Colorado B.S. Thread

Hooray gears

 

Axle gearing also, I was referencing transfer case though

 

I know. My favorite kind of gear.

 

So since I was using 4 high at ~ 5 mph speeds (and high altitude) it might have been the culprit?

 

High chance of yes. You'd be running in 1st or 2nd gear with the torque convertor unlocked for probably the entire time. This generates a TON of heat in the torque convertor and transmission fluid (hydraulic fluid, not lubricating oil). This transmission fluid then gets pumped around and into the bottom of your radiator, which is shared with the engine, so this heat would then transfer to the engine coolant. This would cause everything to run hotter than "normal".

Next time use low-range.

 

Have you changed your trans fluid? Might think about it now since you probably cooked it a bit.
I monitored my trans temps and would see them go to 220 or so when slow climbing even in 4lo. I flushed the trans and I've added an additional cooler.

 

I rarely use 4lo and never have overheating issues. I live at 10k ft and all the trails around here go up.

 

Do you monitor your transmission temps?

 

I’m usually always in 4lo. Much easier on a trail that way.

Buy this truck is my first auto transmission in my 30 years of owning a vehicle. so we’ll see how this goes.

 

Thanks everyone. Hopefully don’t have the issue the next time I have a chance to visit the mountains if I stick to 4 low.

I had a Nissan Pathfinder previously that had a thermostat that would always bounce around and it made me have flashbacks to those horrid days

 

It may be worth mentioning that I have the tow package and therefore the additional transmission cooler. I thought about asking that of @BraskaTaco earlier, but didn't.

I typically only put it in low if (aside from downhill braking mentioned earlier) things are really steep or loose. Most of the time, the kinds of trails I'm talking about, I'm not even in 4wd except to get in the '10 miles a month' thing.

And all the situations I'm talking about the only difference I've ever noticed is having to gas it more to keep going. The only times low has made it 'easier' is when I knew I actually needed it. Or maybe it would have made one short little stretch easier but not the mile or two on either side of it.

 

Well yeah, I’m assuming it’s being used during times you need it. Otherwise I’m in 2WD.

It’s very rare that I ever find myself in 4hi off road.

 

FWIW I have the tow package and still added an additional cooler.

 

Y'all and you are crazy. I use 2Lo all the time - especially to park up on curbs.

Do you have the 2-4 select transfer case or the J-stick? If you've got the former, look up "blue plug mod" to get 2-Lo I'll meet you at the mall.

Also, I've used 4High quite a bit - in snow in the winter as well as blasting through Death Valley on the washboard. It gives a good amount of extra traction on the washboard compared to 2wd.

 

Just so you could drive trails? Or because you actually tow reasonably heavy stuff on a relatively regular basis? Were you constantly overheating your transmission or at least running hot before you did? I only mentioned it because if he doesn't have it and I do, it could make a difference in the temps we see under the same driving conditions. Because other than all the extra weight he's carrying (armor, bumpers, shell), we have the same basic truck, and in all the time I've run things at altitude or out in UT, I don't normally ever notice it running any hotter than usual, just a couple of times.

 

Because I'm scared of auto transmissions
This is the first auto I've ever owned and it seems like they usually are totalled when the trans goes out. So when I saw high trans temps on trails I wanted to make sure I never cooked my fluid again.
Rarely tow more than a 3rail mc trailer.

 

Food for thought, the OEM light doesn't turn to to tell you it is overheating until over 300°. By that time you've likely already done the deeds. Run in low range whenever possible to save your transmission life. While you might be able to do it in high range, your not helping your transmission. Hell, I boat ramp in low range to save temperature.

Get a scan gauge of sorts and watch your fluid temperatures, you'll be shocked.

 

I was just about to say maybe I should look at one of those (another thing I've seen people get and thought about but never had justification to spend the money), since I'm sure the dash gauge being 'in the middle' doesn't tell me much of anything - like an actual temp. Nor would I even know what the temp range should be until the five minutes I just spent Googling it. I was pretty sure that any warning light would be 'you're probably fucked' as opposed to 'you might want to look at this'. Why the hell do they do that instead of making warning lights actual warnings?

So new topic (ok old topic but I don't want to go searching): what OBDII monitor do you (anybody) use or recommend? I know Scangauge is popular, and I think Ultragauge is the other big one. I'm sure there must be some that can link to smartphones which is now actually something I could consider.

 

I have a j-stick transfer case shifter.

Isn't there the gray wire mod on 01-04s to get 2-lo?

I don't winter wheel because I shovel enough snow at home and blasting through washboard dirt roads sounds like it's got "ditch" written all over it. Plus I don't blast anything in a vehicle. I drive like a grandmother.

 

Scangauge can read auto trans temps.
Ultragauge can't unless you get the MX model and do some configuring (someone correct me if I'm wrong)
Torx and other apps work off bluetooth and can be displayed on your phone. Androids have a lot more available apps than the iphone.