Transmission Towing Temp

[Mikana31]

It was hot yesterday and I was towing my horse trailer for about 3 hours, up and down some pretty significant hills. I noticed my transmission temp got up to 238 at a couple of points. The trailer is fairly high profile and, with the horse and tack, likely weighed about 4500#.

Tahoe is a 2013 SSV with the normal SSV options, 170k miles. As I am reading it, 238 is too hot. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

 

[GreyStone]

It was hot yesterday and I was towing my horse trailer for about 3 hours, up and down some pretty significant hills. I noticed my transmission temp got up to 238 at a couple of points. The trailer is fairly high profile and, with the horse and tack, likely weighed about 4500#.

Tahoe is a 2013 SSV with the normal SSV options, 170k miles. As I am reading it, 238 is too hot. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

Did your SSV come with the HD cooling options?

 

[Mikana31]

Did your SSV come with the HD cooling options?

If that's indicated by the K5L on the service parts identifier sticker, then yes.

 

[GreyStone]

If that's indicated by the K5L on the service parts identifier sticker, then yes.

View attachment 255523

Yep you got the whole package - does your gear selector have an operational Tow/Haul button?

 

[Mikana31]

Yep you got the whole package - does your gear selector have an operational Tow/Haul button?

It does, and Tow/Haul was on the entire trip.

 

[GreyStone]

It does, and Tow/Haul was on the entire trip.

Make sure your tires are at max inflation so they roll easy - and when it gets hot try locking out 5th gear, run in 4th - Curious , what size tires do you have?

 

[Mikana31]

I'd have to look to be sure, but they are what came on it when I picked it up from Denver PD.

 

[Bob2C]

I have an 18 5.3 6 speed with the max tow package and just got done towing a travel trailer with a dry weight of 4500lbs plus our crap. Trans temp in tow/haul mode on highway was 194-199 and occasionally got to 201 briefly when climbing hills. Nothing too significant. After I got off highway and did some in town driving temp went to 210, but came back down quickly once stopped and idling. I am running AMSOIL Signature in the trans if that makes any difference. I did not tow with it when I had ac Delco fluid does I can’t compare.


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[Bob2C]

Decided to exchange some fluid only after towing. AMSOIL signature has about 4K miles on it and prior I did the full exchange (10 of 12qts) and filter. Didn’t know I was going to towing. This time I exchanged a little under 5.5 qts.

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[Doubeleive]

here is what I would do
1. drain the coolant, flush it real good with just water, put in some chemical flush and straight water, run it for at least 15-20 minutes or up to 3 days.
2. drain it, flush it with straight water again, yank the radiator out and install a new one and dexcool.
3 install a tru cool 40k (inline, not bypassing the radiator), if it has a external trans cooler yank that and throw it away (the tru cool replaces it)
problem solved.

 

[Seamus]

I have a 2013 Suburban 5.3 w/ 6 speed also. Just towed to Virginia 800 miles. It was hot out. In the moring I didnt touch 200 degrees. Afternoon 200-215 all day. 1600 miles of towing and my trans fluid is still cherry red as it was changed out 5k before I left for trip. Very important to check coolant condition. The other things guys forget it to blow out radiator and cooler fins with compressed air from behind. I had my bumper off to put in an LED light bar and you would not believe the crap that hit that floor from the fins. Make sure you have protective glasses on when doing it. Good luck

 

[avalonandl]

Dexron 6 is good to 260. 238 is warm but not overheating.

 

[hyper z]

Swap your OEM cooler for TruCool 40k cooler.

 

[PG01]

 

[swathdiver]

I have a 2013 Suburban 5.3 w/ 6 speed also. Just towed to Virginia 800 miles. It was hot out. In the moring I didnt touch 200 degrees. Afternoon 200-215 all day. 1600 miles of towing and my trans fluid is still cherry red as it was changed out 5k before I left for trip. Very important to check coolant condition. The other things guys forget it to blow out radiator and cooler fins with compressed air from behind. I had my bumper off to put in an LED light bar and you would not believe the crap that hit that floor from the fins. Make sure you have protective glasses on when doing it. Good luck

Don't let it get past about 36K-45K or sooner if you tow the same again. I did a week of local towing on mine and the BlackStone Labs report said it had about 10K miles of life left in it at 36K. The hot warnings don't come on until the 260s.