What is AW4 normal running temp???

I'm about to buy a cooler and a guage and I'm not sure what to get since I dont know the normal operating temperature....any suggestions on temp guage range??

Thanks!
- Joe

Not sure on an XJ AW4.

RAM 3500 with 48RE tranny.

Normal is about 120-150 degrees. I've hit 180 in the city.
Backing up a 36ft gooseneck enclosed trailer for a half mile driveway...Hit 260...Tranny died 2 days later.

Mine has an external cooler from the factory...and I installed an autometer tranny temp gauge IN LINE with the cooler...Stupid special hose.

Maybe that will give you some reference points.

And lastly..Towing about 8k lbs I run about 165-180 on the highway in lockup.

JoesXJ said:

I'm about to buy a cooler and a guage and I'm not sure what to get since I dont know the normal operating temperature....any suggestions on temp guage range??

Thanks!
- Joe

Click to expand...

You can buy tranny coolers that have a thermostat built in that only opens once you reach a certain temp and then close once it's no longer needed.

Do some research on the temps for TRANNY FLUID thats really the key. I'm not sure if there are specific temps for one specific tranny, most people go by the temps that is best for the fluid. That is how tranny's die, the fluid oxidizes and the tranny goes shortly after. You can also cook internal seals and that will cause all sorts of malfunctions.

<130°F Too Cold, Obviously you'll pass thru this warming up, but you've got to keep the trans temp above this most of the operating time. Moisture will naturally collect and won't be evaporated out if the fluid is this cold, that moisture forms sludge and breaks down the fluid. As well, the valving and hydrualics are all calibrated for the fluid viscousity at a higher temp.

130°-150° Not great, but should be OK, as long as you get over 150° a few minutes during the drive. I get this sometimes in winter in my Mini-Van equipped with a Trans Temp Gauge.

150°-180° Ideal, the trans fluid will last forever at 180°F, the trans should be just fine at this temp range.

180°-220° Warm Side, the trans fluid is slowly oxidizing, depending how long you spend in this range should take into consideration your frequency of fluid change.

220°-230° Hot, Only except a few minutes of operation in this range, maybe 10-20 minutes at most, you should be only hitting these temps at heaviest loads and only except them for as occassional high loads and not normal business. If your in this range often, you should be changing the fluid very often, as well, if your in it all the time, then you need more cooling.

225° Is my Limit, If I hit this, I back off or quit what I'm doing to cool the trans off, sometimes I go a little over for a few moments, but if I can't get it back down, I'm approacing the cooking range.

230°-250° Too Hot, Your in the cooking the fluid range, get out of it right away by doing whats necessary to cool off the tranny, this should be your first priority once you hit this range. Spend more than a minute or two in this range, you should change your fluid very soon.

>250°F Your COOKING your tranny fluid and trans, the fluid will 100% oxidize in a few minutes at this temp or higher and not much higher seals can harden or warp. If you go above this, if your trans isn't ruined right away, the fluid is ruined and needs to be changed immediately, i.e. don't drive it until you change the fluid.

Bouncy's post seems to confirm that info, he hit 260° (I'm assuming for only a few minutes) and 2 days of driving later his tranny was burnt toast.

Remember that is fluid temp, its probably hottest leaving the trans headed toward the cooler.

If you put the temp sensor in the pan, it will probably read quite a bit lower than the peak temp of the fluid before its cooled.

My 96' with a 30,000 gvw HAYDEN cooler on it(overkill) and B&M tranny temp guage, runs at 160 winter or summer and may go upto 180 when I'm pulling something heavy in 90+ heat.

thanks guys, I ordered the transmission cooler and now I know what range to get the guage in. Thanks! :jester: