How hot is too hot?

[mescobar350]

When towing a heavy horse trailer over 65 the trans temp and engine temps can get to around 215. Is that safe?
And is there a way to program the fans to come on earlier or more aggressively?
I could slow down but when the speed limit is 70 I like to stay there.
Thanks
21 XLT with tow package

 

[SyndicateZ]

When towing a heavy horse trailer over 65 the trans temp and engine temps can get to around 215. Is that safe?
And is there a way to program the fans to come on earlier or more aggressively?
I could slow down but when the speed limit is 70 I like to stay there.
Thanks
21 XLT with tow package

Those are my temps when Im driving same speeds in the dead of winter (20 F) with no trailer....

I plan on getting my TStat replaced while it at the dealer because I think my vehicle has a cooling issue

 

[shane_th_ee]

Normal for these transmissions is all the way up to ~240F, believe it or not. They do use a high temperature transmission fluid…

 

[UstonXpedition]

It's 85* here in Houston I have a spd170 thermostat and get around 214* engine temp and 210* transmission temp some time 218*E and 215*T when on the freeway when it's 90* and doing 65-70mph.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

When towing a heavy horse trailer over 65 the trans temp and engine temps can get to around 215. Is that safe?
And is there a way to program the fans to come on earlier or more aggressively?
I could slow down but when the speed limit is 70 I like to stay there.
Thanks
21 XLT with tow package

Pretty normal. These are really hot running trannys.

 

[Calidad]

100 degree weather big boat with over size signs. And the questionable faulty thermostat 210-220 was typical at 55mph. Its like towing a parachute very draggy. Big climb we saw 240 at the very top for about a minute thats as hot as I will ever let it get knowing I’m at the top of the pass. Cooled off to 190 in about 10 minutes on a long downhill grade. That was last July
I started noticing inconsistent temps consistently getting worse the past 2 months not even towing!! The faulty thermostat was clearly failing causing the transmission temps to run 210-212 just around town in cool temperatures. The fan kicks on when the Trans temp hits 210-212 and the start / stop will not shut the truck off at stop lights when your transmission is 210+

Just replaced it with the updated design last week and trans temps run 190-201 around town and even drop below 190 on the highway in cool temps now. I haven’t towed the boat yet. But definitely expect to see 10 degree lower average temps and faster cooling off during temp spikes which I expect will probably go from 200-230 depending on grade and throttle load. I did notice 1800-2000rpm is a sweet spot in managing temps when trying to make a long grade and watching your temps climb. 2200+ rpm just seemed to heat things up faster vs stabilizing temps or gradual increases etc.

That old crappy thermostat design will get progressively worse over time bumping up transmission temps and eventually trigger the engine temp display 228 and higher under light loads.

230 and increasing and you still have a long climb to go? Yeah I go full heat management mode, heaters full blast, 1800-2000 rpm and if temps keep climbing fast and your still looking at several 1000ft vertical to go plan on pulling off asap to idle and cool things off. I’ve had to do that to avoid my 240 rule of full stop unless its all down hill and you can shed heat in the down hill run. 250-260 is full STOP! NOW idle to cool it down ASAP.

I also found setting the transmission so it only has 1-6 or 1-7 gears at 55-60mph was ideal. My rig isn’t fun to tow over 60 and my region is all 55 max anyway.

 

[bb37]

When I worked for a manufacturer of truck transmissions, we routinely tested valves, seals, and clutches in Dexron II that was heated to 300 deg F. I don't consider 215 deg F to be "hot" for lubricating oil. In my opinion, lube oil needs to be raised above the boiling point of water (212 deg F) occasionally to boil off the condensation.

 

[SyndicateZ]

When I worked for a manufacturer of truck transmissions, we routinely tested valves, seals, and clutches in Dexron II that was heated to 300 deg F. I don't consider 215 deg F to be "hot" for lubricating oil. In my opinion, lube oil needs to be raised above the boiling point of water (212 deg F) occasionally to boil off the condensation.

Transmissions dont use oil. They use fluid

 

[jrbest25]

With our 2019 Expedition we would get high transmission and coolant temps while towing our camper. I did alot of research and one of the post in here said replace the thermostat to a lower temperature. I ended up purchasing a lower temp thermostat from SPD Performance.

180 Degree Performance Thermostat 2017-2023 2.3L 3.0L 2.7L 3.5L 5.0L - Thermostat Gasket Option: New Factory Gasket

TS18035R

The original, I believe is a 195. This made a big difference in temperature. Even towing the camper in 90 degree weather. Hope this helps.

