First time Towing with the XL

[97audia4]

Towed home what will be the new track day bike hauler, 7x16 2350 lbs empty. It was 96 here today, traveling on the turn pike most of the way at 65-70 in tow haul mode the trans temp was 200 and engine temp about 225 to 230.

It has 97k miles on it and looks like the original water pump and thermostat.

Any thoughts on being proactive and replacing it awhile and not waiting for it to fail?

Also I see some put trans cooler installs in line with the factory, I was thinking about putting a bigger cooler in place of factory.

 

[swathdiver]

Have you done the 100K service? If not, seems like a good time to get her done since you'll be towing. Was the engine temp from the instrument panel or from a scan tool or OBDII adapter?

 

[97audia4]

Have you done the 100K service? If not, seems like a good time to get her done since you'll be towing. Was the engine temp from the instrument panel or from a scan tool or OBDII adapter?

It was from the instrument panel gauge.

15k ago it just had a major service.


Transmission fluid changed
Transmission filter replaced
Front differential fluid flushed/changed
Differential serviced
Transfer case serviced
Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed
Transmission serviced
Oil and filter changed
Axles checked
Tire condition and pressure checked

 

[Doubeleive]

I added the trucool max to mine and a B&M transmission pan which gives the transmission 2 extra quarts, helped a LOT, now it normally it runs around 120-35, the highest I have seen it get since then is 186 and I was at 6500-9000 feet and pushing it hard thru the mountains, in fact that was yesterday the temp was around 70-75 at that altitude which is pretty warm, the coolant temp went up to about 215 which is the first time it's even budged and I have already added a slightly bigger 1 3/8 radiator and the dual 500w fans (same as opt code k5l), check your glove box for the code you may or may not already have that option. mishimoto recently released a 3 core all aluminum radiator which can help also but it depends on how much you want to spend or not spend that radiator runs about $500, the truecool max runs around $125 or so, the B&m was around $250, there is one or two other company's that make a bigger trans pan also but I think they run about the same price. I had a flex a lite transmission cooler installed previously but it only helped a little the truecool max is about 40% bigger than the flex a lite and that is what really helped a lot. you can do the trans cool upgrade pretty easy, it fits in place of the factory cooler with just minor modification for mounting brackets which come in the box with it.

 

[intheburbs]

I'd be more worried about the engine being at 225-230 than I would be about the transmission running at 200. I can see brief spikes in the engine temperature if you're pulling a long grade, but if it was constant at those temperatures, that's a problem.

 

[swathdiver]

The instrument panel temperature gauge is purposely designed for the needle to more or less be vertical, showing 210 or just under. A scan tool will see the actual temperature which is usually between 190-195 on a normal day and not generally towing. It was done that way to keep people from panicking when the temp rises a few degrees while towing or climbing grades and such.

When your coolant was flushed, do you know if they put in Dexcool mixed 50/50 with water again? When they "flushed"" it, did they use a chemical additive or just water? Like Bill said, something is amiss.

 

[97audia4]

The instrument panel temperature gauge is purposely designed for the needle to more or less be vertical, showing 210 or just under. A scan tool will see the actual temperature which is usually between 190-195 on a normal day and not generally towing. It was done that way to keep people from panicking when the temp rises a few degrees while towing or climbing grades and such.

When your coolant was flushed, do you know if they put in Dexcool mixed 50/50 with water again? When they "flushed"" it, did they use a chemical additive or just water? Like Bill said, something is amiss.

It was completed at a GMC dealer I would hope they use dexcool proper mix. It is the correct color. As soon as I went through E-ZPass exit and slowed down it pointed right to 210. There was no coolant loss or leaking of any kind and it runs 210 when around town and even wot pulls with ac full blast.

 

[97audia4]

I added the trucool max to mine and a B&M transmission pan which gives the transmission 2 extra quarts, helped a LOT, now it normally it runs around 120-35, the highest I have seen it get since then is 186 and I was at 6500-9000 feet and pushing it hard thru the mountains, in fact that was yesterday the temp was around 70-75 at that altitude which is pretty warm, the coolant temp went up to about 215 which is the first time it's even budged and I have already added a slightly bigger 1 3/8 radiator and the dual 500w fans (same as opt code k5l), check your glove box for the code you may or may not already have that option. mishimoto recently released a 3 core all aluminum radiator which can help also but it depends on how much you want to spend or not spend that radiator runs about $500, the truecool max runs around $125 or so, the B&m was around $250, there is one or two other company's that make a bigger trans pan also but I think they run about the same price. I had a flex a lite transmission cooler installed previously but it only helped a little the truecool max is about 40% bigger than the flex a lite and that is what really helped a lot. you can do the trans cool upgrade pretty easy, it fits in place of the factory cooler with just minor modification for mounting brackets which come in the box with it.

