Got a 2023 5.0 xlt 12.5k miles. Curious on how these tranmision gauges and tranmision cooling works. I've read up a little bit but tonight was weird. So my trans temp gauge in the cold always takes forever and a day to warm up in the zero degree weather I'm in currently. Firstly is that normal? I cam drive 30 mins like I did tonight after warming up for 5 to 10 before hand and it just be getting to temp on the last 5 mins. A lot of times it won't even reach temp. By up to temp I mean middle of the gauge. With all that being said on my drive home I albeit fairly tired saw my gauge actually go down a bit which spooked me. It's a fairly new truck things can still go wrong but I wanted some opinions before i took it to the dealer. Shifts fairly good swear I feel a wonky shift here and there but it may just be in my head as I'm still getting used to the 10 speed. Any thoughts would be appreciated thanks.

 

I would prefer the trans be too cool as opposed to too hot, but that's me. Mine has gotten up to 220 towing 3k lbs behind it in 65 degree weather here in Phoenix. Actually got me a little worried about towing heavier when it's summer time here and the temps are 110+ outside. I think mine needs an additional cooler.

 

Be easier if mine had the temp able to be displayed. 3k seems pretty manageable idk what motor you got but seems like 8kish seems to be a comfortable max. I'd definitely look into it before you haul too much. I'm not sure which is worse between the heat and cold with wind chill were down to negatives here in IL.

 

Its going to take a while to warm up the trans in that kind of cold weather. I remote start every day and let it warm up about 8 minutes every day. Trans temp gage wont get all the way to the middle but it does move a bit.

As for anyone being concerned about 220f, that is very well within limits and no concern at all. ULV is good to at least 260f.
Putting any kind of aux cooler on will be counter productive to its intended design and function. That is a mindset of transmission operation of the god awful 4 speed autos.

 

was more concerned with the fact it went slightly down when driving only on my drive back. It seemed to go up just a tick when I stopped at a light and down just a bit at cruising speed. Didn't notice it today driving. Part of me wonders if the frigid temps messed with the gauge itself. Didn't cause any massive change in shifts or anything. I'm gonna mention it when it goes in next week for some unrelated work (antennas and paint).

 

Transmission doesn't warm up with the engine on a remote start for the most part. It takes a bit of driving to get the fluid up to temp. It fluctuates pretty good during the winter.

 

Not apples to apples but here's my '24 super duty with a 10 speed after about 250 miles of driving and 20 or so stops for deliveries in the city. As you can see it's 13 degrees out and the digital readout says my transmission temp is 122 degrees.

 

That helps definitely seems like the guage is more suseptible to cold fluctuations than the tranmission. 1/ -1 last night. I don't have a digital read out wish they woulda put it on the xlts truck was expensive enough without springing for a lariat

 

It does warm up a little bit on remote start. But yea by no means does it get anywhere near hot. The needle doesnt even move even if I leave it on remote start for a half hour.

But there is an obvious difference in the way it drives between remote starting it for 8 minutes, or starting it ice cold and driving it 30 seconds later.

 

I have 2023 5.0 and mine works the same as yours. 14 degrees this morning 25 minute ride to work and the trans temp didn't move from cold.