transmission running hot. need advice.

hi guys i have a 2016 ram sport with a hemi and an 8 speed trans. about in February I started herring a chirping sound coming from under the truck. it took me a while to figure out were it was coming from. doing my own tests and research I figured out that it was coming from the trans.
this is what i come up with, as soon as the trans temp reaches 185 in temp I get a chirping sound. it almost sounds like a squealing belt.

so my trans temp is mostly staying between 190 and 200 degrees and it only takes takes the truck about 12 min to get to that temp.

the trans shifts fine. seems to go through the gears fine, it is just the noise that it makes. to me it seems to be coming from the convert part of the trans. is there anything that anyone can tell me. i am not sure were to start. most trans shops wont look at it because it is a dealer only tranny. any help would be much appreciated.

On both of my 8 speeds, 185 to 195 is standard operating temp.

So below 195, should be considered normal, (I know that's not what you want to hear). Over 195, could be a potential problem but maybe not.

So here are some of the standard questions

Are you getting any. Codes, check engine light on?

What is mileage and have you serviced the trans? If no, service of the trans might help.

Does it do it all the time? Do you tow? Does it do it when towing?

Are your active grill shutters working?

Have you modified the truck? Larger wheels and tires, lifted or lowered, etc.

Last, have you installed any of the options for reducing trans temp? should you? See chalk04 solution.

To summarize, lots to unpack, but answers to the above may lead to the same solution but, we will know and will be better able to provide assistance.

I'm 100% certain, others will have more comments

8 speed can run up to 220° before really being a major concern. As for the chirping is it towards the front or rear of the trans? How many miles on your truck. The thermostat in the trans is 176° so it should warm up pretty quick. It’s also heated to help warm as fast as possible.

thanks for the reply.
yes the check engine light is on but it is for the exhaust leak that i have ( normal hemi leak)
i have 130000 and no i never had any service done
yes it does it all the time. i only tow my trailer maybe 3 times with the truck. and i started herring the chirping on the last trip.
have no idea what grill shutters are lol
stock wheels i did 2 in in the front and 3 in in the rear.
no haven't installed anything.

crazykid1994 said:

8 speed can run up to 220° before really being a major concern. As for the chirping is it towards the front or rear of the trans? How many miles on your truck. The thermostat in the trans is 176° so it should warm up pretty quick. It’s also heated to help warm as fast as possible.

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the chirping is by the converter

Tom Rezza said:

the chirping is by the converter

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Could be the oil pump going bad. 130,000 miles and no service could be an issue. Ram doesn’t call for it but the manufacturer calls for a fluid drain and fill with a filter swap every 60,000 miles under normal usage. May be able to do a drain and fill but if the pump is going out may be to late. Not saying that’s your problem exactly but may not hurt to do a fluid check at least. Check this for instructions on proper fill/check procedure. Here

You need @caulk04 transmission oil cooler thermostat bypass kit. Trust us.

I think he had some left in stock.

Chirping can be a universal joint on it's way out, or a failing wheel bearing.

Does it make the noise when idling in park or neutral (vehicle not moving)?

Cracked flex plate maybe if it's in the bellhousing area.

CEL due to exhaust leak? What's that all about? Lean code or catalyst inefficiency code?

If I recall correctly, the danger zone for ATF temperature per ZF is 250degF. Fluid degradation will result quickly at that temp.

I've said this elsewhere in the forum. Based on ASTM testing, oil oxidation life (any oil) is cut in half for ever 10 deg C or 18 deg F above 140 deg F. The shape of the oxidation curve is the same regardless of oil type - it is exponential - NOT linear.

The STARTING point of the oxidation oil life curve differs for different oil types. i.e. - a high quality synthetic oil will las much longer at a given temperature before oxidation starts. Once oxidation starts though, the curve is the same.

So what? Oil oxidation life is the primary oil change interval criteria for transmission oil. Oxidation products varnish and lacquer the small orifices and valves, permanently destroying the transmission.

Oxidation is accelerated by heat and by poor quality oil.

Let's say we use a top quality synthetic oil, in an old time transmission (without a thermostat) that ran app. 140 deg F all the time. The very top of the curve would be around 150,000 miles before enough varnish started to form, without regard to clutch and gear wear contaminants, and atmospheric moisture. Here's how much OCI's shorten with bulk oil temperature increases:

140F = 150,000 mile OCI
158F = 75,000 mile OCI
176F = 37,500 mile OCI
194F = 18,750 mile OCI
212F = 9,375 mile OCI

See why engine oil changes are so much more frequent (also combustion contaminants)? You DON'T want your transmission oil running up in the higher temps! This is nothing more than an EPA miniscule mileage increase gimmick!

