I was going through the CA redwood area with a 5k trailer and about another 12-1400 pounds of people and gear. I was not pushing it but the up and down long grades got the temp up there to 238 and it was about 96 degrees outside.

thoughout my whole trip over the last week when towing whether it was cool or warm the temp was usually in the 200 range but the 238 was for a short time. I never really knew anything about this before so I started watching ti on this trip. the idea of pulling over and letting it cool down is not really going to work as even when driving just the truck with no trailer in the mountains near crater lake it was over 195.

anyhow I am glad i have a lifetime warranty.

As a side note my nephew and his dad own a transmission shop, all they work on it tranny's and he said 200 is pretty hot and that I should just add a bigger cooler. I would do this but my problem is it will most likely void my lifetime warranty....too bad huh?

anyhow I am not towing more than the 2009 specs allow me so if it gets hot theire is not much I can do.

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...emp-chart.html

 

I don't think it would void the tranny warranty.

As a side note, I put about 12,000 hilly, hot towing miles on a Dakota with the same tranny WITHOUT a cooler and the temps must have been up in the 250 plus range. 60,000 miles on the Dak and no tranny trubble...yet.

I did change tranny fluid/filter at 24,000 48,000.

 

You beat me to it Hammer!

 

My owners manual says 185 degrees F. is normal operating temperature.You can see this in the part where it talks about checking fluid level.On a side note,with the outside temperature at 102 yesturday,I pulled my 4000lb pontoon boat up and down moderate hills at 65 to 70 mph and my trans. temp top out at 174.

 

I hit 121 deg c with mine while 4 wheeling this wknd....that is 249 f.
Called 3 dealers all said no problem....if light for check eng did not come on....

What are your thoughts...service reps are not mechanics but that is what I was told???
Truck ran 112 most of way in on fields (pheasant hunt) then hit 121 once so I shut it down....on way back on my trail (2 miles across fields) it ran 105.....
Had I not had this option I would not know temp....oil does not smell burnt...and have run my 03 ram this hard before...but happen to hit vehicle info as I knew I was working the truck but did not feel it was excessive...it is a 2010 ram 5.7 l auto with 8oookm
Thanks!

 

It's common sense that your transmission will run around the same temp as your engine...sometimes cooler during normal driving and sometimes warmer during excessive driving conditions. Transmission lines have been running through the radiator by either the side or bottom tank for years trying to keep the two temps in sync. Since our cooler is built into the radiator cores, the temps will most likely be around 185 for those with 185 thermos and around 200 for those with 200 degree thermos. This is better than the lines running through the tanks but not as good as an outside cooler. The purpose of an outside mounted or stand alone tranny cooler (radiator) is to run cooler than your radiator temp. So for those of you who are concerned about over heating your tranny, you can mount an extra cooler to sooth your worries. As per phone conversation with TCI, they will only warranty their performance transmissions only if you mount their exterior cooler to our Ram radiator because our cooler is not the best design for performance though is better than nothing. So those of you who do push your truck to the limits by either racing, four wheeling or towing...just get an after market radiator mounted cooler for safe keeps and longevity.