Typical transmission temps?

I read that too and found it very interesting…

I am clearly on one side of the isle here but I would have thought the cooler would bring the temps below 200. And another thought here: does the cooler initially do a better job (cooler temps) than the puck in the current 19+? And when used for extended time periods (hours) does the cooler and the puck have similar temps? Meaning does it equal out after longer periods…

 

I was a bit surprised by their response, but not totally as I didn't find anything in the owner's manual stating that towing must be done in S4. And that may be all that they looked at when they formulated their response to me. But now I figure I have it in writing that they said to tow in D, and though I typically tow in S4 and S5, if I do encounter a problem down the road and they say that I should only have used S4, I have it documented when they said otherwise.

My question to them specifically asked if I should be towing in S4 or in D. Here is the relevant part of their response:

In the interest of guest satisfaction, we researched your inquiry. From our available resources, the tow/haul mode should be used with transmission in D while towing.

The TOW/HAUL pattern select switch is a momentary-type switch.

• 
  If the shift lever is in the D position when the switch is pushed once, tow/haul control will be performed. If the TOW/HAUL pattern select switch is operated again, or the ignition switch is turned off, tow haul control will be cancelled

 

Thanks. I was thinking it was S5 for some reason. When towing I used to go between d and s5 depending on flat or hilly areas and s5 always kept temps lower.

 

Where were they towing though? Like what were the other factors - outside temp and elevation. My 2010 would get up to 230 sometimes when it was 100 outside. I’m not sure of the btu rating or however it’s rated, but the factory cooler isn’t that big.

 

No the poster did not go into many details from what I recall.

 

Last week I was towing just over 4k lbs in 100 degrees on very substantial hills. Without a transmission oil cooler and in S4 I topped out at 231 deg F. I'm sure my temps would have been higher if I was towing a larger/heavier load, but still, I'm surprised by some of the numbers posted on here.

 

I am one of those with the cooler and I do experience higher temps in the tranny than I want to see.

Mine is a 2015 and I had around 4K in the trailer I would guess though I did not weigh it either.

I just got back from a 6000 mile trip and towed for half of it and used the T/H mode extensively during the trip.
The T/H selection seems to just change the programmed shift points and delays really and overall just provides much more enthusiastic shifting or lets call it less lazy shifting maybe?
I stayed in Drive unless in the mountains too and then would drop down as needed for engine braking and better power on the way back up too and I noticed my Temps staying around 220 to 240 much of the time and in fact I started to get upset enough about it that I just stopped watching them honestly.
No ill effect was noticed at any time either thankfully.

I was in Mo,Ks,Co,Wy,Mt,Id,Utah,Nv and Ca. and the outside temps did get up to 100 fairly often outside or worse. Engine temps were where they always are really and I could easily see temps in the tranny change depending on hills and shifting and I had no problems at all until I got to Ca. and found that if you drive a full sized truck then you are screwed as there are few parking spaces designed for us anymore?
Screw California!

 

T/H makes the throttle more sensitive, too.

 

T/H is fun.

I've read several posters on here say it only works in D but I can definitely tell it works in S4. In fact, we had stopped at a rest area and I forgot to re-engage T/H while in S4. As I accelerated up the ramp to get back onto the freeway, I was concerned something was wrong with the truck as I just couldn't get it to accelerate and respond the way it had been all day long, then I looked down and realized I had not selected T/H mode. Oops! It makes a big difference!

 

Exactly what I was saying

 

Ditto. I made the mistake of turning it off once I was cruising and watched my speed plummet until I turned it back on again.

 

Sorry, I thought you were talking about shift points.

 

Everything about the experience is enhanced in T/H is what I was trying to say.
I constantly forgot to switch it back on during the trip but it sure did not take long to remember after trying to merge without it.

 

No idea, but they said it wouldn't be more than $1k, I'm still 2 weeks out from delivery. I assumed it would only be a couple hundred, but it really doesn't matter if it's $1500, I'm happy to pay that. I'll be towing 6k in the heat of the Gulf States, so I need that piece of mind.

 

What was he towing, where was he towing, how many people did he have with him, what cargo did he have in the bed, what was the weather like? All of those factor in, and I've seen plenty of 1/2 tons towing well outside of their suggested range, and that can push the tranny to 230 even with a cooler under certain situations. I never tow more than 80% of the max tow capacity, and that's the general rule of thumb for most. I'm at about 65%, and that's about the limit where you start to really feel every big truck and semi. I've never seen over 210 in my GMC AT4, but that's a different bag of trouble.

There will be anecdotal examples drawn from all directions here, the only thing that will solve this is time and data collection.

 

So this is fine? LoL Although if the PID equation is not right, neither would this, right?

 

Which software is this?
On my OBD Fusion I did not enter any equations but just selected the pre-defined PID for the Tranny temps but this is a question that I have had since getting mine as well.

If the equation defining the PID is off then wont the Temp reading be off too?

 

This is Torque Pro. There wasn't a preset PID for trans temp and pan temp. A little searching and I found a PID. I have a small hand held reader that I need to compare I guess.

 

Certainly has to make you wonder either way.

 

Did he specify at the pan? I would love more specifics on that. Since adding the cooler, my pan temps seem to be pegged at 190-200°F, even when I was loaded over GVWR in the mountains. My TC temps did see 235°F a couple times very briefly on very long mountain grades when I’d use passing lane to get around campers, but once it found lockup, it dropped like a rock to match the pan temp. Contrast this with before the cooler: once my trans temps got any higher than 220°F, they stayed there until I shut the truck off.

One other observation regarding the warmer/cooler puck: it takes forever to bring the trans fluid temp up to engine coolant temp. When I leave in the morning for work, my engine oil and coolant temps get to ~195°F within a few minutes of driving. At this point, the trans pan temp is in the 160s. Yet when I arrive at work, 15 miles and 25 min later, the trans fluid is only reading ~180°F.

If the puck is that slow and inefficient as a warmer, what reason would I have to expect that it will cool the heated fluid down in a timely manner?

Anybody seen @JohnLakeman lately? He used to contribute quite a bit to these discussions.

 

Mine acts like yours pretty much albeit with higher temps too.
The Pan stays about the same but as the tranny downshifts the Converter temps can rise quickly bit them fall again just as quickly when locked up.

 

What?

WHAT?!

How do we verify the equation? Ask Tie-ota which one they're using?

 

I have been wondering about Mr Lakeman as well, not been active since May ! Hope he is ok!

 

Did you have to buy the "extra features" to see transmission?

 

Yes it was $10 more to unlock a crapload of extra stuff but the Tranny Temps were the main reason for the Software to me anyway so it was just part of the deal that I needed.

 

Ok. I bought the app, and was looking for them. Found some PIDs from Ruggybuggy. Was gonna try them. May use Techstream to read temps and compare. At 1st I couldn't get fusion to connect.

 

Did you put in custom PIDs or but the Toyota packet?

 

I tried to add a PID. Tested it and it said successful. But that's as far as I got. It had no option to save it.