Transmission Temps, double coolers or electric fan?

[awpsome]

Current setup: B&M 70268 cooler, bypass radiator. SC'd if that makes a difference to anyones opinions.

Trying to get your opinions with controlling higher temp spikes during heavy loads.

Day Driving: Seems to work without issue with trans temps on my autometer showing 130-160 all day. Occasional 180 spikes when driving uphill for a few miles or slightly higher temps when stuck in traffic on hot days.

Night Driving: Nice and cool down around 110-130 all night with minimal temp spikes due to cooler weather?

Heavy loads: Sand driving even at night, im seeing temps spike up to around 210 and float around 180-210 throughout the time driving through sand. I would add heavy loads would also include not just sand driving, but even long term offroading starts to have temps rise slowly closer to 180 side.

So whats your opinions? Should i run dual coolers? or for those of you who are running aux fans, hows that treating you? any brands and specific models you recommend?

I am assuming the issue is coming from only being air cooled from the radiator and with >5mph driving i am not getting enough revs or air movement to help with the cooling.

 

[Skidmarcx]

I wouldn't be alarmed from seeing 210 temps

 

[awpsome]

I wouldn't be alarmed from seeing 210 temps

Yea i figured not to bad seeing it once in a while, but been offroading a bit more often now and figured if i keep getting those spikes more often its probably not good for the trans in the long run.

I found a small procomp fan for less then $30 shipped, might try that out but its also close enough in cost to another cooler so im also considering that as well.

 

[toykidd]

are you using 4Lo when your offroad? if not thats your problem right there. when im on the trail in 4hi i can watch my temps get up around 200+ but i kick it into 4lo and they drop right back to 150-160* i am SC'ed and running the same cooler.

 

[awpsome]

are you using 4Lo when your offroad? if not thats your problem right there. when im on the trail in 4hi i can watch my temps get up around 200+ but i kick it into 4lo and they drop right back to 150-160* i am SC'ed and running the same cooler.

with the modest type trails we normally have here i usually am in 4hi all the time, with temps in the 150-180 mark. Its more so when i do uphills and sand runs.

I tried 4lo in sand but i feel like its just too slow sometimes. not that i mind if i was getting from point a to b in short distance, but when i seem to travel longer distances it would be nice to cruise it in 4hi and not worry to much about temps. idk what i am getting at..
i think ill just get an aux fan and see what happens.

 

[slapdappy]

I installed an LPD trans cooler rated at 20,000 btu transmissioncoolers.us: Tru-cool thin coolers model 4544, while the 70468 is rated at 13,000 btu. Perhaps install one with a higher btu rating?

 

[JFranklin]

Curious what air pressure are you running? I have the same issue at Cape Hatteras in my Excursion when running long distance. high air pressure makes the tires dig versus floating on top of the sand ruts. Drop it down to 15-20 and see if it drops the temps a bit.

 

[RichardLillard1]

I put a 70264 in mine back in February and noticed while headed up to Globe, from Phoenix, a week later that I got up to around 240°. Granted, I was loaded down with quite a bit of weight from camping gear, but it was still a cause for concern for me.

How long has your current oil and filter been in the transmission? This can possibly affect it as well.

While headed up the a trail this past weekend I saw it hit 256° once, however as soon as I put it in 4-Lo, it did cool off until I started going up some steep switchbacks.

Granted, it was probably 90°+ outside this past weekend and while I wasn't loaded down, I did have the AC on the entire time (not sure if that would have much effect).

My plan is to get a larger cooler, probably the 70266 before the Phoenix summer really starts to heat up in a few weeks. I'll run that for a while and if it isn't enough, I'll put both the 70264 and 70266 on and run the two of them together.

With that said, if you decide to get a bigger cooler, make sure you get a bypass valve, like one of these:

Amazon.com: Tru-Cool Long brand Transmission Cooler External Thermal Bypass 708-4739P6: Automotive

This will prevent the oil from being cooled right away and works like a sort of thermostat for the transmission cooler. A necessity on the larger B&M coolers because they don't have one.

