How do You Reduce Transmission Temp.? - Page 2

tccart · 01-07-2007, 07:31 PM

As far as I know, the Tow mode just keeps the tranny in the same gear a bit longer before shifting up, and might have something to do with the torque converter lock-up. I think the manual describes the operation fairly well.

As a general rule of thumb, never pull your 30' trailer in Drive. Use 4th for most towing, and drop to 3rd on the big hills as previous posters mentioned.

Depending on how long you were towing in Drive, and how hot the tranny got, you might want to inspect your tranny fluid for peace of mind. Cooked fluid will reduce the life of the tranny.

Steamguy · 01-08-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happenin-dad

[b]I have the truck in the Electronic Tow Mode in DRIVE. Should I be doing something different? Weight of travel trailer is 6,300 lbs.

You're towing about 700# less than the weight that I tow.

Tow in 4, it'll never heat up, even in the desert with the AC on full blast. Forget tow mode, it doesn't really do anything for this kind of weight; plus you can't engage it when you're in 4 anyway.

You can tip it down a gear when you're pulling long hills, let it come up to about 3500 RPM, then tap it back up to 4 when you hit the top of the hill.

Timotheius · 01-19-2007, 08:21 AM

I have the exact same problem, and am looking for answers. I have a 2005 Nissan Titan with the big tow package. I tow a boat/trailer rig that weighs approximately 6,000lbs. The truck's towing capacity is 9700lbs. Yet, the transmission heats up rapidly when I go up a steep hill. This makes no sense to me, I bought the Titan because of its legendary towing capacity....and with big tow it comes equipped with a cooled transmission...so what is the problem? (I have been towing in "drive" as well, why should this make a difference when it automatically drops down in the lower gear when I go up a hill anyway?)

SoBeGraphics · 01-19-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timotheius

I have the exact same problem, and am looking for answers. I have a 2005 Nissan Titan with the big tow package. I tow a boat/trailer rig that weighs approximately 6,000lbs. The truck's towing capacity is 9700lbs. Yet, the transmission heats up rapidly when I go up a steep hill. This makes no sense to me, I bought the Titan because of its legendary towing capacity....and with big tow it comes equipped with a cooled transmission...so what is the problem? (I have been towing in "drive" as well, why should this make a difference when it automatically drops down in the lower gear when I go up a hill anyway?)

Read the owners manual - when in TOW MODE you should be in 4th gear. If it still heats up on long steep ascents then shift into 3rd. the lower the gear the higher the rpms and the more flow/cycles you get to cool better.

By the way... welcome to the club.

**Quartz** · 01-19-2007, 09:23 AM

I have the BT and haul a heavy duty utility trailer. Then I put either a Studebaker or a tractor on the trailer. With the tractor and implements, I'm near 8000 lbs. Even in the middle of our summer my Titan does fine in 4th, but it does run warm in 5th. Can't speak for the hills though. Not much elevation along the coast.

Timotheius · 01-19-2007, 09:33 AM

Thanks SoBe and Quartz, I'll do that next time and see if that cures the problem. Also, I think a transmission flush may be in order...I'm at about 28,000 miles.

SoBeGraphics · 01-19-2007, 09:35 AM

TBO honest i tow my 23' open fisherman on a double axle trailer in D also and my tranny gauge never moves. But then again I am in Florida and you know we have trecherous hills around here.

electricjohn · 01-25-2007, 06:43 AM

FYI, towing over 5000 lbs in 4th gear will not hurt (it may even help) your mpg's. Just one more reason to keep it out of D.

grangertitan · 01-31-2007, 07:54 PM

Downshift.
You'll notice that the temp climbs when the RPMs are really low.
If you downshift manually and raise the engine RPMs, the temp drops right away.
I think it relates to how much tranny fluid is circulating through the cooler. Higher RPMs means more circulation.
I never tow in 5th but often drop from 4th to 3rd to keep to temp low.
Any other people see this?

Wildmike · 01-31-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timotheius

Thanks SoBe and Quartz, I'll do that next time and see if that cures the problem. Also, I think a transmission flush may be in order...I'm at about 28,000 miles.

Yes, flush your tranny with Amsoil ATF. Amsoil runs considerably cooler.

I have had my tranny heat up pulling a 2500lb boat. Most of the time it's because of some one going slow in front of me and pulling a short steep hill. If the tranny can stay locked up then I don't get any rise in temp.

I highly recommend Amsoil especially now that it is reformulated. I used to pull a disc with my '98 Chevy. Everybody said I was going to blow/overheat the tranny. I knew I wouldn't because I ran Amsoil and a big cooler.

Dorado_33 · 02-01-2007, 11:15 PM

Thanks all for the infomation. The dealer information I received was incorrect. I was told I could drive in the tow mode in D without using my gears. I tow a 19 foot bass boat and I go the gauge running high and had no idea why it happened took my truck to the dealer and they said they did not know what caused the problem. Now I know Thanks all

**loufish** · 02-03-2007, 05:39 PM

For the new tow guys, the torque converter unlocks before the trans shifts down to 4th gear if you are towing in "D".

For many people this feels like another gear, and while they have the trans in "D", they think the tranny has already downshifted to 4th, in reality the converter has unlocked and slipping adding more heat in the trans.

If you manually shift down to 4th you have less of a chance the converter has unlocked...

SirStrider · 02-04-2007, 03:39 AM

http://www.titantruckz.com/showthread.php?t=1335