Does the transmission fluid need to warm up?

My truck is parked outside all winter. When temps go down I let the engine warm up a few minutes before driving. Does the transmission fluid also warm during this time? I heard once that the transmission need to be in neutral--as opposed to "park"--for the fluid to circulate through the transmission to warm up? Any truth here?

thanks

 

What area do you live in? Curious how cold we are talking about.

 

Minnesota. Going to be sub-zero for the next few days.

 

Don't waste time and fuel with the truck idling to warm up.

Get in the truck, start it, clear the windows (if needed), buckle up, drive. The engine/trans will warm quicker when being used. Just drive easy for a couple miles.

I have been in Iowa nearly all my life. Never bother with long periods of idling to warm up an engine. Use the correct viscosity oil, give a couple moments after start for the oil pressure to build, then drive easy for a few miles.

 

There is a difference between cold, and extreme cold. In cold or moderate temps most of the warm up is for the comfort of the driver. Of course taking it easy until the engine is up to normal operating temperatures is advisable. But below zero I'd give the engine a little more time before driving. You still won't get the transmission up to normal temps until you start driving so either way it is advisable to take it easy for a while.

 

Just my assumption, but I don't think the trans oil warms up at idle. The trans oil temp works itself up as it shifts up and down through the gears.

 

Most vehicles have a trans fluid cooler built into the radiator. When the coolant in the radiator gets warm the trans fluid will warm up with it

 

It will warm up just from the heat being conducted back through the engine and transmission.

 

Do you use/have a block heater?

 

What he said.

 

I do the same thing and never have had any issues with the tranny not working properly. Winter in Grand Rapids gets 30 below or more for short stretches. I usually fire it up for 5 minutes or so while I scrape windows and then take off. It does warm the engine up a little faster if I drive it in 4 instead of D for the first few miles, but the tranny function has never been different or sluggish no matter how much I warm it up or don't.

 

I'd be more concerned about warming up the engine oil when it's very cold than the transmission fluid, automatic transmission fluid doesn't tend to thicken as much at low temperatures as engine oil does.

Most modern electronic transmissions have a strategy in their programming (using different shift points, not allowing TCC lockup, not allowing overdrive, etc) to help warm up the transmission fluid.

Don't just drop it in drive and hit the gas as soon as it starts but I would say give it 30 secs to a minute or so maybe a bit more if it's really cold then drive it easy for the first few miles and you should be just fine.

Vehicles with turbocharged engines are where warmup and cooldown really come into play to make the turbo last as long as possible, turbos don't like to be spooled up cold or shut down immediately after pulling off the highway while they are still very hot.

 

I usually try to take it easy until the truck gets up to operating temp. Not sit there and idle though. My ATF shifts better at operating temps for sure.

 

The transmission fluid will warm up at idle. In fact, that's the basis behind the ATF temp check procedure. That said, I doubt there's much benefit to warming it up first.

 

While I have about .001% of your knowledge, I was thinking about this last week re the 2022 Tundra, which I'd been toying with the idea of getting. Not crazy about start/stop though & this looks like it would be a royal PITA.

 

Yea I don't like it either but thanks to the EPA most new vehicles have it, most can be disabled with a button (although they turn themselves back on every key cycle).
Some can be permanently disabled with minor mods while others can not although I don't know about the Toyota system as I haven't seen one yet.
I feel like starters and batteries are going to become popular failure items in the next few years if this continues to be a thing.
Not that I want people to get hurt but I'm hoping there turns out to be enough issues with accident's and people getting stuck in traffic because of them that the start/stop crap goes away.

 

Not much I can add other than the behavior of the transmission when cold.
(From my experience)

You’ll be waiting a good bit before it warms up in really cold weather.
It warms up MUCH faster if you drive it.
And from my experience, the transmission will shift a bit firmer until the fluid is warm. This is normal. Mine shift “harder” into 5th when it’s cold. Heard enough you notice the difference.
This is normal.

In cold weather I usually wait until the temp gauge just start to raise off cold. But not alway. I do take it easy until the temp gauge is up to normal temperature.

 

Yes.

 

You're good to go then. Plug it in when it's real cold, let it warm up for a minute or so before driving, and then drive away. Just don't go wild until the engine is up to full operating temperature.