Tranny Temp

[Gunslinger]

How hot does your tranny get?  I just came home from a 35 mile drive, we were out a little over an hour on tar and gravel roads, doing about 35-40 MPH.  It seems that my tranny and transfer case get a little hotter than they should, the sheetmetal cover over the shift tower gets warm to the touch, won;t burn you but after about 30 seconds its uncomfortable for your hand.  When I got home I crawled under it and I could not hold my finger on either the tranny or t-case, 2 seconds was way to warm.

Wondering how hot you guys trannys get, I know mine leaks a couple table spoons out the shift tower every time I take it out, so I will be checking levels before the next ride.  What do you think?

[RussellL]

Doesn't sound that warm to me.  If you can hold a finger on it for 2 seconds I'm guessing maybe 150 degrees?  My Chevy truck has a temp sensor on the transmission and it will get up around 200 if I run for a while and if I'm pulling a trailer it will run even hotter.  

[aboyandhisdog]

Gun,  I just took a drive for an hour or so.  The floor over the TC was only luke warm to the touch - maybe 100 degrees or so.  Not bad at all.  I crawled underneath and could place my hand anywhere on the TC or transmission and hold it there for about 15 sec. before it felt a little too hot to hang on.   I have no frame of reference really, but I would guess this is about right.  If you can only hang on for 2 sec., that seems a little too hot to me.  But really...what could you do about it?

[Gunslinger]

Hey Tom,
I guess I don't really know what I can do about it.  I'm curious if I've got a problem or not or if its just heat from somewhere else.
I had to shim the front left motor mount to get that full flow oil system in, its up about 3/8 inch from normal.  So I wondred if that would torque the tranny and creat heat.  The guys I've talked to said no.

I know my shift tower leaks when I go back and forth from 2-3, I checked the fluid level and I only lost a 1/4 cup in the last 2 seasons so that isn't it.

I thought maybe my engine was runnign rich causing exhaust to burn in the exhaust pipe, thus creating too much heat , but there is no discolor on the tube so I don't think thats it.

The Tranny and T case were re-built about 1500 miles ago, so maybe they are just not all lovey dovey yet, but that seems unlikely.  I'm thinking maybe a floor mat and a Bobby Deron CD is all I need.

Don't worry, be happy....

Thanks guys

[RussellL]

Running rich actually makes the exhaust run cold.  If you got enough unburned gas into the exhaust to light off, it would burn with a bang and the engine probably wouldn't run very well.  In a piston engine airplane the carb is adjustable and you adjust the fuel mixture in flight by watching the exhaust temp.  You can raise the temp several hundred degrees by leaning the engine out.  

In my jeep if I drive around the ranch for an hour or so the floor around the pedals can get uncomfortably hot even through my shoes.  A combination of radiator heat and exhaust heat I suppose.  I've never put hands on the transmission after such a run but I would imagine that it is getting pretty hot after a long run as well, just from the heat around it if nothing else.  

[rocketeer]

What weight lubricant are you using? Straight 90W will run warmer than 80W90 and 140W will run warmer than straight 90W. Just an FYI.

Larry