Getting Hot... With CDL

[AMMO]

Hey Guys,

Long time I know, but thought this group might be best to pose this question. Over the weekend I did the McGrew run with the Jefferson State guys. This run is right on the OR / CA State line. In fact my GPS switched over to CA a few times... Anyways it was dry... and Hot...90's And reminded me of wheeling in SoCal a ton. That said I did most of the run 4high with the CDL on... Well sure enough the temp rose, and soon I was doing the defrost on high and all windows down move. On flat land after a cool down checked the obvious items, cap, leaks, over flow ect. All was good. Now as some may know I run dual electric fans and they did have an issue early in the day but got that resolved, it's a new rad only a year or so old. Toy red inside... What else can I add...

It would seem to me the tunnel was really hot inside the rig, so I was thinking trans temps were high but no AT light ever came on... I know James and Sammy and a few others have done or thought about additional cooling but any one else have any ideas?

Thanks guys.

-Matt

 

[Brentbba]

Hi Matt,

As a seasoned 80's guy you do know that our trans tunnels always run a little hot. I know mine does. I've never run my 80 in 4wd hi with the CDL button for any length. I tried it after I installed the switch, but I don' think I've used it more than once since then running up Coyote Canyon for a brief period to 'exercise' it. Sorry.

Our dear friend Eric, E9999 has done his usual engineering research on this as well. I wish I remembered where he posted - probably the 80's section - don't recall if there were solutions to keeping the AT temp down or not. I think maybe it had more to do with running hi vs low, etc temps on Oceano Dunes, but perhaps general info might be helpful if you find it.

I've never had the AT light go on, even wheeling in Anza where windshield washer fluid was boiling out the hood squirters!

Good Luck!

 

[AMMO]

Brent,

Thanks for the lead, I'll have to look into that. I should say i was in and out of low/ high most of the day, open front and rear except for a few spots but the cdl was on all day. Low slow crawl most of the time, so no real forced air in the front. But like i said it didn't seem to be the rad getting hot. We head out to the dunes here just about every weekend where I run high with the cdl on also, no issues at all to report, but a bit more shifting going on in the trans and forced cool air through the truck...

-Matt

 

[SOCALFJ]

You are describing our last weekend in our rig to the "T". However, we were in high range, unlocked and pulling the trailer. I even turned the heater on pulled over a few times to let it "rest". I don't know what the deal is, but tranny tunnel got so hot with my sandals it felt like my toes were burning. Kind of worried me.

 

[bluto]

I remember Calfj60 having a thread about his high transmission temp issues after installing a trans temp gauge? And the last I read, he just replaced the trans.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Interesting. We don't have a tranny temp gauge. Just the sandal feel

 

[AMMO]

Dave,

Could you take a guess at your average speed when you had the heat up? For me it was low speed, the trans in maybe 2nd gear, 4high, and CDL locked... Maybe this combo just puts waaay to much heat into the trans? With 37's and 8" of lift there aren't many places where i need to drop to low, low and lock up the back. And if so its just for a quick min. Then back to high keeping the cdl on to roll down the trail. Would be interested to see if the CDL is adding all that heat.

-Matt

 

[VCCruzr]

I know mine warmed up on that trip to Big Bear. I was in 4WL most of the time, locked up when I needed to and 4WH CDL locked when cruisun' the fire roads. I had a 1/2 full Gatorade that had rolled to the passenger side floor board. I went to take a drink 30mins later and it felt like hot tea, so I know it was very warm in the tranny tunnel. The air temp outside was between 75 and 80 so it wasn't a hot day. We didn't stop much. I'd say each day we put in 6+ hours of wheelin'.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Sounds normal then if everyone is experiencing it regardless of real hot outside temps.

Matt, highway speed with 5.29's, 95 degree heat, slight grade and in 4th gear pulling at 57mph.
Steeper grade then we'll be in 3th gear. Insane grade we'll be in 2nd.

 

[calfj60]

Matt.... Add a tranny temp gauge... Gonna do a write up soon... And yes my d tranny ran HOT!! as high as 260 love the new tranny much better temps and the cooler gets hot so fluid is pumping..