I'm on my first trip since installing my temp gauge on the "out line" of my 47RE Tranny. Some expert help please.

1st Question;

We are in the NC Smokey Mountains, with lots of steep mountains that limit spped to 25-35mph up and down the mountain. I've noticed that when I am going up a long (several miles) climb that the temps will get up to 200-210 when I'm forced to stay in 2nd gear. If I can go fast enough to get and stay in 3rd gear the temps drop back to ~180. (this is with an un-loaded truck) All other temps seam great, towing a 7000lb RV at interstae speeds ~150, going up very steep I-40 near Ashville NC with RV ~180-190 (3rd locked). Is it possible this is happening because the 2nd gear bands need adjusting in the tranny? Or is this normal? The truck had a "Full Flush" by Dodge at 35k miles by prior owner. (no pan drop or filter change) Now 49K miles on truck.

2nd Question;
Many years ago (50's/60's) there was a saying, "Brakes are a lot cheaper than Transmissions", meaning use your brakes and not the tranny to slow you down going down a mountain. My question is, using my rig (below) should I use 3rd (OD lockout) or even 2nd gear to slow down the truck going down steep mountains? The engine revs should be held below what level?
I do not have an exaust brake.

Thanks for any help, Bill

 

Hi Bill:
I remember haveing trouble with them smokey mtn area hills too. They have some of the steepest grades you will find in the east. I remember one that was 14% near Cherokee. Any way use the OD lockout and your brakes. as the way the auto is set up from Dodge, it will freewheele when you are coasting down hills.( for fuel milage) . Your trailer brake should be set so it will slow you down. If not, the extra weight of the trailer will push you and that ain't good. Tranny temp will get hot while you are pulling due to the lack of direct lock up in your tourqe converter. your tranny cooler will do it's job. to bad you don't have a second temp probe in the pan to check the pan temp also. Did you install another pan, or are you just using the stock pan?????
The Mag Hytec, will cool better than the stock pan and it will give you more capacity (about 5 more qts for the double deep pan) also it has a port for a temp probe, to measure pan temp. Keep an eye on the temp. and be glad it's not July or August, when it is hotter. Enjoy the trip Tom "Ironbutt" Reed.

 

Iornbutt, thanks! No I have not added deep pan or any other options. Wanted to see what the temps are before any mods. Going to 3rd and even 2nd gear does really seam to slow down the truck on steep hills! (not true freewheel) And yes some of these Smokey Mtn. roads are the steepest I have seen!

Any Tranny experts out there that can add to my two questions? (see first post in this thread)

Thanks! Bill

 

With the stock tranny adjusted properly (bands should be checked anyways) you can use your engine to brake as much as you like as long as you don't use an exhaust brake.
The RPM must be kept below the redline, but you can stay at redline for as long as you like.
Brakes might be cheaper than transmissions but overheated brakes are no brakes, and no brakes tend to be much more expensive than just a tranny and a front bumper....
Over here we are tought that we have to keep vehicle speed in check with engine braking alone, no trailer brakes etc and use the brakes only for decelerating before going into sharp turns or for traffic reasons.

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

The heat in a transmission comes from the torque converter. Not the bands or clutches. When the torque converter "locks up" no energy is lost and no heat is generated. An unlocked torque converter, reguardless of the gear, makes a huge amount of heat while accellerating or decellerating.

 

i have a 01 dodge with a banks exhaust and a edge programable chip i'm looking to up grade my tranny...help?

 

RAM123,

Those temps are not out of line or "extreme". A mag hytec pan will help you out some. You have the temp probe in the right spot, don't worry about the pan temp. The only option you have for your next trip is to mod your valve body so you can lock it up in what ever gear that you like. I have my VB setup so I can lock it in 2nd, 3rd, and OD, with a switch. I don't want it to lock in first so I can flip the switch while still or moving in 1st and then nail it when racing, the truck hits second and locks all by itself. The lockup switch is easy to install and makes towing a dream. You can stall it if you don't pay attention when coming to a stop.

For your present trip, when going down hill in D you can keep the accelerator pedal down just a bit and it will keep the TC locked, when you lift your foot all the way up you release the tc lock. When I say down just a bit, I mean not far enough to be fueling the engine, but enough so you do not unlock. There is a fine line there.

Good luck, have you been to Grandfather mountain yet? You should visit the Biltmore if you get a chance-its awsome and the wine is tasty , but pricy. I think $40.00 per ticket or so.

 

Where are you located? There are a lot of good transmission builders out there. I think Dave Goerends is the the cat's meow-he hands down has the best warranty and customer service. He is tough to get ahold of, but keep trying.

 

I'd smell that fluid making sure it doesn't smell burt. I don't know how you can service a tranny properly w/o removing the pan and blowing out the lines if there's trash in the pan.
...I need a rebuild too.

 

Bill, I agree with Mcmopar on all!

1- Bands are probably ok at your miles. If it shifts right, not worries there.

2- Using trailer brakes would not be my first choice.
Use the tranny to control speed downhill. Just know the engine can handle it and don't let the rev noise get to you
Need a lock up switch on the stock 02's to keep it locked... it's a great addition for towing in mountains. Just remember, as stated above, to turn it off when stopping!

RJ

 

Hey man... how old are you? Last time I heard that was from a guy over 90

No matter... you sure give great tranny advice!

RJ

 

Thanks for the praise, been foolin with these things since before they had overdrives. Blow a few up with the 426 in front of it and built a few that were "monsters". To that other question----we'll I'll be 39 this November. Not exactly young and not exactly old!

 

Thanks for all the help!

This is the first real trip in this rig, and you guessed it "These Trucks Get To You, I'm Lovin this Truck"!! We have been in the NC Smokey mountains for one week around Cherokee NC. There are many, many grades at 7% but back mountain roads (dirt) can be 13% or more and last 6 to 8 miles with "switch-backs" that do not allow over 30mph.

(see my sig below) I got 19 mpg (10gal) on the first fillup and 20 mpg (5gal)on the 2nd! I can't believe the good mileage with all these mountains (I'm running unloaded).

I plan to pull the pan and change the tranny filter after this trip (50k miles). The prior owner did the flush (not me) at 35K miles. My guess is the pan has never been pulled. I bought it with 48k miles.

Thanks again, Bill

 

If you need a hand let me know--we appear to be neighbors.