Transmission Fluid Temperatures

[dvpvic]

New owner of a pre owned 2016 LT w/ max tow pckg. Been driving around for a week noticed temps are around 190 most of the time with just myself in the vehicle not towing or any cargo. Yesterday was a warmer day about 94F or so and I saw it spike to 196 while going up couple hills around my house. Are these normal temps? I searched other threads and it seems like it there’s a mixture of answers. I’m used to my 6.7L ram that never goes above 190 even Ive I’m heavily loaded. Any feedback is appreciated.


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[swathdiver]

New owner of a pre owned 2016 LT w/ max tow pckg. Been driving around for a week noticed temps are around 190 most of the time with just myself in the vehicle not towing or any cargo. Yesterday was a warmer day about 94F or so and I saw it spike to 196 while going up couple hills around my house. Are these normal temps? I searched other threads and it seems like it there’s a mixture of answers. I’m used to my 6.7L ram that never goes above 190 even Ive I’m heavily loaded. Any feedback is appreciated.


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Your truck has a thermostat for the transmission fluid too. So it's always going to be near that temperature unless you change it or remove it. It was put there for emission purposes, not longevity.

 

[Big Mama]

While 6 degrees isn’t much Mine fluctuates when towing uphill but not unloaded. Is the power train still under warranty?

 

[Big Mama]

Wow James you always have new nuggets of info. Whodathunk a thermostat for trans fluid?????

 

[dbbd1]

Wow James you always have new nuggets of info. Whodathunk a thermostat for trans fluid?????

Yeah, it's set for 180*.

Towing, my temp will get up to around 210* uphill. I've heard that these are built (fluid too) to withstand up to 240* with no adverse effects.

 

[dvpvic]

While 6 degrees isn’t much Mine fluctuates when towing uphill but not unloaded. Is the power train still under warranty?

No it is not under warranty.


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[Big Mama]

Maybe James can tell us if it should fluctuate unloaded but you might consider adding an external trans cooler if it’s a concern I’ll watch mine tonight gotta drive in traffic up and down hills.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Imo, if you're under 200, you're in good shape.

 

[swathdiver]

Maybe James can tell us if it should fluctuate unloaded but you might consider adding an external trans cooler if it’s a concern I’ll watch mine tonight gotta drive in traffic up and down hills.

Well, for those of us with older trucks, yes the temperature fluctuates more. I would imagine that the K2s temps will be more stable with the thermostat. The OPs temps are fine and the transmission can handle a lot more before any warnings go off which are north of 260 degrees.

 

[dvpvic]

Maybe James can tell us if it should fluctuate unloaded but you might consider adding an external trans cooler if it’s a concern I’ll watch mine tonight gotta drive in traffic up and down hills.

Yeah if you could give me a rough idea that would be great. But for the most part sounds like I should be fine.


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[YukonXLMan]

YouTube has a few 6L80 Transmission thermostat delete videos detailing thermostat removal, tapping and plugging the port that allows trans fluid to bypass the trans cooler. and reinstalling. In scouring the comments on some of these videos, one person stated they simply took out their thermostat, turned it around and reinserted it to block off the same port, thus making the entire task much easier to accomplish.

Anyone have any experience doing this mod and if so, what's your opinion on the thermostat reversal method, vs. plugging? One person doing these mods in Arizona says he drops the cooler temp to about 175. For me this would be awesome, however living in the North East I'm thinking this may have deleterious transmission consequences during winter on my 2017 Yukon XL. Thoughts?

 

[P71toZ71]

Based on my experience, without an added cooler, the trans temp will hover around 100 degrees above the ambient air temperature, whether stopped or moving. So your max temperature is highly dependent on your climate.

With an external cooler (factory or aftermarket) the temperature will be lower, but it will fluctuate more. When the vehicle isn't moving and the radiator fan is off, the temp will creep up. The fan will cool it some, and moving will cool it more.

One thing to keep in mind when deciding what temperature you don't want to exceed is the location of the temperature sending unit. If I recall correctly, it is measuring the temperature after the fluid has returned from the cooling system. The temperature of the fluid leaving the transmission is going to be somewhat hotter.

Hills and towing will absolutely put a greater load on the transmission and generate more heat. Personally, if I were towing anything more than a small utility trailer, I'd want at least a small cooler in front of the AC condenser. If I were regularly towing a few tons, I'd want a large cooler. I added one myself and I have not noticed any decrease in AC effectiveness or increase in engine temperatures.

 

[SuperOldSchool]

Don’t worry about it. Just change fluid according to severe schedule.