 

[Fastcar]

Transmissions dont use oil. They use fluid

Yup and your windshiel washer use's fluid. Maybe they are interchagable. lol

 

[C Trost]

When towing a heavy horse trailer over 65 the trans temp and engine temps can get to around 215. Is that safe?
And is there a way to program the fans to come on earlier or more aggressively?
I could slow down but when the speed limit is 70 I like to stay there.
Thanks
21 XLT with tow package

That’s normal. I tow 8800lb boat and trans runs 210-220deg at 60mph.
‘20 XLT hd tow, b5100s, rear sumo spngs, awaiting hellwig RSB.

 

[SyndicateZ]

Those are my temps when Im driving same speeds in the dead of winter (20 F) with no trailer....

I plan on getting my TStat replaced while it at the dealer because I think my vehicle has a cooling issue

The dealer refused/advised not to change my thermostat as they said nothing is wrong with it. So I didnt change it. lol o well. Save me some $$$

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Hell, even my wife's '17 Acadia SLE's (much smaller vehicle, engine etc) transmission temp averages around 185 with NO towing involved !

So for a big ole Expy, I would not consider 215 to be extraordinarily hot, especially when towing a boat or whatever

Unfortunately, my '011 EL does not have a numerical temp reading for either the engine or transmission, just the old-style low-mid-high indicators, but I don't tow with it either, so in the absence of any flashing RED lights/warnings on the dash, I really don't worry too much about it....

 

[Dice Roll]

Get the updated stat, stat. I went from 205-208 all the time since new to 180-190 trans temp. Pretty incredible really.

 

[EngineHostler]

Transmissions dont use oil. They use fluid.

Fluid - A continuous, amorphous substance whose molecules move freely past one another and that has the tendency to assume the shape of its container; a liquid or gas.

So by the definition oil is a fluid. The difference between transmission fluid and oil is the viscosity of the two. Both lubricate and carry heat away.

 

[Calidad]

With our 2019 Expedition we would get high transmission and coolant temps while towing our camper. I did alot of research and one of the post in here said replace the thermostat to a lower temperature. I ended up purchasing a lower temp thermostat from SPD Performance.

180 Degree Performance Thermostat 2017-2023 2.3L 3.0L 2.7L 3.5L 5.0L - Thermostat Gasket Option: New Factory Gasket

TS18035R

The original, I believe is a 195. This made a big difference in temperature. Even towing the camper in 90 degree weather. Hope this helps.

I think the new “upgraded” thermostat is 190 tho I see transmission temps on the highway stable at 183-185. I need to find a diagram of the heat exchanger vs radiator to see if there’s an obvious correlation to how the coolant thermostat affects the transmission temperature. It clearly plays a big role in that temperature stability vs the old sticky thermostat that caused obvious transmission temperature spikes.

 

[Calidad]

Get the updated stat, stat. I went from 205-208 all the time since new to 180-190 trans temp. Pretty incredible really.

I’m seeing the same exact behavior. Solid 183-185 in flat highway driving in 60 degree weather. It will jump to 190 when stopped immediately coming off the highway and peak at 201 then it will creep down as I drive 30-35mph thru town.

 

[Calidad]

That’s normal. I tow 8800lb boat and trans runs 210-220deg at 60mph.
‘20 XLT hd tow, b5100s, rear sumo spngs, awaiting hellwig RSB.

I’m running near identical weight as you are. Only 9ft 9in wide and 13ft high on the trailer. Running a double axle 8500’s Aluminum with the electric hydraulic full disc brakes. It tows nice plenty of power! The tow mode down shifting while coming off the highway can be pretty entertaining. I was next to a UPS truck with open slider door on a double lane off ramp and down shifting from 7th to 3rd on the long ramp he stuck his head out to look at me he was very confused ha ha. You get the right off ramp and the down shifts give the Expedition some credible engine sound lol

 

[wakeboarder]

I’ve found running the air conditioner keeps both the transmission and engine temp about 5 degrees cooler for stop and go driving. I’m pretty sure it is due to the fan always running with the air conditioner.

 

[Calidad]

I’ve found running the air conditioner keeps both the transmission and engine temp about 5 degrees cooler for stop and go driving. I’m pretty sure it is due to the fan always running with the air conditioner.

Yeah the fan runs with AC. Unfortunately when your towing and doing the long crawl the fans are already running. The front and back heaters blasting are the final effort to help shed heat . Did that going over Grants Pass OR in 100 degree weather. The good news is once at the top AC on full blast and lots of down hill cooled it right off. I suspect my faulty thermostat was just starting to affect cooling ability on that trip and by the end of the trip it was definitely a issue. But I wasn’t towing anymore after that so didn’t notice the increasing issue till it triggered a 230 coolant temp in 40 degree weather with just me in the car on the highway. It definitely has a progression of getting worse over time.