Tom Rezza said:

so my trans temp is mostly staying between 190 and 200 degrees and it only takes takes the truck about 12 min to get to that temp.

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As long as the transmission temperature isn't spiking above the engine coolant temperature, it's fine. It's probably a good idea to change the fluid and filter/pan.
There's guys that tow with these transmission that run in the low 200s and have 100s of thousands miles with no issues.
If the transmission temp does spike you probably need a new TMU on the side of the transmission or a thermal bypass for it.

PoMansRam said:

Chirping can be a universal joint on it's way out, or a failing wheel bearing.

Does it make the noise when idling in park or neutral (vehicle not moving)?

Cracked flex plate maybe if it's in the bellhousing area.

CEL due to exhaust leak? What's that all about? Lean code or catalyst inefficiency code?

If I recall correctly, the danger zone for ATF temperature per ZF is 250degF. Fluid degradation will result quickly at that temp.

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the chirping is definitely coming from the bell house and once the trany gets to 185 then it starts and it is constant.

Well, my thermostat bypass takes the trans fluid heater out of the equation. If you're interested, I do have one ready to go

caulk04 said:

Well, my thermostat bypass takes the trans fluid heater out of the equation. If you're interested, I do have one ready to go

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do you have any information on that piece. like what is involved in installing it to see if I can do it.

Tom Rezza said:

do you have any information on that piece. like what is involved in installing it to see if I can do it.

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I just did this swap.

if you're 4wd, undo the front driveshaft at the front differential.
Take 2 t40 torx bit bolts out of the tranny to remove a bracket
Remove a spring clip and exchange a few parts.
Put everything back together. Simple but those torx bit bolts stripped for me which made it a PITA.

Even with that less than an hour, probably less than 30 mins if all goes to plan.

My trans now runs 110-150 all the time even when towing in Arizona.

Tom Rezza said:

do you have any information on that piece. like what is involved in installing it to see if I can do it.

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Here is a link to his thread. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/8hp70-heater-bypass.172998/
Should have all of the info you need. Not hard at all.

thanks everyone for the reply's. i think that in my own mind the temp of my tranny is not an issue anymore.

but there remains one big problem for me. while i am driving my truck sounds great looks great and preforms great, i love my truck and i am a chevy guy lol.

as soon as my trans temp gets to about 185 i get this noise that just wont go away. and it is loud and annoying especially when i am at a light and there are people next to me. it is really annoying.

the tranny shifts great there are no problems there i just don't know were to start. could it be the pump or the converter. i am not sure and i just cant pull it apart to see because i cant be down, it is my primary vehicle.

any ideas will help. i was all over YouTube and cant find anything on it. i sounds like a squealing belt.

Could be the trans cooler themostat valve. It's trying to open at the 185 and could be sticking or leaking internally making the noise.
Didn't someone mention to do the bypass kit?

All we can really do is guess but if what you say is true as far as it always happening at 185f like clockwork in my mind sounds like the heating/cooling system part of it, a stuck valve, etc.

Maybe do a sound clip of the noise?

Tom Rezza said:

thanks everyone for the reply's. i think that in my own mind the temp of my tranny is not an issue anymore.

but there remains one big problem for me. while i am driving my truck sounds great looks great and preforms great, i love my truck and i am a chevy guy lol.

as soon as my trans temp gets to about 185 i get this noise that just wont go away. and it is loud and annoying especially when i am at a light and there are people next to me. it is really annoying.

the tranny shifts great there are no problems there i just don't know were to start. could it be the pump or the converter. i am not sure and i just cant pull it apart to see because i cant be down, it is my primary vehicle.

any ideas will help. i was all over YouTube and cant find anything on it. i sounds like a squealing belt.

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Pull the inspection cover for the convertor,and see if the noise is from the convertor.You can do that easily after supper.

18CrewDually said:

Could be the trans cooler themostat valve. It's trying to open at the 185 and could be sticking or leaking internally making the noise.
Didn't someone mention to do the bypass kit?

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yes someone has said to do the bypass kit. i didnt know they could make noise. i will try that. thanks.