Dear Motor Medics, Camping season has arrived and I like to pull a fifthwheel camper with my 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 and a boat behind that. I also use it to pull my small tractor around.
The camper and boat are right at my max towable limit of 80 percent but on very hot days when the tempos reach 100 plus down here the transmission temps get hotter than I like at 195 to 210 while pulling.
If I am unloaded, they seem to stay around 150 even on the hottest of days. I am concerned about the longevity of the transmission with the extra heat.
What do you recommend for keeping it a little cooler? Thank you, Larry in Carthage Dear Larry, Those temps are getting up there. When you pull anything, it is always good to follow the 80 percent rule. So many people overload past the max causing damage to their vehicles and making it unsafe for both them and others on the road. This vehicle probably has a transmission fluid thermostat no matter which transmission it has and a cooler built into the radiator.
The first step is to make sure that the radiator fins and in between the radiator and condenser area is free from any dirt. This causes much higher temperatures.
Also, get a thermostat bypass kit for the transmission. With those two items done you may also consider an aftermarket cooler to lower temps.
Take care, The Motor Medics
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