More Trans. Temp Questions......

Yeah I know. I’m agreeing with you. Just saying if you wait for the light, on the automatic, as HIPsi suggests, it’s too late. Sorry it wasn’t super clear.

 

Well funny thing.

My dad has 2 4runners. One is 2007 salvage status beat up bush truck and another is 2013 SR5. Anyways, like a lot of older guys he does not give a shit about his vehicles really. I mean he changes the engine oil and thats about it, maybe he will do the diffs but it ends there.

He goes on overnight hikes a lot and drives on some rough roads. He usually goes with 4 of his buddies and they all go in his beat up 4runner. He told me couple times that he had high ATF fluid light come on when climbing a hill, so he had to stop and wait. He laughed when i said to drain and fill the ATF.

I drove that thing many times after and that transmission shifts like its brand new, i couldn't freaking believe it. If you see the condition of that 4runner you wont believe how nice it drives. Its got about 260k KM and its from alberta, rusted to shit.

 

This is a quote from a Ford trans engineer for the 6r80 trans. Not a perfect comparison for us but shows what a modern trans can put up without issue. Think people worry to much.

"Ford's standard is up to 220 is normal and you can run all day at that temp, and you can run up to 250 for up to 30min at a time. You should not exceed 250 if at all possible as there are some internal components that dont like to behave properly above 250."

 

It was established that MT oil temps are higher by 40°, eh...

 

The trans is designed to run at 200 degrees, same with the engine and coolant temp. The trans fluid go’s through the radiator, so it wants to be to be close to the engine oil temp and coolant temp while at operation temp. I have 500lbs of armor and 33s and regularly tow my samurai on a trailer which weights 5500lbs plus gear and people. I’ve never seen a temp above 230 towing and I’m hard on my truck. Like pushing 70 mph up the cajon pass on the 15 freeway here in SoCal on a warm day hard.

 

It was a huge difference for mine. 20*f reduction after pinning.

 

Dude empty I can hit that temp EASILY. That's wild. I can hit ~250* pulling a hill empty, very easily

 

Damn, I have a scan gauge 2 and this is close to the highest temp I’ve seen. I took this right about the top of the climb. I saw a temp of 228 at the highest. Rig weighs about 3000 lbs, trailer about 1800, I have about 400+ lbs of armor, and my bed is loaded with 300lbs camping gear including the 14 gallons of water and some fire wood, 2 people in the truck me 145lbs, wife 135lbs. This was in the morning of warm day and I was pushing the rig hard attempting to keep up with my bro and his Cummins towing 12k. When I towed my rig to the rubicon trail from Rancho Cucamonga, Ca 1000 miles round trip, I might have saw a temp of 230 ish but it was nice and cool.

 

That's so crazy to me, I never tow anything haha.

 

What? Since when, eh?

 

Dang pretty weird how different they are. Mine without towing runs about 200. I’ve seen about 230 while out Off-roading on a hot day going slow with the ac on. What’s the outside temp when that reading was taken? I have not modded the factory cooling whatsoever. I do have the tow package with the factory cooler just FYI, also have no lights or anything blocking any factory airflow.

 

Since January 3, 2021

 

Okie dokie.

 

Thats a serious pull. That last leg over Cajon is a bit steep. I assume you took 395 to Tahoe, so you pulled that load over Sherwin, Deadman pass, Conway Summit, and Devil’s Gate along with some lesser passes along the way.

 

Actually took the 5 freeway most the way so up grapevine, I’ve only been there 2 times in the past 6-7 years so I’m not familiar with those names. I had brakes only on one axle on the trailer at the time and my brakes were getting Hot in traffic coming down the pass.

 

Okay, so you probably came up the 15 and went across the 210 to the 5 and on up.
15 N has an exit to 395 N, after you crest Cajon, which takes you to Bishop, Mammoth, June, and is the Eastern entrance to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Basically it's the highway through the Eastern Sierra. It's also one of my favorite drives and the only way I go to Yosemite, Tahoe, and Lassen.
Sherwin is just outside Bishop and a long grade leading into the high Eastern Sierra. Deadman Pass is between Mammoth and June and tops out a little over 8,000 ft. Conway Summit is also over 8,000 ft and long. Devil's Gate is about 7500 ft. Long passes, a good grade, and high enough to make some vehicles gasp for air. If you ever go into Yosemite from the Eastern Sierra entrance, 120 can get as steep as 8% and tops out a little over 9, 900 ft. It used to be pretty hairy before they widened it and added guardrails.
If you have a chance to go that way, I think you'll like the drive. It's very scenic and you get a great view of the Eastern Sierra including Mt Whitney, the minarets around Mammoth and some interesting geological stuff. It's much different than the 5 which can be a racetrack and all the farm land you go through. I've driven it many times over my lifetime and I never get tired of it.

 

I've been monitoring my temps as I was getting ready to swap a 4454 into my truck and wanted to see before and after temps.

Towing my SxS up an 8% grade floored in 3rd gear got me up to 231 @ 90 degrees as I topped the hill.

Typically in normal, just clicking off miles mode, I usually am around 190-200, with the occasional rise to 220 or so in traffic.

I haven't towed yet with the new cooler, so I will see how it goes. I am unpinned as well.

 

Part of me wishes I went with a true cool. I have a mishimoto. I took this pic as I got off the freeway today. I think the dash said 102*

 

We have an 2008 Tundra we use for scrap hauling and plowing at the shop, same engine/trans as that 4r. It has 382k. We have ran it hot on ATF 20 or more times hauling so much in the bed we actually snapped a leaf. It plows 14 hours a day in the winter, and yet it still shifts smooth as can be, not a clunk in sight. Best thing I've ever plowed with too, nimble and agile, with just enough power.

 

That looks pretty good to me, maybe the 208 is a touch high, but mine will be about there at the off ramp too.

How are you getting it to 250? Power braking it? You fat? Just lucky?