We are driving an '04 Dodge 2500 Ram Diesel & pulling a 5th wheel up to Glorieta, NM from Abilene, TX, I overheated the transmission on the final mountainous pull into our destination. I was pushing it hard during the final 8 mile climb & I believe that is what caused the situation. I did have "tow/haul" engaged.

When I arrived, I noticed by the odor that I had overheated the transmission. I do not have any extra gauges on this truck. (A project to add a transmission gauge for sure when I return home).

1) The transmission is still shifting okay at this point. Should I take it into Santa Fe & get the fluid & filter changed before returning home???

2) Do I need to have "tow/haul" engaged at all times when pulling my 9500# 5th wheel?

3) Do I need to limit my speed when towing my trailer to something less than 70 MPH?

Lynn
(enjoying the cool temps in the mountains of NM)

 

Changing wont hurt. I say do it. Chang the filters to if you got the funds

 

Without question! Any time you overheat a lubricating fluid it losses it's protective properties in proportion to how long and how hot.

 

I would with out a doubt get a fluid flush. ATF+4..btw..

I would also add a better trans cooler to replace the tiny stock one.

If you continue to drive on burnt fluid, your trans will get hotter faster and burn up pretty quick.

I would keep Tow/Haul engaged when pulling that weight YES.

 

yes
yes
and yes

 

Drive in the climbing lane and keep it out of cruse-control. Let your speed swing from 70 to 20 when running down and over the peak tops. Shift to 'N' every time you come to a in-traffic stop, always with or w/o the trailer.

You have boiled the juice and x4, chg it now! Get the BG treatment w/synthetics.

As suggested, install a aux tranny cooler even if you need to lay it horz with fan under the right floor. Enjoy the country.

 

Hey guys...thanks for the suggestions. We're on vacation in NM but I'm going into Santa Fe tomorrow to the Jiffy Lube and have the transmission fluid & filter changed.

 

k5avj, How is that tranny doing since you refreshed the fluid last Aug? Has the heating problem reoccurred?

 

I did take the '04 Dodge 2500 Diesel 2-wheel drive into Santa Fe & asked them to do a fluid flush. Well, that's not exactly what they did....as some of you may know. They linked into the lines going to the transmission cooler & did something like "dialysis" on my transmission.

The good news is that the truck is still going great now with about 225K miles. The noise I was hearing & thinking it might be the automatic transmission turned out to be u-joints. $150 later all is fine.

I did pull my 5th wheel back to Abilene from NM using my '98 2500 Diesel 5-speed manual (it has 325K miles).

Planning to pull next week to south Texas on an 800-mile round trip haul.
Thanks to all...

Lynn
'04 Dodge Ram diesel 2500 automatic
'98 Dodge Ram diesel 2500 manual

 

THX for the feedback