Transmission Temp Chevy Silverado

fam5mel · 06-09-2016, 08:14 PM

Hello Fellow Campers
Well we have made three trips in our new ST300RK. A couple of minor issues but dealer took care of them. We are happy campers. Looking for some advice
concerning my transmission temperature. Towing with a 2014 Silverado crew cab with 5.3 engine. Trailer weighs 6200lbs. Pulls great and have enough power. My concern is the transmission temperature. When pulling it runs at 196 degrees and goes up to 201 degrees on a grade. When I put in reverse to back trailer into camp site or my driveway the temperature jumps up to as high as 252 degrees in a very short time. Is this normal? Seems high to me and dealer cant or wont give me an answer. Truck is rated to pull 9600lbs. We are planning a trip to Colorado and don't want a blown transmission. Do I have enough truck to make this trip? Have considered trading up to a 3/4 ton.
I know there is a lot of towing knowledge and experience on this site. Appreciate any feedback and advice.

Burgy · 06-09-2016, 08:41 PM

Are you backing up a grade or flat? Does the temp go up when sitting still? When you put it in reverse and just sit? How about when the engine revs? Does it go up or down?

fam5mel · 06-10-2016, 05:28 AM

Hi Burgy
Thanks for reply. I Have been backing
Trailer into flat campsites that take about 5 to ten minutes to get trailer on site. My driveway is about 200 feet long and a very slight incline. Have not reved the engine or let truck idle. As soon as we get home or get to campsite we back trailer in. Transmission temp jumps about 56 degrees in a very short amount of time. Upto 252 degrees. Chevy dealer can't tell me if this is an excessive temp. Basically it's under warranty and we will fix it if it goes. We do not want a blown transmission away from home.

Bowhunter · 06-10-2016, 06:41 AM

I have a 2015 Silverado 2500 HD (3/4 ton) gasser. 6.0 with 410 gears. My temps run 135 -145 degrees pulling 7000 lbs? At sea level and fairly level grades.
Does your truck have the full towing package? If it does it should be factory equipped with an additional transmission cooler. If not, have one added. I don't know that much about trucks except for driving them. I also tow this TT and others I've owned with an older Dodge Ram 1500 (1/2 ton). The Dodge did not have a Trans Cooler but I had one added just for piece of mind. Check it out, but those temps seem awful high. The cooler was an inexpensive add on. Dodge Dealer cost labor and material was about $275.

fam5mel · 06-10-2016, 07:49 AM

My truck has transmission cooler and trailer towing package that's why I don't understand why temperature so high. Quite a difference in temperature with your 3/4 ton. I really thinking of trading up to a 3/4 ton. Like the diesel but out of my budget. What kind of gas mileage are you getting pulling 7000 lbs?
Anybody on here have a late model Silverado 4X4 crew cab with 5.3L with 3.42 rear? Appreciate to know what ur transmission temperatures run in drive and reverse.
Thanks

Burgy · 06-10-2016, 10:12 AM

I'm assuming you have a standard mechanical fan. While driving air moves across the trans rad as it should. When you stop and back up, no air is getting pushed over the transmission rad. and temp spikes up. Might be perfectly normal.

Is there a red or danger zone noted on the gauge? Got a pic? Fluctuations are normal, even 50 degrees isnt horrible.

Electric pusher fans can be added and wired with a temp sensor to provide additional cooling.

I'd suggest taking the truck to a different dealer and having a chat with a service writer. Even ask to speak to a tech. I'd also find a forum dedicated to your model truck, this may be a common issue with that model year.

ewbldavis · 06-10-2016, 10:23 AM

I'd investigate. We spent 30 minutes trying to level our trailer on our seasonal site (soft ground) and my temp never moved past normal temps.

Is temp actual tranny from display? Did your water temp go up?

Burgy - these trucks have twin electric fans.

morphrider · 06-10-2016, 10:27 AM

Silveradosierra.com is a good website for our type of trucks.

I run anywhere from 200-250 while towing mine through grades here in Colorado. Not the big steep grades like I-70 but steep enough to where it gets hot. Above 250 is where you will need to worry. You shouldn't blow transmission though due to it getting too hot. They go into a "limp" mode and warning lights should come on informing you. If that happens, pull over and let the truck idle to have the fan cool it down, don't just stop and turn it off. Bowhunter has good advice for peace of mind. Install a bigger transmission cooler in line with stock. I have one sitting on my bench that I need to do.

fam5mel · 06-10-2016, 10:30 AM

There are no alarms or warnings on transmission. The driver information center just reads transmission temp.
I spoke with another dealer this morning and he even had a hard time finding transmission specs from GM. Only thing he found was that a overheat alarm will go off at 304 degrees. At that point he said I better shut her down. He was unable to tell me if temp running up to 252 degrees is normal. Can't believe GM dealers can't provide more information or specs. When transmission gets this hot you can see the heat waves rolling out from under truck.

morphrider · 06-10-2016, 10:58 AM

This is something I was reading in that Silverado forum.

"You shouldn't see more than 265. I believe that's when the DIC tells you to pull over to cool your transmission.

