Thread: transmission temp too high?

Well u could do a tranny pan drop and filter change but that won't help temps. You could install an extra cooler to the front of ur transmission. If u keep an eye at my my ride thread this weekend I will be installing my new tranny cooler. I'll show how and all so u could as well

Just because the trans was rebuilt doesn't mean it can't get hot. Trans temps are affected by many outside factors. Stop and go traffic will get a trans hotter faster. Install an aftermarket cooler.

Originally Posted by Linebacker

if you do a cooler install with a walkthrough by the way that would be great.

Yup I'm going to try to install my new one Saturday but I gotta work then so if i don't this weekend I will next

Also check my my ride thread out..links in my SIG and u can see what my new cooler looks like. It was a little more expensive but in my mind its worth it. Keep in mind I have the gxp with 5.3 not 3.8 so the gxp runs stock temps of 210°F so a cooler is almost required

A colder thermostat will be a cheap/easy way for you to lower your trans temps.

Originally Posted by GTPpower

A colder thermostat will be a cheap/easy way for you to lower your trans temps.

To my understanding that won't do much if anything unless u tune for it. Because the fans won't kick on earlier so cooling won't be affected to much

The fans are only used when the radiator isn't able to keep enough airflow through it to keep it under temps. As long as you are somewhat moving, it will keep it cooler than a 195* t-stat will.

People running a 180 thermostat without the fans tuned are still seeing 200+ coolant temps. Besides 180 thermostat is a waste even if you do have the fans tuned.

Uhhh....if you are running a 180* t-stat and are seeing 200+* coolant temps, you have something wrong.

I've been running a 180° t-stat, and It has only made it to 200° twice in the past 3 months. It normally runs at 190-195°F city traffic. Whereas before with the stock t-stat, it would run at 198+

When I'm on the highway (rare) I see 185-190°.

222° isn't a "big deal" so to say, but it doesn't need to get this hot. Nothing gets better as the temps get higher than 200°. If I were you, I'd just install an aftermarket trans cooler in series with your stock one so the temps stay at or below 200°.

Also remember that your transmission is cooled by your engine temperature coolant. If your engine was always running at 200 last year, and your trans ran at 210, but this time your engine was running at 210, and your trans was running at 222, that would be normal.

Originally Posted by GTPpower

Uhhh....if you are running a 180* t-stat and are seeing 200+* coolant temps, you have something wrong.

200 is where temps normally run. 195 is just where the stock thermostat opens. With a 180 thermostat, sure it opens at 180, but the temp is still going to climb until the fans kick on, hence you will still see 200+.

^^^ Hmm.... I have a 180* stat AND tuned for it. Even in stop and go traffic or pulling my mountain behind a slow paranoid driver my temp gauge has never gotten above quarter way on my gauge so IMO and based on my experience with my car it's working properly and keeping my motor around 180 - 190 degrees. If mine hits 200 or 210 I'd be concerned after what I've done to keep it cool.

NOW if you drop your tstat temp and NOT tuned for it then you will have more erratic temperature movement according to your gauge (in stop and go traffic). If you are in stop and go traffic, your coolant temp can get to 200* because while your car is not moving your fans will not start to circulate air over your radiator until you have hit your factory temp settings. By this point, your motor will probaly be running hotter because your stat will be open more frequently not allowing your coolant to sit and absorb the heat from the motor as it's suppose to... It is ideal to have your stat and fans working hand in hand.

Your trans pump is constantly working so really your trans fluid does not "sit" in your radiator and cool as your coolant does. When I have my trans built, I (personally) will run an external trans cooler large enough to bypass my radiator one. I will also have an electric fan attached to it on the front pushing air through.

This is just my $.02 and maybe wrong, but seems legit.. LOL

Originally Posted by stealthee

200 is where temps normally run. 195 is just where the stock thermostat opens. With a 180 thermostat, sure it opens at 180, but the temp is still going to climb until the fans kick on, hence you will still see 200+.

Yeah, if you are sitting in traffic. Any other time, it SHOULDN't get that hot. Unless you have other issues.

Originally Posted by dbextreme

^^^ Hmm.... I have a 180* stat AND tuned for it. Even in stop and go traffic or pulling my mountain behind a slow paranoid driver my temp gauge has never gotten above quarter way on my gauge so IMO and based on my experience with my car it's working properly and keeping my motor around 180 - 190 degrees. If mine hits 200 or 210 I'd be concerned after what I've done to keep it cool.

NOW if you drop your tstat temp and NOT tuned for it then you will have more erratic temperature movement according to your gauge (in stop and go traffic). If you are in stop and go traffic, your coolant temp can get to 200* because while your car is not moving your fans will not start to circulate air over your radiator until you have hit your factory temp settings. By this point, your motor will probaly be running hotter because your stat will be open more frequently not allowing your coolant to sit and absorb the heat from the motor as it's suppose to... It is ideal to have your stat and fans working hand in hand.

Your trans pump is constantly working so really your trans fluid does not "sit" in your radiator and cool as your coolant does. When I have my trans built, I (personally) will run an external trans cooler large enough to bypass my radiator one. I will also have an electric fan attached to it on the front pushing air through.

This is just my $.02 and maybe wrong, but seems legit.. LOL

The actual reason the transmission oil is routed through the radiator, is to help warm it up on cold days. As you said, the radiator doesn't work very well to help cool it off, once it's above the T-stat rating.