All for spending the money if it true effects are felt, and temps get lower. Larger pan and 40k is what I have been looking at. Did you mount yours with ports downwards or facing up?

 

[swathdiver]

I just came across this in the owner's manual. It says it is normal for the temperature to rise up to 250 when towing or driving in the hills. The boiling point of a 50/50 mixture of Dexcool and water is 265 degrees.

 

[Doubeleive]

All for spending the money if it true effects are felt, and temps get lower. Larger pan and 40k is what I have been looking at. Did you mount yours with ports downwards or facing up?

I had to do it with the ports facing up because there is no room with them facing down, the mounting position of the ports doesn't matter because the fluid will get pumped thru no matter how it is mounted, the idea however of course is for maximum air flow

 

[97audia4]

I had to do it with the ports facing up because there is no room with them facing down, the mounting position of the ports doesn't matter because the fluid will get pumped thru no matter how it is mounted, the idea however of course is for maximum air flow

Do you a picture of yours mounted? I looked on mishimoto website and the only thing I saw was a OE direct replacement no aluminum option. I would go that route and with the cooler and deeper pan, is there still clearance with the y pipe under neath?

 

[Doubeleive]

Do you a picture of yours mounted? I looked on mishimoto website and the only thing I saw was a OE direct replacement no aluminum option. I would go that route and with the cooler and deeper pan, is there still clearance with the y pipe under neath?

I haven't gone the mishimoto radiator route (yet), but they posted on the forum a couple of months ago about it. the transcooler is a Tru-Cool Max LPD 47391 I have pics of it installed, what it comes with (hardware) and then with it compared to the flexalite, you can find it reasonable on ebay or amazon

 

[Doubeleive]

I had to make minor modifications to the mounting bracket holes with a dremel tool to get the bolts lined up on top, then on the bottom I just lined up the brackets where I needed them and then cut them shorter, I also used standoffs behind the mounting bracket so nothing was rubbing, you may want to pick up some standoffs from the hardware store there not included with the kit. I forgot I also had to move the ambient temp sensor to the side on a bracket because it was telling me it was 150deg outside, you can see the standoffs and the sensor in this picture

 

[97audia4]

I haven't gone the mishimoto radiator route (yet), but they posted on the forum a couple of months ago about it. the transcooler is a Tru-Cool Max LPD 47391 I have pics of it installed, what it comes with (hardware) and then with it compared to the flexalite, you can find it reasonable on ebay or amazon

Thanks for the help, Im going to order one now, along with deeper pan and reach out to Mishimoto about the radiator. With the coolant temp what it was I am sure that the cooler in the radiator was too hot for the small factory cooler to overcome.

I have checked the trans fluid today and at hot its perfect level and color and does not small burnt one bit.

 

[97audia4]

I just came across this in the owner's manual. It says it is normal for the temperature to rise up to 250 when towing or driving in the hills. The boiling point of a 50/50 mixture of Dexcool and water is 265 degrees.

I didnt stay there the entire time, just on the climbs but it didnt cool off as fast as I would have liked either until I slowed down which was strange as there was less air movement.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thanks for the help, Im going to order one now, along with deeper pan and reach out to Mishimoto about the radiator. With the coolant temp what it was I am sure that the cooler in the radiator was too hot for the small factory cooler to overcome.

I have checked the trans fluid today and at hot its perfect level and color and does not small burnt one bit.

this is the radiator, it's cheaper to get from a distributor than direct.
https://www.jegs.com/i/Mishimoto/690/MMRAD-GMT-99/10002/-1

 

[Doubeleive]

the transmission pan is however probably cheaper to get direct from b&m, check there website for stock availability it took me about 3-4 months to get one and when I finally got it, it was the only one in stock and it went back to sold out again

 

[Doubeleive]

just checked there website, sure enough it is sold out, there are several listed on ebay for the same price, but I would ask the vendor if they actually have it in stock before ordering otherwise there going to make you wait or give you a refund.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=70392+b&m&_sacat=0

 

[97audia4]

the transmission pan is however probably cheaper to get direct from b&m, check there website for stock availability it took me about 3-4 months to get one and when I finally got it, it was the only one in stock and it went back to sold out again

Summit shows it in stock and shipping out next day so I placed the order for everything needed today.

 

[Doubeleive]

Summit shows it in stock and shipping out next day so I placed the order for everything needed today.

ya they showed it in stock when I was shopping for mine also but, I believe they have it shipped direct from b&m but I could be wrong, might want to call them and verify or you will know for sure if you get a tracking number tomorrow or not.