Florida to NY: pulling a 8500# RV made it! But did I cook the transmission?

saburai

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Posts
2,205
Reaction score
985
Location
Bokeelia Florida/Catskill mountains NY
Hey guys,
We made the pull with the loaded RV, a pretty good load in the bed and 35 gallons in the bed tank. It seemed like a heavy load. 90' F250 E4OD big front mounted cooler, magna filter in line. Changed the fluid and pan filter before getting on the road. It was a bit rough on the steeper grades, some down to 40-45mph. When I used it, which was pretty often, the OD worked as it should. I've got oil pressure, coolant and trans temperature gauges. Trans temp sender in the test port. Coolant ran right, only getting a bit close to 220 on the grades. Transmission ran at 150 approching 160 a few times and close to 170 once for a moment as I pulled in to a rest stop. However, when we reached our final destination in the Catskills, I had to do a two mile pull up a very steep rural mountain road, 1st gear, 30mph max. Trans tickled 160. When we arrived at the place we're camping at, I had to climb a 3/4 mi. Even steeper narrow dirt drive with a drainage ditch on one side and a soft shoulder on the other. Slow going for certain. Final 50 yards crawling, less than 10mph, no choice but foot to the floor... 170 on the gauge with a brief bad tranny smell. Put it in park and a minute later it touched 180 and dropped slowly back down to 165. I shut it down and let it cool for a while, back to 150 at which point I had to get the RV positioned. Got back up to 160 while working with the rig and I did notice the bad smell again briefly, otherwise it seemed ok. Am I screwed? What's too hot? Am I looking at building a new tranny before the trip back south in four months? BTW, gear rower here, the last time I owned a auto was a 69 Nova with a 6 and a powerglide...
 

FORDF250HDXLT

The life of an Indian is like the wings of the air
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Posts
6,456
Reaction score
1,136
Location
Maine & Oklahoma
your way too concerned.i have a t-stat in both of my trucks so trans temps come up to,and stay at 180F.
your trans was running a tad cool.not warm.
ideal trans temp (at the test port) is around 170-180F and upwards of 225F for hours is ok.
150-210 = all is good.run 'er! i dunno what you were smelling though.did you check for leaks? not knowing the safe trans temps,and having the trans temp on your mind,might of lead you to jump to conclusions that the smell was trans related when it might not be at all.
 
Last edited:

saburai

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Posts
2,205
Reaction score
985
Location
Bokeelia Florida/Catskill mountains NY
Thanks guys! You're right, way to worried, I'm just not an automatic tranny guy. Definitely seemed like the converter? or something else was slipping. Smelt like burnt transmission fluid. I beat that powerglide to death ;)
What's happening with the tranny when my foots on the floor and its howling and crawling?
 

FORDF250HDXLT

The life of an Indian is like the wings of the air
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Posts
6,456
Reaction score
1,136
Location
Maine & Oklahoma
What's happening with the tranny when my foots on the floor and its howling and crawling?

why ask that question?

my question and answer would be,
question: what's wrong with an n/a idi truck grossing (i dunno,say 8500lb 5ver + 7k truck for rough estimate) 15-16k up steep grades?
answer: your only working with 120-130 hp and you need a turbo.

what seems to lead you to think the trans is slipping? as opposed to just having a 120-130 ponies to work with?


When we arrived at the place we're camping at, I had to climb a 3/4 mi. Even steeper narrow dirt drive with a drainage ditch on one side and a soft shoulder on the other. Slow going for certain. Final 50 yards crawling, less than 10mph, no choice but foot to the floor.

see,this is why all trucks (2wd or 4) should all come with transfer cases.simply shift into 4 low range and let the gears do the work as you crawl up inclines like this.takes all the stress off things.
 

Hydro-idi

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Posts
2,273
Reaction score
361
Location
Lodi, California
I don't see a reason to panic with those transmission temps. All good IMO.
Heck, my 6.7 psd transmission runs around 200-210 whether I'm towing heavy or cruising down the highway. Always been like that & am not concerned.
 

ironworker40

NYC Ironworker
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Posts
968
Reaction score
48
Location
nj
Were are you in the catskills. It sound a lot like a place i camped at called SoHi campground in Acord NY. We did that with a 38 ft Newmar motor home pullong a trailer of Harleys. Its also a e4od. Its didnt hurt it at all
 

jwalterus

Made in America
Air Force
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Posts
2,593
Reaction score
760
Location
Garrison, ND
see,this is why all trucks (2wd or 4) should all come with transfer cases.simply shift into 4 low range and let the gears do the work as you crawl up inclines like this.takes all the stress off things.

