Trans temp

[Pool]

I watch the Trans temp while towing and curious what a good range is to make sure it is not too hot. I have a factory front mounted trans cooler on a four speed 5.3 engine. Normally runs about 176 - 182.

[APT]

Tow later wrote:
We are new to camping and purchased a Crossroads 27' Zinger 27RL, we also have a 2010 Chevy Avalanche 1500LT. We went camping last week and pulled the trailer approximately 200 miles and I noticed my trans temp was running between 198 and 205 degrees.

Seems normal. Do you use Tow/Haul mode?

Also the truck is rated to pull 8100 lbs, and the trailer is rated at 7850 lbs, I have installed a Reese Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control but the trailer dances and porpoises all over the place. I had the trailer set up by camping world and they said everything was right. I was informed by another RV service center that part of my problem was the Avalanche has coil springs and they suggested installing air bags as well. We are now considering purchasing a 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500HD with the all star package on it. We Sally don't want to spend the money on a new truck right now so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Is that a typo on 1500HD? Did you mean 2500HD?

That RV probably puts the Ave over receiver rating of 1000 pounds, rear axle rating, and GVWR/payload. You are towing in the 7500-8000 pound range with 6500 dry. 850 dry goes up too. A 3/4 ton would be great! Even an extended cab half ton would be better than the Ave with more payload, better suspension and receiver.

Why would you need to buy a new 2013? There are plenty of 2007.5+ GM 2500 trucks out there that will handle that RV far better, and worth about what your current truck is worth.

Spend $15 at a CAT scale to find out where you stand. Adjusting your hitch may help, but 3 passes at a scale will clarify that, what can be adjusted vs. what should be replaced.

[USMarine0369]

USMarine0369 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

USMarine0369 wrote:
I have a heavy duty transmission in my Ram with a 91% lock torque converter and low stall. In stop and go traffic mine will reach 200. Once I move it goes down, but in the city on hot days it will stay between 140 and 180 depending on my movement.
I installed a fairly large 2nd cooler in line with the factory one. I don't know why the Chevy guy would tell you that is a bad idea. You might want to bypass your factory cooler and just use an external one, as I think your factory cooler is routed through your radiator.
I also run Amsoil ATF in it and change it about every 16-20,000 miles.
You should look at your radiator and see if it is plugged up with road grime.
I'll try and post a pic of what mine looked like before I cleaned it out.

I am guessing by your pic you have a 2nd gen 24V.

Go thru the factory cooler first then the added cooler that way the oil get's warmed up.

I do. I went through the heat exchanger, the stock cooler, and added a cooler.

Towing in 90-100 deg weather mine will be less than 180. Normal temps (80-90 deg) at 60 mph I will be at or below 140-150.

[fly-boy]

Those are all very normal and safe temperatures- I saw 256 on my 2008 Allison and that truck ran better when I traded it in then it did when I bought it.

[Cummins12V98]

USMarine0369 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

USMarine0369 wrote:
I have a heavy duty transmission in my Ram with a 91% lock torque converter and low stall. In stop and go traffic mine will reach 200. Once I move it goes down, but in the city on hot days it will stay between 140 and 180 depending on my movement.
I installed a fairly large 2nd cooler in line with the factory one. I don't know why the Chevy guy would tell you that is a bad idea. You might want to bypass your factory cooler and just use an external one, as I think your factory cooler is routed through your radiator.
I also run Amsoil ATF in it and change it about every 16-20,000 miles.
You should look at your radiator and see if it is plugged up with road grime.
I'll try and post a pic of what mine looked like before I cleaned it out.

I am guessing by your pic you have a 2nd gen 24V.

Go thru the factory cooler first then the added cooler that way the oil get's warmed up.

I do. I went through the heat exchanger, the stock cooler, and added a cooler.

Yes, I forgot the heat exchanger!

[USMarine0369]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

USMarine0369 wrote:
I have a heavy duty transmission in my Ram with a 91% lock torque converter and low stall. In stop and go traffic mine will reach 200. Once I move it goes down, but in the city on hot days it will stay between 140 and 180 depending on my movement.
I installed a fairly large 2nd cooler in line with the factory one. I don't know why the Chevy guy would tell you that is a bad idea. You might want to bypass your factory cooler and just use an external one, as I think your factory cooler is routed through your radiator.
I also run Amsoil ATF in it and change it about every 16-20,000 miles.
You should look at your radiator and see if it is plugged up with road grime.
I'll try and post a pic of what mine looked like before I cleaned it out.

I am guessing by your pic you have a 2nd gen 24V.

Go thru the factory cooler first then the added cooler that way the oil get's warmed up.

I do. I went through the heat exchanger, the stock cooler, and added a cooler.

[bobsue2]

Just got back from towing in north GA hills (HWY-60)...temp was at 197...back in FL on the flats temp was 182.....

[mooky_stinks]

On my 12' Silverado I replaced the stock tranny cooler with a larger one. My towing temps went from 190-205 in traffic to 165-180 in 90* weather. When you remove the quick connect fittings from the OE cooler you can disassemble the line end and then install high pressure tranny hose to whatever cooler you choose. I wouldn't worry about it running too cool. Even with the stock cooler it ran 110-130 in the middle of winter.

