM is using now and is full synthetic.

[Iraqvet05]

I recently sold my 2007 1500 with the same specs but with 3:42 gears. On 90 plus degree days, the trans temp would hit 200-210 all the time and that was with new fluid at pulling over 5k lbs. I had the tow package with the small factory trans cooler and no matter what I did (dropped to 3rd gear, slowed down)that trans temp really didn't drop much. The factory trans cooler is just too small. 200-210 seems to be the norm but if you are concerned, I'd upgrade to a bigger cooler...replace the existing cooler, don't add anotehr in line. You can add thesecooler line adapters and keep the old lines then use a Tru Cool or similar cooler like this B&M. The factory cooler is a tube and fin design while most aftermarkets are stacked plated designs which have more tubing inside the cooler to minimize their overall size.