Also, from what I've read, the temperatures are measured at the hottest point on the transmission, so your oil is likely around 20° cooler than the reading you're getting.

EDIT: Just read through your post again and the temperatures you're getting are nothing to really be concerned about.

 

[awpsome]

Curious what air pressure are you running? I have the same issue at Cape Hatteras in my Excursion when running long distance. high air pressure makes the tires dig versus floating on top of the sand ruts. Drop it down to 15-20 and see if it drops the temps a bit.

Yea thats what i was starting to think as well. air pressure being up at 38psi for road driving on sand probably doesnt help to much either.
I would drop them down, but i guess you could say that we dont have "that large" of sand areas here. I would air down a bit but the time spent on sand wouldnt be worth it especially because at the moment i dont have a compressor to fill back up and the nearest air at a gas station would be >5-10 miles away..
But yea good point, thanks!

I put a 70264 in mine back in February and noticed while headed up to Globe, from Phoenix, a week later that I got up to around 240°. Granted, I was loaded down with quite a bit of weight from camping gear, but it was still a cause for concern for me.

How long has your current oil and filter been in the transmission? This can possibly affect it as well.

While headed up the a trail this past weekend I saw it hit 256° once, however as soon as I put it in 4-Lo, it did cool off until I started going up some steep switchbacks.

Granted, it was probably 90°+ outside this past weekend and while I wasn't loaded down, I did have the AC on the entire time (not sure if that would have much effect).

My plan is to get a larger cooler, probably the 70266 before the Phoenix summer really starts to heat up in a few weeks. I'll run that for a while and if it isn't enough, I'll put both the 70264 and 70266 on and run the two of them together.

With that said, if you decide to get a bigger cooler, make sure you get a bypass valve, like one of these:

Amazon.com: Tru-Cool Long brand Transmission Cooler External Thermal Bypass 708-4739P6: Automotive

This will prevent the oil from being cooled right away and works like a sort of thermostat for the transmission cooler. A necessity on the larger B&M coolers because they don't have one.

Also, from what I've read, the temperatures are measured at the hottest point on the transmission, so your oil is likely around 20° cooler than the reading you're getting.

EDIT: Just read through your post again and the temperatures you're getting are nothing to really be concerned about.

nah no worries, thanks for your input. that bypass thing is pretty awesome, to bad its all the way to bypass till 180 degrees though, i figured you'd want to trans cooler than that? hmm so i guess from your trans temps to mines i really shouldnt worry to much huh?

i though the normal running temps thats "healthy" for a trans would be closer down to 130-150 range.. But thanks for your input, i might look into dual coolers but then have to worry about running too cold at night. Which is also why i think an aux fan would be nice, turn it on only when i need it i guess.

 

[coues7]

Do we have any professionals on the site that can shed some light on trans temperatures and what is ok for high temp?

 

[JEL]

Is a cold bypass even necessary in a place like Hawaii? I know the "coldest" it gets in the dead of "winter" in Honolulu is mid-60's. If I were in the tropics I'd probably just install the largest possible cooler, especially given the traffic and heat combo there. I can't imagine the cooler over-cooling the ATF there, but I guess it may be possible.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

All the auto manufactures will tell you 180 is the preferred temp.

Saying that, my Saturn in the winter never goes above 135-140. In summer its normally below 195.

I like the 160 zone myself. Oil gets hot enough to keep moisture out but not too hot.

 

[Lizard333]

Not a T4R, but I have a one ton dually diesel, 4x4, and I routinely tow 10,000 pounds plus, and I don't get my panties in a twist till I hit 240+. 210 is no problem at all.

Even then, for short periods of time, 280 is not going to kill your tranny. I would replace your fluid a little more often, but your good to go.

Hitting 210 is not abnormal all. I wouldn't waste your time or money on fixing a non existent problem.

 

[jgue467]

according to torque

So far in mild temps (for cental texas - 80's) mine warms up to 158, maybe 165 when driving at 70 but then cools back to 160 when slowing. We'll see what it does on some mild hills this weekend.