[Cummins12V98]

USMarine0369 wrote:
I have a heavy duty transmission in my Ram with a 91% lock torque converter and low stall. In stop and go traffic mine will reach 200. Once I move it goes down, but in the city on hot days it will stay between 140 and 180 depending on my movement.
I installed a fairly large 2nd cooler in line with the factory one. I don't know why the Chevy guy would tell you that is a bad idea. You might want to bypass your factory cooler and just use an external one, as I think your factory cooler is routed through your radiator.
I also run Amsoil ATF in it and change it about every 16-20,000 miles.
You should look at your radiator and see if it is plugged up with road grime.
I'll try and post a pic of what mine looked like before I cleaned it out.

I am guessing by your pic you have a 2nd gen 24V.

Go thru the factory cooler first then the added cooler that way the oil get's warmed up.

[USMarine0369]

I have a heavy duty transmission in my Ram with a 91% lock torque converter and low stall. In stop and go traffic mine will reach 200. Once I move it goes down, but in the city on hot days it will stay between 140 and 180 depending on my movement.
I installed a fairly large 2nd cooler in line with the factory one. I don't know why the Chevy guy would tell you that is a bad idea. You might want to bypass your factory cooler and just use an external one, as I think your factory cooler is routed through your radiator.
I also run Amsoil ATF in it and change it about every 16-20,000 miles.
You should look at your radiator and see if it is plugged up with road grime.
I'll try and post a pic of what mine looked like before I cleaned it out.

[MNRon]

Tow later - the dance starts - need new TV for the TT, then can get a nicer TT, then need new TV again, and on and on it goes 🙂

Don't ask how I know...

BTW - Towing: makes sure the nose is dead level to slightly down (slightly down tows better for us), and measure front of car wheel well height without TT on and use weight distribution bars to redistribute weight such that you're near that same height with TT attached.

BTW2 - Tranny temp: I can't guarantee, but depending on how hot is was outside your temp doesn't sound too bad to me towing flat, BUT I expect you will probably have issues with mountains.

Good luck, and happy TV hunting (I just bought a Silverado 3500 diesel, our 3rd TV...)

[Tow_later]

We are new to camping and purchased a Crossroads 27' Zinger 27RL, we also have a 2010 Chevy Avalanche 1500LT. We went camping last week and pulled the trailer approximately 200 miles and I noticed my trans temp was running between 198 and 205 degrees. We were mostly on flat land as it was on the gulf coast in Alabama. I spoke with 2 guys at 2 Chevy service departments. 1 guy sad as long as the tranny temp did not get hotter than my engine coolant temp we should be ok, the other guy said it was running to hot and if it continued it would burn the tranny up. I also asked both guys about putting another tranny cooler on it and both suggested not to do that. My concern is when I go into the mountains will it run hotter and burn up? Also the truck is rated to pull 8100 lbs, and the trailer is rated at 7850 lbs, I have installed a Reese Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control but the trailer dances and porpoises all over the place. I had the trailer set up by camping world and they said everything was right. I was informed by another RV service center that part of my problem was the Avalanche has coil springs and they suggested installing air bags as well. We are now considering purchasing a 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500HD with the all star package on it. We Sally don't want to spend the money on a new truck right now so any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Amdavis76 wrote:
Hi guys, I don't mean to hijack this thread but I had a similar questions about the same truck but just when not towing. I have a 2013 1500 silverado (about 1,800 miles) with the 5.3 and I noticed that the transmission temp was 182 after about an hour of stop and go traffic. It was 104 degrees outside, so pretty hot. Once I got on the highway, it went down to 172 to 174 degrees. I was not towing anything. Is that normal in hot temperatures?

Normal.

[Amdavis76]

Hi guys, I don't mean to hijack this thread but I had a similar questions about the same truck but just when not towing. I have a 2013 1500 silverado (about 1,800 miles) with the 5.3 and I noticed that the transmission temp was 182 after about an hour of stop and go traffic. It was 104 degrees outside, so pretty hot. Once I got on the highway, it went down to 172 to 174 degrees. I was not towing anything. Is that normal in hot temperatures?

[Golden_HVAC]

That is a good temperature. Just make sure that it reaches at least 165F on a winter day, that will allow all the moisture to boil off from the fluid. You might need to cover the cooler in front of the radiator during snowy conditions.

You might see 205 - 225 during a climb in the mountains, and this is normal. However if towing, and you start to see 210 on flat lands, and 235 in the mountains, then you should install a larger cooler.

There is a chart for how long transmission fluids will last. At 300F, you should not drive more than about 100 miles before replacing the transmission fluid. At 250, the fluid will last 5,000 - 8,000 miles. At 235, it will last 12,000 miles.

At the temperature below 200, it should last the full normal change interval, such as 15,000 to 25,000 miles, depending on your manufactures recommendations for "Normal" use.

Fred.