The maximum allowable automatic transmission fluid temperature is dictated by the transmission oil itself. The oil begins to degrade significantly above 270 degrees Fahrenheit, so we design vehicles so that in all but the most extreme conditions, the fluid temperature in the transmission sump stays below 270 degrees F.

We allow for up to 285 degrees F in extreme conditions (i.e. towing a trailer with combination loaded at GCWR in Death Valley). But for customer usage anywhere else in the country, even at GCWR, transmission sump temperature should stay well below 270 degrees F. Above this point, certain internal components, such as seals, begin to disintegrate rather quickly. Although newer synthetic fluids can withstand higher temperatures we still recommend this (270F) as a maximum temperature. "

morphrider · 06-10-2016, 11:02 AM

Just some quick research on your exact year/model shows those temps to be pretty normal when towing.

Dayle1 · 06-10-2016, 11:32 AM

It has been many yrs since I towed with a 5.3L, but as I recall your towing temps do sound normal. As long as the temp doesn't increase more than 10% climbing a grade and then drops on the descent you should be fine. When backing as already pointed out, with limited air flow across the cooler, your temp is going to increase quickly. So, minimize time backing up by planning the maneuver or stop for a few min. and let it cool down.

fam5mel · 06-10-2016, 07:38 PM

Thanks all for the feedback and advice about transmission temps. Morphrider you said you did a quick search for trans temp of my truck. Can you tell me where you found info. It looks like most of you are towing with a 6.0 gasser 2500. Perhaps for peace of mind I should trade up. Can someone tell me what kind of gas mileage you are getting towing and not towing with one? They all come standard with 4.10 rear now. We have never been to Colorado so I'm apprehensive about towing trailer with my 1500. Again it tows fine here in TN
but I understand Colorado is a lot more challenging. Does anyone who has been their think my 1500 is enough to make the trip?

Max Dow · 06-11-2016, 05:28 AM

I am no expert here but I have owned Ford, Chevy and Dodge 1500 and 2500 series gassers and pulled quite a bit with them all. I am committed to nothing less than 2500 series trucks for towing and hauling - having done tranny damage to 2 - 1500 series trucks in the past. Currently I stepped up to a 3500 series Dodge with Cumins Turbo Diesel and I can say that I don't worry about pulling (5er is 9600 lbs) through Colorado. Personally, I would recommend a 3/4 ton series truck to pull far away from home - you don't need the stress of worry when you are on vacation.

Bowhunter · 06-11-2016, 05:49 AM

I tried to post my mileage but didn't show. Trying again, with the 6.0 410's I get 15.5 hwy driving her easy, 13 around town. Towing fairly level sea level 9 mpg.
I m leaving for a week now pulling serious hills in Catskills of NY about 400 miles RT.. I anticipate even less. I'm also gonna watch my trans temps and will advise on return. I still do not remember mine getting that high, but could be mistaken. Just purchased this TT in Fl and pulled it home to NY. Previously owned 02,06,10,13 all Chev 1500 and still own 1500 Ram. This is my first 2500 and I agree with previous post I won't go back to 1500. I do not tow that often, and pretty much pull at sea level so I couldn't see getting diesel. The extensive Chev manual gives no indication of trans temps, at least I couldn't find it.

morphrider · 06-11-2016, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fam5mel

Thanks all for the feedback and advice about transmission temps. Morphrider you said you did a quick search for trans temp of my truck. Can you tell me where you found info. It looks like most of you are towing with a 6.0 gasser 2500. Perhaps for peace of mind I should trade up. Can someone tell me what kind of gas mileage you are getting towing and not towing with one? They all come standard with 4.10 rear now. We have never been to Colorado so I'm apprehensive about towing trailer with my 1500. Again it tows fine here in TN
but I understand Colorado is a lot more challenging. Does anyone who has been their think my 1500 is enough to make the trip?

This is the forum thread I seen your temperatures for your year of truck. You will not get good gas mileage with the 6.0 but you will get reliability. As far as your trip goes I think you should be fine depending on where at in Colorado you are going.TN to here is pretty flat until you get past Denver. Where do you plan to make your final stop in CO?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...9UAnaxdbh_PcbQ

fam5mel · 06-11-2016, 06:32 AM

Thanks Bowhunter and Max Dow for your recent replys and info. Looks like I will look at some 2500 trucks. About a 5mpg drop over my 1500 but I guess you have to pay to play. My current truck gets 20mpg empty and 16 pulling. Love this truck but if I have to worry about my transmission all the time guess it's time .

Max Dow · 06-11-2016, 06:48 AM

It may be hard to walk away from that mileage but in the long run, a properly equipped 2500 series with a towing tranny package will probably save you money in the long run. You can't have "too much truck". Good luck!

fam5mel · 06-11-2016, 06:59 AM

We planned to stay in Canyon City and then drive upto Rocky Mountain Park without trailer. Looks to be about 2.5 hours away. My thoughts were it would be flat towing. Open to suggestions to get closer

fhenn · 06-11-2016, 07:56 AM

Why not just add a larger trans cooler in your truck

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