Hey guys, I have a billet Suncoast comp trans that I have put about 5k miles on just daily driving. I have run a few powerstrokes at stop lights, but no towing of any kind or sled pulls etc. My concern is that even in the cool weather in FL for the last few months (38deg - 85deg) my trans temps average 185 highway and 205 in stop & go traffic not towing, since it is not uncommon to see 95-105deg ambient temps in FL summer I am scared of extreme trans temps when I start towing my mud truck this summer through town (about 10,000lbs). I was looking into the BD aux cooler, which claims up to 20deg cooler temps, which would put me about 185 in the summer traffic (same temp my stock trans ran unloaded) and I found it for $365 online. I would like to know my options and if anyone has any other advice on the matter it would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I am currently running Amalee ATF+4 Synthetic Trans fluid in a Mag Hytec DD pan

 

Biggest one you can fit.....

JEGS Transmission Coolers - JEGS

 

Get one of the ones with an electric fan on it for stop and go city driving

 

Where is your trans temp sensor located?

 

My trans temp is coming through my H&S mini maxx gauge from the OBDII port. I was looking at the BD diesel trans cooler, but now my mechanic said that I probably have gunk in the lines, because he said factory cooling on dodges is top notch and shouldnt need any help, so now I dont know

 

I agree with the mechanic. That reading is more of an average temp, so if it's high you probably have a problem somewhere in the cooling system.

 

Yea ill have to take it in so he can check everything. Just as a side note though, Suncoast told me not to be concerned until it hits about 220-225, which I hope I never see even though they claim its safe. Thanks for the help y'all much appreciated.

 

Did Suncoast ask where you are reading the temp? If not, I would disregard any further advice from them. It's true, temps up to well above 200 can be expected (for short periods) coming out of the converter under high load or other extreme driving scenarios. The fluid is designed to handle this. It should not run hot under light load or all the time. There are three temp "zones" in the system: 1) Hot, out the converter 2) Cold at the cooler return, and 3) Average, in the pan.

I'll take a wild-assed guess and say they probably gave you a bad converter, because like you're mechanic said, the cooling system on these trucks is fairly robust, stock.

 

I'd say a guy wants to tie in after the converter out eh? Just so he knows what peak temps are and can monitor the fluctuations.

 

Hey guys, I know it has been almost a year since this post started, but I want to update you guys on my transmission situation. I bought a FPE coolant bypass kit (among other things) a few months ago and it seems to have greatly improved my trans temps. Now when I am cruising down the highway TC locked at about 70mph my trans temp does not get over 160deg (28deg cooler than before) even on the hottest days. Also, when unloaded in stop-and-go traffic my trans temp has only hit 190deg one time and I was stuck in mall traffic for 45 mins, but typical it runs about 175deg (30deg cooler than before) in normal rush hour traffic. I did not change anything else in the cooling system, no added fans or bigger coolers, just the FPE coolant bypass kit. Hope this helps anyone else having similar issues. I am ecstatic that my problem is finally solved.