transmission temp

T

Texas gn

Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
What is the operating range temp for a 2004r tranny? I saw mine creep up to 190 today.Is it time to upgrade my cooler? Oh, the engine temp was at 180. Thanks for any input!
 
Mine runs 125-135 normally. On really hot days 150. Only time I hit 180 or more is off the transbrake and during a trip down the track.
 
Temp Sensor location will give different readings, sensor located in the Pan will read much lower than Sensor in Line out to Cooler, line Out/Feed to Cooler comes directly from the TC, Line In/Return from Cooler goes directly to Lube circuit.
Recommended/Ideal Temps >> http://www.tciauto.com/tc/trans-life-expectancy
Just like Engine oil you want the Trans fluid warm enough to boil off condensation & provide proper lubricity but, cool enough to prevent damage to Trans & Fluid.

From PATC site:
Transmission Cooling: ( You must have a transmission cooler in your radiator regardless of what someone has told you for the transmission to last. Auxiliary coolers are just that, in addition to. Water cools 32 times better (faster) than air always, period. In the case of air vs. water, there is no contest - water is way better. The transmission fluid comes directly from the torque converter at a much higher temperature than the water in your radiator and is cooled to the water temperature fast. Then it goes to the auxiliary cooler to be cooled far below the water temperature. If you don't need a cooler in your radiator why does GM spend all that money doing so? If you wanted to cool a red hot piece of steel fast would you stick it in water or air, see the point. )

A Strip only car can get by with an External only Cooler as it's not in constant use. It should be a Large one tho'.
Cooler in the Radiator also quickly brings the Fluid temp up to proper operating temp in cool/cold weather.

Todd
 
SSedan64 said:
Temp Sensor location will give different readings, sensor located in the Pan will read much lower than Sensor in Line out to Cooler, line Out/Feed to Cooler comes directly from the TC, Line In/Return from Cooler goes directly to Lube circuit.
Recommended/Ideal Temps >> http://www.tciauto.com/tc/trans-life-expectancy
Just like Engine oil you want the Trans fluid warm enough to boil off condensation & provide proper lubricity but, cool enough to prevent damage to Trans & Fluid.

From PATC site:
Transmission Cooling: ( You must have a transmission cooler in your radiator regardless of what someone has told you for the transmission to last. Auxiliary coolers are just that, in addition to. Water cools 32 times better (faster) than air always, period. In the case of air vs. water, there is no contest - water is way better. The transmission fluid comes directly from the torque converter at a much higher temperature than the water in your radiator and is cooled to the water temperature fast. Then it goes to the auxiliary cooler to be cooled far below the water temperature. If you don't need a cooler in your radiator why does GM spend all that money doing so? If you wanted to cool a red hot piece of steel fast would you stick it in water or air, see the point. )

A Strip only car can get by with an External only Cooler as it's not in constant use. It should be a Large one tho'.
Cooler in the Radiator also quickly brings the Fluid temp up to proper operating temp in cool/cold weather.

Todd
Click to expand...

When I bought my car I thought it was strange that the engine oil is cooled through the radiator where typically the tranny lines would go. (like my camaro) My transmission has an external cooler on the front of the radiator….with that being said and from what I read from you is that my setup is screwed up. What I needed to do is flush my radiator oil cooler and t the tranny lines into it and then add an engine oil cooler.
 
SSedan64 said:
Temp Sensor location will give different readings, sensor located in the Pan will read much lower than Sensor in Line out to Cooler, line Out/Feed to Cooler comes directly from the TC, Line In/Return from Cooler goes directly to Lube circuit.
Click to expand...

So where is the ideal trans temp sensor location?
I've read before that the pan is.

thanks
D
 
EVIL said:
So where is the ideal trans temp sensor location?
I've read before that the pan is.

thanks
D
Click to expand...

I normally install it in the Pan on a street or street/strip car. Gives a good average temp.
Many install it in the IN/Return line from Cooler to monitor the fluid temp going back into Trans.
 
I was going to start a new thread until I saw this one, so I'll just append this thread....

I'm running an aluminum radiator and it has the fittings for the trans temp lines, but even with the tightest of 90 degree fittings, they hit my A/C condenser, therefore I just left them plugged (to keep dirt out) and ran just an external cooler. This worked fine with a lockup converter and the temps never saw much above 160 degrees.

Now that I have a non-lockup, it runs much hotter. This week I saw 220 degrees so I parked the car and ordered another cooler to run in addition to the existing one. It's a heat-sink style and it was easy to install. It's about 17 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches in diameter. I took the car out today and beat on it a little and the temps never got above 175.

What's also cool is I mounted it below my front-mount intercooler, and I trimmed the factory air-dam to clear the new trans cooler. It gets direct air while driving. Here are some pics.
IMG_1413m.jpg


IMG_1414m.jpg


IMG_1415m.jpg
 
I got to get me one of those coolers! I had the same problem with aluminum radiator and fittings hitting condenser. I made some low profile 90 degree fittings and made everything fit but without an auxillary external cooler my trans seems to run a bit warm. I plan on buying that finned cooler and mounting it like you have. Thanks for the idea.
 
my chevy silverado, w/ factory tow pkg, has trans temp gauge.
flat ground, not towing, 175-185 all the time,
towing open car trailer , w/ car, 185- 195, I've seen 205 on long up hill stretch,
it has in rad cooler and external cooler , all factory,
fluid has never smelled burned.
 
As the old fella says . . . More than one way to skin a cat . I see PATC's point and pretty much agree with it but my 34 recored radiator does not have a built in trans cooler . I run a large B&M stacked plate in front of the air cond. condenser backed up by a large tube and fin under the front fender . My gauge sending unit is tee'd into the cooler return . I want to see if the coolers are doing their job . I don't drive it in the colder months .
 
I just did a test. I ran a type K thermocouple down the dipstick tube into the trans pan. I then drove around with the ac on in traffic for about 20 minutes on a hot day. (I live in Houston and it is about 95 outside right now). I never got into boost and I saw a max of 265 F. I have got to get an auxillary cooler! Max coolant temp was around 200 by the way. Out on the highway in the evening the coolant never gets above 170. I think my transmission fluid is heating my water.
 
I run a large 7 bladed flex fan ( biggest that will fit without touching the 34 fenders on each side ) . I removed the inner fender splash panels off when i painted the car and never put them back on .

That thing will suck your drawers off . :D
 
My electric VDO water temp gauge does double duty . Got a VDO sensor from Summit , I think it was . Wired it up to read either Water or trans temp with a toggle switch . Differing opinions about where to put the trans temp sensor .
 
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