Not Another Transmission Temperature Thread.....

[Jeff1024]

Yup it's another transmission temp thread.

I have owned my 2022 since new. It sees mostly highway miles, with a minimal amount of towing miles mixed in. Maybe 2,000 of the 36k on it are towing miles, and that's guessing high.

It has always run higher transmission temps in the summer as compared to winter - but unloaded I have historically never seen anything over 205 degrees. Didn't matter if I was running 80 on the interstate or stop and go around town, it always topped out at 205 unless we were towing.

This year is different. I am now regularly seeing it get to 208 or 210 while running unloaded on the interstate. It has been warmer out, we have had a month with highs in the 90s which could explain some of it. It also does seem to cool down to 200 - 203 pretty quickly once it hits 210. It will then cycle back up to 210 and cool down again.

I know the normal operating temp of the trans is 205 to 215 so I am not outside that. It's just a different behavior that I have noticed and curious if others have as well. The truck has 36k on the odo, could it also just be the fluid starting to age a bit?

Any ideas or do I just need to turn off the number display and go /w the dummy gauge lol?

Sponsored

 

[ttnuagmada]

You're not even supposed to check the fluid level unless it's reading over 207 if that tells you anything.

 

[Jeff1024]

You're not even supposed to check the fluid level unless it's reading over 207 if that tells you anything.

Yup - it has to be checked in that range so that the the thermal bypass valves are open. I understand they run hot, just had not seen temps over 205 unloaded for the first two summers I have had the truck.

 

[Larrymoe]

Aren't you supposed to replace the ATF at 30-35k miles?

Could that be why your temps are higher?

Mine has only hit 190 once that I've seen. 9500k on mine.

 

[Jeff1024]

Aren't you supposed to replace the ATF at 30-35k miles?

Could that be why your temps are higher?

Mine has only hit 190 once that I've seen. 9500k on mine.

Ford says to inspect the level at 30k. The recommended replacement interval is 150k which many on here disagree with.

I believe the towing/severe duty maintenance schedule still has replacement at 60k but I cant find that on the Ford website.

 

[rr11]

According to my manual on my 23 it says is pulling a trailer or using a roof top carrier replace the fluid at 60K. I have 30K on my truck and plan on servicing the transmission at 40K for my peace of mind.

 

[Jeff1024]

According to my manual on my 23 it says is pulling a trailer or using a roof top carrier replace the fluid at 60K. I have 30K on my truck and plan on servicing the transmission at 40K for my peace of mind.

Thats good to know Ill keep an eye on it and plan on doing it at 60k.

It's also a bit low on coolant so going to get that topped off, I doubt enough to make a difference but still want it full.

 

[fxo]

Replace the fluid, as the fluid gets older the tranny will start to see (slightly) higher running temps. I think the engineer from ZF (yes another modern auto tranny company) told the Ram boards that temps between 150 and 235 degrees farenheit are all acceptable temperature ranges for (their) modern transmissions. You should defintely not operate the tranny when it is over 235 degrees F.

My own experience with the ZF 8 speed is that it ran normally between 190-210 and once I did the fluid it ran cooler by about 10 degrees. *(staying under 200 F)

Just one experience but it was interesting getting the perspective of a ZF engineer who knows his numbers.

It is funny, Ram says the tranny never needs ATF fluid, but the ZF engineers disagree they say the vehicle should be serviced at 70K miles. So anything between 50-70K miles is most likely the smartest range.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Yup it's another transmission temp thread.

I have owned my 2022 since new. It sees mostly highway miles, with a minimal amount of towing miles mixed in. Maybe 2,000 of the 36k on it are towing miles, and that's guessing high.

It has always run higher transmission temps in the summer as compared to winter - but unloaded I have historically never seen anything over 205 degrees. Didn't matter if I was running 80 on the interstate or stop and go around town, it always topped out at 205 unless we were towing.

This year is different. I am now regularly seeing it get to 208 or 210 while running unloaded on the interstate. It has been warmer out, we have had a month with highs in the 90s which could explain some of it. It also does seem to cool down to 200 - 203 pretty quickly once it hits 210. It will then cycle back up to 210 and cool down again.

I know the normal operating temp of the trans is 205 to 215 so I am not outside that. It's just a different behavior that I have noticed and curious if others have as well. The truck has 36k on the odo, could it also just be the fluid starting to age a bit?

Any ideas or do I just need to turn off the number display and go /w the dummy gauge lol?

Don’t even concern yourself with the temperature until it’s around about 250*

Sponsored