Transmission maintenance/upgrade

[RedSRT4Me]

Ok guys and girls thinking out loud as my truck is nearing 97,000 miles I'm planning on the next items that will require maintenance attention. So at 100k I plan to do these upgrades while changing the transmission fluid.



Along with



Right now with the heat in AZ my coolant temps stay around 190. Truck has 180 thermostat with eFan conversion.

Transmission temps hit 197 on the freeways at 75mph. Still within spec but this is the hottest I've seen the fluid get with the truck basically empty.

Comments? Open to suggestions also.

 

[Wild one]

Ok guys and girls thinking out loud as my truck is nearing 97,000 miles I'm planning on the next items that will require maintenance attention. So at 100k I plan to do these upgrades while changing the transmission fluid.

View attachment 211502

Along with

View attachment 211503

Right now with the heat in AZ my coolant temps stay around 190. Truck has 180 thermostat with eFan conversion.

Transmission temps hit 197 on the freeways at 75mph. Still within spec but this is the hottest I've seen the fluid get with the truck basically empty.

Comments? Open to suggestions also.

Haven't seen that yet,must be fairly new.Does it fit the trucks 8HP70,they are different from the cars as far as cooler lines go.Tthe cars don't have the thermal/heater assembly only the trucks do,so the transmission cases are slightly different with the cars having threaded ports for the cooler lines. Charles Barret of Hellraiser is supposedly coming up with a kit that eliminates the heater assembly on the trucks.I haven't seen what he's proposing yet,but i'm going to guess it'll be a plate that bolts on where the heater bolts on,and uses nipples to fit the tranny,but is drilled and tapped for probably a NPT fitting or something similar,but that's just my guess

 

[Wild one]

Took a look at it,you might want to phone MMX before you buy the thermostat,as it's only listed for the cars and Jeeps ,and I think it might not be compatiable with the trucks 8 speed,but don't quote me on that.Let us know what you find out about it.

 

[Burla]

If that is the 8 speed 197 isn't even close to being that hot, I don't even think that is average. There are a bunch of guys running 220/230f all day, 250f when towing. You should always mention what transmision we are talking about, wild one and myself are assuming 8 speed.

 

[Firetruck41]

197 does not seem hot for trans fluid.

 

[Wild one]

If that is the 8 speed 197 isn't even close to being that hot, I don't even think that is average. There are a bunch of guys running 220/230f all day, 250f when towing. You should always mention what transmision we are talking about, wild one and myself are assuming 8 speed.

He has a 15 Sport and is looking at the PPE pan for the 8 speed,so I think we're pretty safe assuming he's referring to the 8 speed.

 

[dexter]

Ok guys and girls thinking out loud as my truck is nearing 97,000 miles I'm planning on the next items that will require maintenance attention. So at 100k I plan to do these upgrades while changing the transmission fluid.

View attachment 211502

Along with

View attachment 211503

Right now with the heat in AZ my coolant temps stay around 190. Truck has 180 thermostat with eFan conversion.

Transmission temps hit 197 on the freeways at 75mph. Still within spec but this is the hottest I've seen the fluid get with the truck basically empty.

Comments? Open to suggestions also.

Check Dorfman they probably sell a pan with a drain hole for much less.

197 is not an issue.

 

[Burla]

That is why I was assuming along with you, but the part that don't make sense is why he thinks 197 is hot for the 8 speed. If that was an rfe, it would be roasted, but all is good for the 8 speed, so I don't get that part.

 

[Burla]

Good news for OP, your transmission is not an issue if you believe like everyone posting, so save your money.

 

[Wild one]

That is why I was assuming along with you, but the part that don't make sense is why he thinks 197 is hot for the 8 speed. If that was an rfe, it would be roasted, but all is good for the 8 speed, so I don't get that part.

It might not be considered hot,but the 8 speed still uses clutches and steels,and they will live longer and be happier at 180 then they will be at 200+F.Heat is still a downside to the 8 speed and if you can get it down to a constant 180F,it'll live longer,especially if you're towing or throwing a bunch of horsepower and torque at it.

 

[Firetruck41]

Not that familiar with the 1500, but if it's like some other vehicles... You might start by removing the transmission fluid circuit from the radiator, which is designed to warm the transmission fluid, and install a trans cooler instead.

 

[RedSRT4Me]

It might not be considered hot,but the 8 speed still uses clutches and steels,and they will live longer and be happier at 180 then they will be at 200+F.Heat is still a downside to the 8 speed and if you can get it down to a constant 180F,it'll live longer,especially if you're towing or throwing a bunch of horsepower and torque at it.

Couple things to clear up. Yes 8 speed tranny. Sorry I missed mentioning that.

As Wildone said my tranny used to run 180 all day empty till this
summer. Now loaded and towing yeah I saw it climb to 220. Oil was damn near 250. 197 is not the normal operating temp for this truck. I'd like to get those temps back down to 180. The PPE pan is very appealing since I run a 3" y-pipe under that plastic pan currently in place.

Good catch on the compatibility guys! I'll confirm with MMX and see what they say.

