Wheel Hub and Transmission Fluid Temps While Towing

[four winns 214]

Occasionally there are posts by folks contemplating a long distance tow asking about the stresses of such a tow on tires, hubs, and transmission. Several times a year, I tow two different 21' boats carried on tandem axle trailers on trips of a couple hundred miles. An observation I've made several times, the latest being tonight, is that the spike in temps and thermal stress occurs not on the Interstate, but on the last 12 miles of the trip down a suburban highway with multiple stop lights. I check hub temps with an infrared thermometer each time I stop and when I arrive home and my truck has transmission temp digital readout. The highest readings are observed after backing the boat down my driveway.

 

[H20Rat]

That just means everything is working!

Your temperature spike is from radiant heat from the pavement and latent heat in the wheels/hubs, just without the fast air movement to cool the hubs. If you had an issue, you would absolutely have hubs that could potentially be glowing hot at interstate speed, and fine at low speed. (I've seen spindles that were 'blued' from heat, after the tire fell off.)

Same goes for your trans. It is essentially air cooled, and after a long interstate cruise, everything is still hot but you now have very little airflow over the trans and your cooler if you have one.

 

[bruceb58]

What temp is your transmission getting up to?

 

[four winns 214]

At ambient temperature in high 80s, transmission temperature was in low to mid 160s. Backing down driveway, it hit 183.

 

[bruceb58]

At ambient temperature in high 80s, transmission temperature was in low to mid 160s. Backing down driveway, it hit 183.

That's absolutely nothing. Get to over 220 and start worrying about it.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Occasionally there are posts by folks contemplating a long distance tow asking about the stresses of such a tow on tires, hubs, and transmission. Several times a year, I tow two different 21' boats carried on tandem axle trailers on trips of a couple hundred miles.

What vehicle are you towing with?


..

 

[four winns 214]

2011 Silverado, 5.3L, tow package, 3.42 rear end, 6-speed

 

[jumpjets]

My transmission gets up to 190* when towing during the summer. In 90*+ outside temps, in dense city traffic, I've seen the trans temp touch 200*, but never higher.

When I drive without the trailer, the trans gets up to the same temp, it just takes alot longer to get there.

 

[bruceb58]

I was getting up over 220 before I installed this on my 99 Silverado 5.3L 3.73 towing 7K

40K Tru Cool cooler. Now the tranny never gets over 175 towing up the steepest grade in 100 degree weather and 130 or so just around town. I spent more on the stainless lines than the cooler itself!

 

[TyeeMan]

Another reason you see your trans temp come up some when in traffic is the mere fact that it's shifting, going through the gears etc. The transmission is air cooled to some degree but it also receives cooling (or heating in the winter) from engine coolant in the radiator.
One thing I've notice over the years on my GMC 1500HD is if I'm towing and the torque converter is not locked up for whatever reason, the trans temp will start to creep up. Once the torque converter locks up and you get a true mechanical coupling to the engine the trans temp starts to fall off, fairly quickly too especially at highway speed, and that's with the stock cooler.
BIG fan of synthetic tranny fluid too, , or any other synthetic vehicular type fluid.

 

[jbetzelb]

Listen to the post that says stay under 220. My ford runs between 195 and 205 on big hauls. Not an issue.

 

[Mischief Managed]

My transmission (Allison 6 speed in a GMC 2500HD Duramax) runs at ambient temperature+100 F when it gets warmed up. I would not sweat 183, that's a perfect temp, IMO.

The hubs are also the brakes, one would expect them to he hot after stop and go driving. It's all good.