Trans Temps

[TJC]

You are correct but I am not sure how much 10 degrees makes a difference

It makes a difference when reading the fluid level on the dipstick. Overfilling is just as bad as underfilling. Overfilling will result in foaming which increases wear and causes excessive heat.

The chart below is where the fluid level will be on the dipstick when filled at the diamond between 4&5 at 215F. Basically each reading at its respective temperature ( red arrow) is identical to the fluid level at 215F.

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[4x4 Ranger Man]

I see what you are trying to say.

 

[TJC]

I see what you are trying to say.

One last thought. At 230F you are at the top of the Ford recommended range with the fill level in the center of the range while at the top of Ford recommended temp window.

IOW, I filled to the middle of the fluid level range at the top of the temp range (intentionally filled a little on the low side (but well within the Ford Spec) to insure no foaming of the fluid at temps at or above 230F. If I had filled to the 4 level I have no doubt that when fluid temps exceeds 220F foaming would result.

I know this because I did just that and had foaming. The Mercon ULV expands considerably as temps rise. This is precisely why I want temps below 200F. I traveled up I-81 through the PA mountains doing 70 mph at night in 50F cool weather. Stopped for fuel and felt my transmission buck right as I stopped... transmission didn't disengage for a second or two.

Changed the fluid and lowered the level slightly, and added LubeGard Platinum. Drove the same 650 mile route a week later uneventful. The 10R80 are delicate, and care needs to be taken when servicing them. I change the fluid every 20K miles.

FWIW I began having Transmission troubles at 5K miles, By 18K the truck was parked until I figured out what was going on (with the aid of 2 folks on this forum). I am at 27K and truck is symptom free the last 9K miles.

 

[awd.nv]

Note it does use coolant from the radiator and look at #3 this controls the coolant loop

Oh yeah, that is totally getting engine coolant then. I guess a radiator would help with trans temps in extreme heat like the desert. We tow in the summer and temps are always "Safe" but wish they were lower on both engine and trans.

 

[Cmar]

Yes, but who else has a "Butt Lite" temp gauge?

Ooww nooo, yer dilithium crystals are needin regeneratin!
And I wouldn't be drinking that beer yet either, beer RSDT (recommended safe drinking temperature) should be around 39F or 4.0C, then again I probably wouldn't be drinking Bud Lite anyway.

 

[Cmar]

This is an interesting argument, because of our hot climate over most of the country here, aftermarket transmission companies are making a small fortune from selling additional air cooled radiators for the transmission fluid.
However a guy from the Ford Australia engineering team who frequents the Aus Ranger forums and was involved in designing the cooling circuit for the 6R80 and 10R 80 says this is unnecessary. He claims that they tested the stock circuit in the outback in summer, towing loads up to the recommended maximum, and that Ford Europe conducted similar testing in Morocco and Turkey and there was no problem. He said that most of the misconceptions were based on people still thinking of old transmissions and lubricants. He did say however that unofficially if you wanted your transmission to live a long life, change the oil about every 60,000 Km or so.

 

[Frenchy]

This is an interesting argument, because of our hot climate over most of the country here, aftermarket transmission companies are making a small fortune from selling additional air cooled radiators for the transmission fluid.
However a guy from the Ford Australia engineering team who frequents the Aus Ranger forums and was involved in designing the cooling circuit for the 6R80 and 10R 80 says this is unnecessary. He claims that they tested the stock circuit in the outback in summer, towing loads up to the recommended maximum, and that Ford Europe conducted similar testing in Morocco and Turkey and there was no problem. He said that most of the misconceptions were based on people still thinking of old transmissions and lubricants. He did say however that unofficially if you wanted your transmission to live a long life, change the oil about every 60,000 Km or so.

Maintenance will always be key to keeping a vehicle running for a long time with minimal repairs. Nissan states to change the Transmission Fluid every 30,000 miles regardless of it's for an Automatic or Manual. Of course they also mention to make sure you use the correct fluid as well.

 

[Dereku]

Maintenance will always be key to keeping a vehicle running for a long time with minimal repairs. Nissan states to change the Transmission Fluid every 30,000 miles regardless of it's for an Automatic or Manual. Of course they also mention to make sure you use the correct fluid as well.

