Looking for thoughts on my situation. Just headed out on our cross country trip from Cali to OK. Pulling 6k travel trailer. Currently spending the night in Tehachapi, CA. At the Indian Hill Ranch RV park (for those that might be familiar) Trans kept its cool the whole trip here in 97* heat - stayed around 195 in the hills. Now on the last few miles climbing out of town and into the park it started getting hot. 221* and may have been slipping. Didn't seem to have the power it normally has. Didn't rev away, but didn't feel right either.
I've still got a long road ahead and am worried about the trans now. I will check the fluid in the morning when it cools down.

Any thoughts ?

 

If the TC isn't locked it will get warm. Your temps can get a little worse before you need to worry.

 

I know it wasn't at max temp. And I was only going about 40 and less coming into the park, but that was for about 30 mins. Do you think all this was due to it running in 2nd gear and working at a snails pace? I did just have my trusted Chrysler tranny guy put in a new transducer, double deep pan and service the filter.

 

I have an 05 Ram Cummins with the 48RE, if you are a 4.5 model it may also be like mine. I can relate my experiences with tranny temp and this may help you. I have a guage with the temp sensor in the output line from the tranny to the coolers.

Anytime my torque converter is unlocked my temp builds very quickly and can go to 220 if I'm running slow. By being in the tow haul mode, locking the shift lever in 2nd gear and keeping the speed above 35 or so the torque converter stays locked and the temps are very normal.....160/185...when climbing steep grades. Let that torque converter unlock and it builds fast. Also backing up and trying to get into a campsite it builds very quickly. You must learn to watch the tach when towing and watch for that additional decrease of about 300 rpm after a shift when the torque converter locks. If it is locked and you still have 220 heat then I would say you may have a problem. If it is out of tow haul mode you will not get this locking in 2nd gear above 35mph I don't believe. Hope this helps you.

 

Yes, your TC was unlocked the hole time causing alot of heat. I beat you were in 3rd. Need to get up to 45 mph for the TC to lockup. It unlocks at 40mph.

 

Thank you both for the info. I feel much better now about pressing with our pending 1500 miles. The truck is 04.5. I did manually put it in 2nd but it was already hot and due to the road conditions speeds had to be low. Will give it another shot this morning. Thanks guys

 

Just as a follow up, we are now in Albuquerque (several hundred miles down the road) truck and tranny are fine. I did measure the desent coming out of the campground where we got so warm. 900' climb. Bigger climb than I knew at the time.

Anyway, all is well and this morning I felt comfortable enough to load the Smarty Jr. SW2 WOW what a difference ! Pulling these grades isn't a issue now. I find it cruising up in top gear where before I'd have slowed down enough to need to engage the tow/haul mode. Towing is pretty much effortless now. Much happier camper. (pun intended)

 

3460 miles later and back home. Truck and trans did just fine. Put the Smarty on SW2 after two days of driving so i could reference the difference. Noticed the difference right away ! Sure helped in pulling some of the mountains. Smoked more, but not major. Played a bit with the fuel economy to see what i could get out of it keeping it near 60. About 11.5 was the best running east. On the return trip west, i was in a bit more of a hurry and ran 70-75. Which returned 9.5-10 range (all hand calc'd. Running faster sure was easier though. Kept the truck more in it's power band and pulling the hills was easy-peezy.

 

Spooler is right on---Manuvering with the RV being pulled =lotsa heat.
Coming UP my driveway with the RV I go well over 210-whole lotta slippin goin on.
NOT TO WORRY