I know you can regear a c-6 to a steeper 1st and 2nd, maybe it's possible with a e40d?
 

saburai

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Posts
2,205
Reaction score
985
Location
Bokeelia Florida/Catskill mountains NY
Sounds like might be on way out...
Why do you say that?

You know, after seeing it again I remember looking at that chart(or a similar one) when I was researching, before we bought the truck. It may have led to my worries that 170 was hot! In the back of my mind, I probably juxtaposed max longevity with maximum temperature! It's ok, laugh at me. My over abundance of caution has kept me from blowing up many a high strung 4cyl gas engines...
 

saburai

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Posts
2,205
Reaction score
985
Location
Bokeelia Florida/Catskill mountains NY
Many thanks!

Sounds like might be on way out...

Why do you say that?

You know, when I was researching, before we bought the truck, I recall looking at that chart(or similar)! It might be the reason I was thinking that 170 was max temp. I must have juxtaposed maximum longevity with temperature:rolleyes:
Go ahead and laugh! My over abundance of caution has helped keep many a high strung 4cyl gas engines alive where others have done blown um up:D

why ask that question?

my question and answer would be,
question: what's wrong with an n/a idi truck grossing (i dunno,say 8500lb 5ver + 7k truck for rough estimate) 15-16k up steep grades?
answer: your only working with 120-130 hp and you need a turbo.

Definitely would like a blower. I'm a bit hesitant to add one w/o at least going through the engine and that's not a reality right now...

what seems to lead you to think the trans is slipping? as opposed to just having a 120-130 ponies to work with?

I'm ignorant about autos?cookoo I don't know. When we were making the drive, in 3rd gear, 2600RPM, od off climbing a moderate grade w/o change in throttle position, no radical change in tach indicated RPM, the gear box sound would change in pitch and volume to more of a louder, howling sound. After cresting the hill, id switch to od and it would shift and change to the more normal sound. Can you venture a guess as to what I'm hearing?






see,this is why all trucks (2wd or 4) should all come with transfer cases.simply shift into 4 low range and let the gears do the work as you crawl up inclines like this.takes all the stress off things.

Great minds think alike! :rotflmao
I said this very thing to my wife while waiting for the tranny to cool!

Thanks again guys:hail
 

saburai

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Posts
2,205
Reaction score
985
Location
Bokeelia Florida/Catskill mountains NY
Were are you in the catskills. It sound a lot like a place i camped at called SoHi campground in Acord NY. We did that with a 38 ft Newmar motor home pullong a trailer of Harleys. Its also a e4od. Its didnt hurt it at all

Marketa and I are seasonal staff at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in Woodburn. We help out teaching the teacher training courses and run a massage clinic. I wind up fixing a lot of stuff as well, the buildings are around a hundred years old. Do you still come upstate? If you do, it'd be great to meet up and grab a meal or some such.
 

FORDF250HDXLT

The life of an Indian is like the wings of the air
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Posts
6,456
Reaction score
1,136
Location
Maine & Oklahoma
When we were making the drive, in 3rd gear, 2600RPM, od off climbing a moderate grade w/o change in throttle position, no radical change in tach indicated RPM, the gear box sound would change in pitch and volume to more of a louder, howling sound. After cresting the hill, id switch to od and it would shift and change to the more normal sound. Can you venture a guess as to what I'm hearing?

i would guess it's the airflow through the air cleaner your hearing.especially if the "soup bowl" has been cut off it.this was it's purpose,to reduce that howling sound.
 

icanfixall

Official GMM hand model
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Posts
25,858
Reaction score
682
Location
West coast
Those temps are fine. But be concerned when using the reverse gear to back up a loaded truck. Reverse can make plenty of heat fast. Might want to check the trans fluid for a burned look and smell. Easy way to check it is wipe the stick off on some white toilet tissue. It will bleed into the paper and you may see some clutch pieces if they are failing. If you can decide if the trans fluid id bad just change it. It would seem like the trip home is more down hill than how you worked the truck getting "up there".. I think you are fine but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of advice.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
93,001
Posts
1,155,992
Members
26,589
Latest member
tke395

Members online

Top