So, he just got this truck and it had a brand new transmission put in before he got it. He has the paperwork. It has around 70-73k miles on it. I thought that was odd.
So, we were making an unloaded trip that was 4 hours long. Just being excited to check out his new truck, I had him flipping through sensors on the dash as we were doing 70-80mph down the interstate. The transmission temp popped up. It was showing 245F... then 260F and eventually hit 272F or so. I told him we should let it cool down.
When we made it back home, I studied up on it for him. SEEMS to be an issue with ALL the 6L80's. The thermostat stays closed and doesn't let the trans fluid get cooled through the radiator. I saw a free mod I could do for him known as the "Pill Flip." I did it and also took out the thermostat pin or whatever it is so it didn't happen to push itself out and get lost in the thermostat cooler.
Anyways, it's been cold here lately. It's 17F right now at 6:20AM where I'm at in TN. He rides to work up a mountain with lots of curves and whatnot. A slow drive, but a lot of shifting and speeding up and slowing down for turns.
He said it's been running at around 130-140F on this trip. Now, he uses his truck to work and usually tows a trailer of sheep that weighs around 7500-8000 pounds (trailer + sheep). And it'll be on the interstate when he does do it, so I'm sure going 70-80mph pulling 8000 pounds will have it running a bit warmer, maybe 165-180F, we'll see.
But do you think I messed up by doing this for him? I expected it to cool it down, but 130F seems AWFULLY cool. I don't know if it's the slow driving + the 20F temperatures we're experiencing right now or what.
I'm also changing his fluid and filter for him this weekend. I told him to get an AC Delco filter. Not sure which fluid he got... either Dexron VI Valvoline or Castrol, I can't remember. It may have been AC Delco, actually. I told him to always use AC Delco filters on GMs, Motorcraft filters on Fords and Mopar filters on Dodges. I dunno, I'll update y'all with what kind of parts he got.
I'm hoping he got a nice AC Delco trans filter that comes with the good gasket (rubber with metal in the middle). I told him I usually reuse transmission pan filters when the new filters come with that cork material because they're hard to beat. But I think it won't hurt to change it if it's the same style as the factory gasket. Especially a gasket that's been running at 270+F degrees for who knows how long.
He's also going to get the delete kit that eliminates that V8 to V4 thing they do to save fuel. He has read that's what has been tearing the transmissions up. I beg to differ, but I don't blame him for wanting to get rid of it. It kicks in and out a lot on the interstate to begin with, and he says it does it real bad when he's towing.
I told him he should get a tune, have it removed, get some better shift points and add a few hosrepower. BUT this delete kit he's looking at is $80, apparently, and plugs into the OBDII port so I get it. $80 is a lot easier on the wallet than a $500+ tune. Or $500 OBDII handheld tuner + paying someone to do the tune lol. Although, I FIGURE he could buy an OBDII thing like he's getting to delete the V8 to V4 eco trash with a one size fits all tune, right? I'll have to look that up for him.
Sorry for the long post. What do you think about the 130-135F trans fluid temps he's getting now? Think it's due to the slow driving and 18-20F degree temperatures outside? I'm real curious what temps it'll hit with the fluid/filter change because he's going to make a 6 hour drive towing 8000+ pounds down the interstate. I'm hoping he says it hovers around 160F or so, maybe 175F considering the weight and speed.
So, we were making an unloaded trip that was 4 hours long. Just being excited to check out his new truck, I had him flipping through sensors on the dash as we were doing 70-80mph down the interstate. The transmission temp popped up. It was showing 245F... then 260F and eventually hit 272F or so. I told him we should let it cool down.
When we made it back home, I studied up on it for him. SEEMS to be an issue with ALL the 6L80's. The thermostat stays closed and doesn't let the trans fluid get cooled through the radiator. I saw a free mod I could do for him known as the "Pill Flip." I did it and also took out the thermostat pin or whatever it is so it didn't happen to push itself out and get lost in the thermostat cooler.
Anyways, it's been cold here lately. It's 17F right now at 6:20AM where I'm at in TN. He rides to work up a mountain with lots of curves and whatnot. A slow drive, but a lot of shifting and speeding up and slowing down for turns.
He said it's been running at around 130-140F on this trip. Now, he uses his truck to work and usually tows a trailer of sheep that weighs around 7500-8000 pounds (trailer + sheep). And it'll be on the interstate when he does do it, so I'm sure going 70-80mph pulling 8000 pounds will have it running a bit warmer, maybe 165-180F, we'll see.
But do you think I messed up by doing this for him? I expected it to cool it down, but 130F seems AWFULLY cool. I don't know if it's the slow driving + the 20F temperatures we're experiencing right now or what.
I'm also changing his fluid and filter for him this weekend. I told him to get an AC Delco filter. Not sure which fluid he got... either Dexron VI Valvoline or Castrol, I can't remember. It may have been AC Delco, actually. I told him to always use AC Delco filters on GMs, Motorcraft filters on Fords and Mopar filters on Dodges. I dunno, I'll update y'all with what kind of parts he got.
I'm hoping he got a nice AC Delco trans filter that comes with the good gasket (rubber with metal in the middle). I told him I usually reuse transmission pan filters when the new filters come with that cork material because they're hard to beat. But I think it won't hurt to change it if it's the same style as the factory gasket. Especially a gasket that's been running at 270+F degrees for who knows how long.
He's also going to get the delete kit that eliminates that V8 to V4 thing they do to save fuel. He has read that's what has been tearing the transmissions up. I beg to differ, but I don't blame him for wanting to get rid of it. It kicks in and out a lot on the interstate to begin with, and he says it does it real bad when he's towing.
I told him he should get a tune, have it removed, get some better shift points and add a few hosrepower. BUT this delete kit he's looking at is $80, apparently, and plugs into the OBDII port so I get it. $80 is a lot easier on the wallet than a $500+ tune. Or $500 OBDII handheld tuner + paying someone to do the tune lol. Although, I FIGURE he could buy an OBDII thing like he's getting to delete the V8 to V4 eco trash with a one size fits all tune, right? I'll have to look that up for him.
Sorry for the long post. What do you think about the 130-135F trans fluid temps he's getting now? Think it's due to the slow driving and 18-20F degree temperatures outside? I'm real curious what temps it'll hit with the fluid/filter change because he's going to make a 6 hour drive towing 8000+ pounds down the interstate. I'm hoping he says it hovers around 160F or so, maybe 175F considering the weight and speed.
