Towing transmission temperature

There have been many posts about towing and how important it is to make sure that your transmission is not being overworked by either slowing down or using a lower gear etc.

I am running a Jeep 3 litre diesel 8 speed. Normal transmission temp, not towing, is 91 degrees centigrade. Towing 3.5 tonne and leaving the transmission to select its own gear, I get up to 101 centigrade. This is towing in 8th gear at 100kph, the transmission does not hunt at this speed, although it will drop a gear when pulling up inclines or into a stiff headwind, very rare for it to drop to 6th unless the incline is steep or you push it hard.

So, what is normal, what should you expect to see your transmission temp at ? 


Stevo81's picture

Posts: 1278

Date Joined: 16/04/12

LC200 Towing 3.5T at 100km

Sun, 2018-05-13 20:46

LC200 Towing 3.5T at 100km normal TFT is 65-75’c on scangauge. Only ever tow in 4th gear. Revs higher at about 2500-2600rpm but TFT is WAY cooler and fuel burn lower. Only ever see 90-100’c (extremely rare) towing on Marmion ave back from two rocks where there is multiple roundabouts and trafffic lights so constantly slowing to a stop and starting again. 

____________________________________________________________________________

                                   ••••••••  Electrical Contractor NOR  ••••••••

Posts: 1522

Date Joined: 09/03/13

 Rg colorado Not towing

Sun, 2018-05-13 21:50

 Rg colorado 

Not towing 73-75.  When towing and fully loaded 40degrees max I have seen is 91

80 is optimal.  But running higher temps is not that big of a problem youvwill just need to have the fluid changed more frequentlty.  

black gen's picture

Posts: 762

Date Joined: 13/04/11

 Prado towing boat loaded in

Mon, 2018-05-14 07:43

 Prado towing boat loaded in 4th is high 80s on my scangauge

ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

Personally, I'd be locking it in a lower gear

Mon, 2018-05-14 09:23

 No matter what type of transmission you are running, you are never doing it any favours by running it in the highest possible gear when towing, especially with 3.5 tonne behind. You are just working the guts out of it--higher revs in a lower gear is actually less load than flogging it in top. I'd be taking a lead from what the 200 series drivers are doing, and they've got more HP and torque than you . Peg it a couple of gears down and you'll be surprised, you'll actually use less fuel, even though the revs are higher.

Posts: 40

Date Joined: 26/05/15

L200 - When did Toyota reprogram?

Mon, 2018-05-14 09:38

I've got a Jan 14 model and am a bit curious.

Do a lot of country work but not a great deal of towing with this vehicle.

Although towing 2T to Coral Bay in a couple of weeks - S4 or 5?

Cheers Greg

Stevo81's picture

Posts: 1278

Date Joined: 16/04/12

 S4 

Tue, 2018-05-15 11:40

 S4 

____________________________________________________________________________

                                   ••••••••  Electrical Contractor NOR  ••••••••

Posts: 40

Date Joined: 26/05/15

 Cheers Stevo 

Tue, 2018-05-15 15:02

 Cheers Stevo 

Posts: 2080

Date Joined: 16/05/09

get it upgraded to 2015

Tue, 2018-05-15 18:03

get it upgraded to 2015 program then a remap. you won't regret it. Just don't waste your time going to Toyota.

noords's picture

Posts: 25

Date Joined: 06/09/13

Jeep GC 8 Speed

Tue, 2018-05-15 10:48

Just towed my 3.5t boat to broome from perth with the same 8 speed, normal around town is also 90/91, got up to 103 in the middle of the day driving 10 hours straight (with breaks), ambient was ~ 36.  

Cruise Control's picture

Posts: 973

Date Joined: 03/11/10

 Thanks all for the

Thu, 2018-05-17 16:16

 Thanks all for the feedback.

Looks like the 8 speed Jeep runs at a higher temperature than the earlier 5 speed. Temperatures in the 90's appear to be considered normal on one of the Jeep forums. I might however try towing in 7s next time and monitor temperatures and fuel consumption as opposed to 8th gear. 100kph in 7th is sitting at 2000rpm which is right on top of maximum torque

Posts: 1522

Date Joined: 09/03/13

 I read somewhere that 80 is

Thu, 2018-05-17 16:43

 I read somewhere that 80 is optimal and you should get 160,000km out of the fluid between changes and for every 15 above that you will halve the km between fluid changes so 95 degrees just change fluid each 80,000km.

but ofcourse 

110degrees = 40K

125 = 20K

140 = 10K = holy shit

 

Im sure this is not an exact science and will vary between vehicles etc but it might give an idea 

 

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 18036

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 I dont know they have

Thu, 2018-05-17 18:50

 I dont know they have cooling systems for them cars but i remember my old man getting something like that fitted to a falcon ute and made a big diff when towing his caravan . Ran cooler and used less fuel

____________________________________________________________________________

RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together