Ford just hoped their long interval got the truck out of warranty and kept the cost of ownership down. Too bad now they have to account for a replacement transmission every 75k

 

[Cmar]

Ford just hoped their long interval got the truck out of warranty and kept the cost of ownership down. Too bad now they have to account for a replacement transmission every 75k

Sadly this seems to be a reference book that many manufacturers are working from now.

 

[Frenchy]

Ford just hoped their long interval got the truck out of warranty and kept the cost of ownership down. Too bad now they have to account for a replacement transmission every 75k

Factory warranty is 60,000 miles. If they wanted they could just say that the service interval is every 60,000 just so it makes it out of warranty right there

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

I had a chance to make a much longer drive this weekend this time with temps around 90 I had he same results even with more hills trans stayed in the low 190s. But I do wonder if temps on the coolant being in the low 200s is normal. Now this is not pulling and not in tow haul mode I guess I should have tried tow haul mode but since I changed the plugs out at 68000 miles I have been getting anywhere from 22 to 24 MPG again.

So screwing with my mpg was the last thing I wanted, I will be taking a trip through the same area towing again we will see what that brings. I do wonder why if temps need to be in the low 200s to check the trans why I never see them unless towing. This time I was in in hills running anywhere from 60 to 75.

 

[Grumpaw]

I had a chance to make a much longer drive this weekend this time with temps around 90 I had he same results even with more hills trans stayed in the low 190s. But I do wonder if temps on the coolant being in the low 200s is normal. Now this is not pulling and not in tow haul mode I guess I should have tried tow haul mode but since I changed the plugs out at 68000 miles I have been getting anywhere from 22 to 24 MPG again.

So screwing with my mpg was the last thing I wanted, I will be taking a trip through the same area towing again we will see what that brings. I do wonder why if temps need to be in the low 200s to check the trans why I never see them unless towing. This time I was in in hills running anywhere from 60 to 75.

200 is perfectly normal, a few high or low is dependant on conditions, temp ect.
Not considered near overheating till around 220-225 degrees.
Tranny fluid can get even higher without problems....215 considered normal operating temps and not till 250 or so considered overheating.
Normal driving. solo, it is hard to get trans temps hot enough to check fluid.....Ranger does have a decant cooling system for trans. Trans fluid will heat faster in stop n go, low speeds "lugging" than it will running 60-70 on the interstate.
Coolant will heat up faster than tranny fluid....usually around 10 miles for coolant to hit 190-195, but may take much longer for trans fluid.

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

200 is perfectly normal, a few high or low is dependant on conditions, temp ect.
Not considered near overheating till around 220-225 degrees.
Tranny fluid can get even higher without problems....215 considered normal operating temps and not till 250 or so considered overheating.
Normal driving. solo, it is hard to get trans temps hot enough to check fluid.....Ranger does have a decant cooling system for trans. Trans fluid will heat faster in stop n go, low speeds "lugging" than it will running 60-70 on the interstate.
Coolant will heat up faster than tranny fluid....usually around 10 miles for coolant to hit 190-195, but may take much longer for trans fluid.

Agreed the trip I took was 120 or so miles though central east Texas decent hills with speeds from 55 to 75 and the trans never climbed over 193 ish. So yes it is hard to get the trans over 200 in normal driving. We will see how things go next week because some of that same route I will take to the state park in Huntsville while towing the below.

 

[Grumpaw]

Agreed the trip I took was 120 or so miles though central east Texas decent hills with speeds from 55 to 75 and the trans never climbed over 193 ish. So yes it is hard to get the trans over 200 in normal driving. We will see how things go next week because some of that same route I will take to the state park in Huntsville while towing the below.

Ben, just go thru the Towing section threads about what some of us are towing....you will be surprised at what we tow with our Rangers.
It's kind of ironic that most of the tranny failures are from those who are always using their trucks solo while I don't recall any of us who tow having a failure. Not to say it hasn't happened, I just don't recall any.

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

Ben, just go thru the Towing section threads about what some of us are towing....you will be surprised at what we tow with our Rangers.
It's kind of ironic that most of the tranny failures are from those who are always using their trucks solo while I don't recall any of us who tow having a failure. Not to say it hasn't happened, I just don't recall any.

Thanks Steve, I am not so much worried about failure as I am preventing it from happening as best I can. I guess it is my preventive mindset from work, I plan on more studying before I do anymore I have the dipstick coming today and I did pull the trigger last nite on the shallow PPE pan.

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