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Old 05-27-2018, 05:57 PM   #1
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First trip in the books - Tranny question.

Well, I just got back from our first trip with the new coach. The site wasn’t the best, but the camper was outstanding! We have the x17z hybrid, and it lived up to our expectations. No complaints at all except I was concerned about the tranny fluid temperature when we arrived at the site.
The campground was only about an hour away, but when we arrived our temp was 230 degrees. Granted it was 92 degrees outside. On the way home we only hit 196 degrees but it was 58 degrees outside. I was well under my cargo carrying cap. on the TV and TT. Should I be looking for a bigger tranny cooler or am I just being paranoid?
Other than that, and the excessive amount of deer ticks....it was a great trip!
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:22 AM   #2
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That doesn't sound optimal. Were you using tow/haul mode?
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:31 AM   #3
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Have you checked the fluid since you got back to see if it is burnt looking or low?
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Old 05-28-2018, 08:28 AM   #4
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What is your "normal" operating temp?

How many miles?

Last serviced?


Time for a flush?
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Old 05-28-2018, 03:14 PM   #5
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Thanks for the replies.
I did not use tow/haul mode. My RPMs were much higher in that mode so I shut it down shortly after we began. I thought that could be raising the temp quicker.

Fluid levels and color look good. I have the dealer do the oil every 3500 miles or 6 months (which ever comes first) since I’m still under warranty. Never had a flush done. Maybe that’s something to look into. Only have 28k miles on TT.
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Old 05-28-2018, 03:26 PM   #6
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Should always use the tow/haul mode, the rpm's will be higher, but the tranny shift points will be different, and in turn, keep the tranny from hunting for the right gear. Numerous shifts generate heat.
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Old 05-28-2018, 03:41 PM   #7
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based on this chart your temp was way high and shortened the life of the fluid and eventually your tranny.

Transmission temperature/failure chart.

I pull a 195RB with my Jeep Grand Cherokee and the max I have seen is 196.

I turn off ECO mode which lowers the shift point which in turn lowers the tranny shifts. It also turns off overdrive which can also cause overheat.
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Old 05-28-2018, 03:55 PM   #8
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I’ll have to try it in tow/haul mode. We have a trip coming soon. I’ve seen smaller TV towing bigger TT than mine. Makes me wonder how they are doing it.
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Old 05-28-2018, 04:01 PM   #9
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From my research it sounds like the real trouble starts at 270 with the newer style transmissions and higher quality fluid. I think you will see your temps drop if you use your tow/haul mode, due to less hunting for the correct gear.
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Old 05-28-2018, 04:24 PM   #10
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74,

Does your truck have the tow package? If so, then it should have additional cooling for the trans. Guessing it does if you have the tow/haul selector, as I think that was part of the tow package (if I remember correctly).

What bearing do you have?

Did you leave the truck in “D”, or did you select “M”, and lock out 6th, or even 5th gear?

If the trans was hunting back and forth between gears, looking for the best one, that is what builds heat. And a lot of it!!! It’s better to select M5, or even M4 if the trans wants to shift a lot. Driving in stop and go traffic builds heat also.
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:38 PM   #11
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The Dodge Ram has 6 gears. In normal driving it uses 2-6 with 6 being overdirve. In tow mode it uses 1-5 with first gear for tale off. Not using tow mode puts more stress on the clutches but will not create problems immediately. Trucks without a tow mode and or the wrong rear end gear will crate high temps and tranny damage.
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:39 PM   #12
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Great feedback everyone. I really appreciate it.

I read as well that at 270 the fluid begins to degrade. Check engine light comes on at 265 I believe. I do have the tow package and I drove in D the whole time. I think it was operator error on my part for not using tow/haul. It wasn’t exactly flat roads I was traveling either. Lesson learned.
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:53 PM   #13
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These new transmissions are made to operate at higher temperatures.
A little research led me to the knowledge that the RAM 8 speed has a heat exchanger from the engine oil. Just to heat the transmission fluid up faster.
200f is normal for the newer units, unladen.
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:58 PM   #14
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Definitely check to see if you have the tow package which will give you a transmission cooler.

I'm towing quite a bit heavier (8000lbs) with a 1/2 ton truck like yours and I have never seen my temps above 210, even going through the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia.

I'm thinking since you didn't have T/H engaged, your truck was hunting for gears and creating a volcano's worth of heat.

What speed did you tow at?
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:59 PM   #15
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Quote:
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. . . when we arrived our temp was 230 degrees . . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Downtown74 View Post
. . . I did not use tow/haul mode. My RPMs were much higher in that mode so I shut it down shortly after we began. I thought that could be raising the temp quicker . . .
Kudos for checking your tranny temps. Lotta folks don't.

Higher engine RPM's are a tranny's best friend. Less shifting, better torque conversion, means less tranny heat. When we had our Tundra 5.7, we would regularly lock our tranny in 3rd and 4th gear (6-sp tranny) and pull 4,000-5,000 RPM's on 7 percent grades---with very little change in tranny temps.

Last year our Cummins pulled a 13,000 lb. 5th wheel up a 5 mile switchback with 1,200 ft. of elevation change at 25 mph---in 117 degree heat! Although the climb took less than 15 minutes---in 2nd gear, tranny temps still climbed from 170 degrees to 200 degrees. At 25 mph there was very little air moving through that radiator and tranny cooler (even with the fan activated). Sometimes it doesn't take long.
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Old 05-29-2018, 06:59 AM   #16
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Quote:
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These new transmissions are made to operate at higher temperatures.
A little research led me to the knowledge that the RAM 8 speed has a heat exchanger from the engine oil. Just to heat the transmission fluid up faster.
200f is normal for the newer units, unladen.
My 2015 Ram averages 174-175 degrees. Empty, loaded or dragging a trailer and being loaded. Doesn't matter time of day or year.
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Old 05-29-2018, 08:10 AM   #17
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Mine averages 195.
Anytime also.
Towing, I've seen 205.
The "gauge" stays mid range regardless.
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Old 05-29-2018, 10:32 AM   #18
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My 2015 Ram averages 174-175 degrees. Empty, loaded or dragging a trailer and being loaded. Doesn't matter time of day or year.
I assume your Ram has a Cummins? Our '16 Cummins also stays around 170 most of the time---empty or towing heavy. However, when we get into steep, long, climbs requiring max boost (20+)--which is fairly common in our area, those tranny temps will eventually rise. When temps rise above 195 or so, the radiator fan clutch activates. That huge radiator fan on the Cummins moves some serious air---sounds like a jet engine. First time we heard it we thought we had seriously messed something up
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Old 05-29-2018, 10:59 AM   #19
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I assume your Ram has a Cummins? Our '16 Cummins also stays around 170 most of the time---empty or towing heavy. However, when we get into steep, long, climbs requiring max boost (20+)--which is fairly common in our area, those tranny temps will eventually rise. When temps rise above 195 or so, the radiator fan clutch activates. That huge radiator fan on the Cummins moves some serious air---sounds like a jet engine. First time we heard it we thought we had seriously messed something up
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Old 05-29-2018, 03:45 PM   #20
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I would think that 270* tranny fluid temp means a fluid change for sure with possible damage to the internals. Newer trucks/trannys are designed to run hotter (200-220) than older trucks, but not 270* If you see 220* for extended periods, need to stop and let it cool down, and check for burnt ATF fluid. A fluid change is mo' cheaper than a new tranny.
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