redfishtd

I didn't notice how hot it seemed until I changed the filter and fluid . I taped my ac temp gauge to it and on these hot 95 f humid days its running 140 f and when pulling small trailer its running 160 . I am looking for some benchmarks ,wish I had done this when it was new .
Used mc mercon v and mc filter . I am worried it may not have liked new fluid . I have 2005 5.4l 3v lariat with tow package- 165k on it now . No other symptoms at this time .
What do you all think . Do I need to consult transmission shop ? I read where the transmission is kept around 200 degrees by design ?

Summers22

iTrader: (2)

My transmission on my 07 5.4 runs 148-150 on my 22 mile commute. It gets to about 160 when the ambient air temp is around 100 here in Kansas.

xMUDKINGx

My 07 runs at about 200 give or take. I wouldn't be worried until it hits 230. That is the factory designated temperature where the truck will alert you of a hot transmission. I put an edge evolution on my truck almost purely just to watch the trans temp.

redfishtd

On a 2005 lariat is there info available . Which is best sct ,evol , I have no clue .

Nosajb15af

I'm a SCT guy myself, but they are decently comparable as long as they allow custom tunes. All strategy tunes are equally worthless… if you're going to buy a programmer, spend the extra couple dollars for the tunes to go with it.

Summers22

iTrader: (2)

^^^This, even "custom" tunes are worthless. The only true custom tune is one that is written after data-logging.

I get my temps from my Edge Evolution that I run my own custom tune on. I wrote my own tune and have posted my settings in several threads. Several forum members run my tune and love it.

Nosajb15af

I had Rudy from Dallas Mustangs write mine. It was done via remote datalogging. He needed everything from the computer serial, to the firmware, to every little tiny modification. First try was pretty close, but after data logging and emailing...the second one was pretty much spot on

Mod (Ret.)

I'm getting similar temps as this, when not towing. When I pull my 17 foot camper, I'm currently seeing trans temps in the 200 range while climbing a hill. I have the 4.6 V8. I'm also monitoring the engine and trans temps with my Edge tuner.

My truck came with the "towing package", and that included a 4 row transmission cooler. In searching around, I found that the 5.4's with a towing package came with a 10 row trans cooler. It is a direct swap for my truck, so I purchased this cooler. Waiting on the special metal "tool" to disconnect the transmission lines to the old cooler to install this new, larger surface one. I expect to see lower temps with it while cooling.

Heat is the number one factor for transmission failure.

Mulestang

Bucko, educate me please. By 10 row, does that mean the fluid piping makes 10 passes through the cooler? I have the 5.4 w/tow package, and I don't think my cooler is that big. I need to go look at it.

MGD

Oh boy.

Coolers - the good ones- are 'stacked plate' designs. That is, there are (in this example) 10 parallel paths fer the fluid to pass. Avoid the single-path coolers like the plague - they are restrictive and useless.

Want a good cooler? - look at Derale's active stacked plate units.

A 4R70/75 trans has a design optimum operating temperature of 170 degrees. That spec is published everywhere. The trans also has an external thermostatic valve block that limits flow to the front cooler around that temp.

IF you have such a trans and you are operating north of 200 degrees for ANY length of time, change fluid often, as Mercon V degrades as temps climb towards 200.

http://www.tccoa.com/articles/tranny/index.html

Lastly - fer clarity: If running an Edge generic canned tune, all you can adjust are a handful of User Settings. Hence, you are still running a generic canned tune with some custom settings - NOT a custom tune. You have no access to the ~300 parameters that a true custom calibration can potentially alter. Apples to oranges.

MGD