 

[Wild one]

Not that familiar with the 1500, but if it's like some other vehicles... You might start by removing the transmission fluid circuit from the radiator, which is designed to warm the transmission fluid, and install a trans cooler instead.

That's easier said then done on the trucks 8 speed,it uses a thermal heater assembly that bolts to the side of the transmission and uses push in tubes to transfer fluid from the tranny to the heater assembly,so consequently the transmissions case isn't tapped for threads ,allowing you to remove it and run a normal style tranny cooler line. The tranny cooler in the top of the A/C condenser isn't all that bad as far as coolers go,it's the heater assembly that throws a monkey wrench into the mix

 

[Wild one]

Couple things to clear up. Yes 8 speed tranny. Sorry I missed mentioning that.

As Wildone said my tranny used to run 180 all day empty till this
summer. Now loaded and towing yeah I saw it climb to 220. Oil was damn near 250. 197 is not the normal operating temp for this truck. I'd like to get those temps back down to 180. The PPE pan is very appealing since I run a 3" y-pipe under that plastic pan currently in place.

Good catch on the compatibility guys! I'll confirm with MMX and see what they say.

It doesn't hurt to wrap the cross over pipe with header wrap where it passes under the tranny pan,it helps keep a bit of heat off the pan,especially if you're stuck in rush hour style traffic and there's not much in the way of airflow passing under the truck.

 

[crash68]

As Wildone said my tranny used to run 180 all day empty till this
summer. Now loaded and towing yeah I saw it climb to 220. Oil was damn near 250. 197 is not the normal operating temp for this truck. I'd like to get those temps back down to 180. The PPE pan is very appealing since I run a 3" y-pipe under that plastic pan currently in place.

Of your transmission is going to run hotter while towing, is the transmission hotter than the coolant while towing? How much are you towing and how fast?
Mine will usually run 185° to 192° while driving then jumps to 200°F while towing 8K lbs. I would imagine the slightly higher temp your seeing is from the higher rpms the transmission is spinning, I'm usually at 2200rpms(advantage of a diesel).
There is one guy I know of running a PPE pan for the 8HP70 but it's behind an EcoD so there's no exhaust under the transmission.
From reading a lot of various posts, most of these trucks(all three engines) will run 215°-230°F coolant, 200°-220°F trans and 230°-250°F oil temps while towing on the heavy side and depending on speed and ambient.

 

[Wild one]

Of your transmission is going to run hotter while towing, is the transmission hotter than the coolant while towing? How much are you towing and how fast?
Mine will usually run 185° to 192° while driving then jumps to 200°F while towing 8K lbs. I would imagine the slightly higher temp your seeing is from the higher rpms the transmission is spinning, I'm usually at 2200rpms(advantage of a diesel).
There is one guy I know of running a PPE pan for the 8HP70 but it's behind an EcoD so there's no exhaust under the transmission.
From reading a lot of various posts, most of these trucks(all three engines) will run 215°-230°F coolant, 200°-220°F trans and 230°-250°F oil temps while towing on the heavy side and depending on speed and ambient.

I've been running the PPE pan for 2 years,and like it over the stock pan.I'm a bit **** though and change the fluid every 2 years though,more to keep track off what's happening inside the tranny then anything,as I beat the hell out of it on the dragstrip on a weekly basis

 

[dexter]

It might not be considered hot,but the 8 speed still uses clutches and steels,and they will live longer and be happier at 180 then they will be at 200+F.Heat is still a downside to the 8 speed and if you can get it down to a constant 180F,it'll live longer,especially if you're towing or throwing a bunch of horsepower and torque at it.

You think steel melts at 197?

 

[Wild one]

You think steel melts at 197?

Don't be that stupid. Who said anything about melting things at 197 other then you. Better learn to read better. The hotter the clutch facing the softer it becomes and the more wear it'll endure .Do you need me to draw you a picture.Here i'll put it into prespective for you,if you get the clutch hot on a manual transmission what happens,it either gets grabby as hell and transfers clutch material to the flywheel or it starts to slip badly,internal automatic transmission clutches are no differant

 

[RedSRT4Me]

I've been running the PPE pan for 2 years,and like it over the stock pan.I'm a bit **** though and change the fluid every 2 years though,more to keep track off what's happening inside the tranny then anything,as I beat the hell out of it on the dragstrip on a weekly basis

Any pics of your setup?

 

[Wild one]

Any pics of your setup?

I've never been able to get pic's on here. I'll forewarn you,it's heavier then you think,lol. I was actually surprised at how heavy it was.Depending on your exhaust set-up you might want to wear a welding or thick glove when you check the fluid level,as the fill/check plug is very close to the exhaust,and by the time you do the check procedure the exhaust is getting a little warm.Make sure to jack the rear end up till the transmission pan rail is level front to rear and side to side,when you do the fluid check,you need the rear tires off the ground for the fluid check anyways, to run it up till it shifts into 2nd gear,so just jack it up till the pan is level before throwing your jack stands under it. If you can find a post by Sgriffin,Stuart posted a pic of the instructions that come with a brand new 8 speed,and they are very specific about leveling the pan rail.I've got the instructions plasted all over facebook though.