4l60e trans temp question

mikebos99

mikebos99

New member
i have a friend that put a new convertor in his 99 formula. he put decant size cooler on it and a trans temp gauge. the gauge is in line and before the cooler. he is getting temps that are pretty high around 230. just wondering if putting it in the pan like normal will show normal temps for it. or if there is another problem. it is a electrical automete temp gausge also. thanks
 
Well, 230 is bad. Anything over 220 and I get nervous as the 4L60 is a very fickle transmission. I would definitely put it in the pan, but if it's that hot on the way out to the cooler I'm thinking something is wrong. What kind of converter is it?
 
try another gauge too. Rick was adding coolers left and right and come to find out the gauge was WAY off
 
Its normal to get temp spikes in a cooler line, depending on the type of driving. GeosRide is correct, a scan tool will tell you the temp in the pan. The max limit I suggest for operating temp in the pan is 200f. I do not suggest allowing the fluid to reach higher temps. If you can, keep the temps as low as possible. 165 for street driving is where I like to see them.
 
I was actually shocked how hot 'normal operating' temperature is for transmissions these days. Current GM stuff normal operating is 93 deg C (199 deg F). Max temp before entering hot mode around 132 deg C (270 deg F).

I never liked to see my trans temp go over 190 deg F.

Spikes in trans temps probably are occuring when the converter is slipping (ie pump and turbine with high relative speeds). This is because on most transmissions, the cooler circuit goes from the valvebody to the converter and then to the cooling circuit and back to the trans as lube for clutches, bearings, etc. He should have his gauge in the sump and he'll probably find that it's much lower than the spikes he's seeing.
 
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I love this chart...

trans_life_expectancy.jpg
 
Well I would figure with a better fluid that you wouldn't see these effects as fast. Like dino oil vs synthetic.
 
We hooked a scanner up on my truck(97 ram) and pounded on it for 50 miles and 210 was the highest the trans temp went.

Next step is to see how hot it gets towing a trailer.
 
SSunset said:
We hooked a scanner up on my truck(97 ram) and pounded on it for 50 miles and 210 was the highest the trans temp went.

Next step is to see how hot it gets towing a trailer.
Click to expand...


don't do it. the fluid breaks down at higher temps. it does not rejuvenate itself when it cools down.

the chart geosride posted is pretty accurate.
It works like this. You have a car/truck that you use only for back & forth to work. one week end, you haul or tow something very heavy (like a car trailer loaded.) you see your engine running hotter than normal. your trans climbs to 250-270. you finish your tow, and no problems at all. Now your fluid is no good, and it no longer lubricates the parts inside. but the trans works just fine. a year later your trans is bad, fluid looks like mud, and you blame the manufacturer for a shitty trans.

Same theory works for overheating your engine. the trans cools with engine coolant. overheat your engine, and you guessed it, you just overheated your trans fluid.

the object is to keep the fluid at a lower temp at all times. if you tow a trailer every day, or maybe plow snow, you need additional cooling, and a temp gauge.
With plow trucks I tell my customers to keep a eye on the gauge, if it hits 200 i tell them to take a break and let it cool.

additional coolers, deep pans, synthetic fluid all help.

another note: vehicles with factory tow packages come with trans coolers.
transmission life almost doubles on vehicles with coolers.
 
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