2024 Transmission getting HOT in 4x4 climbing hills, skidplates?

4 Auto is 2wd and your front diff goes for a ride. Its not engaged no drag/minimal.
When slip happens the fluid becomes viscous and engages the front diff.
So the temps would be just like in 2wd or close. I am assuming here. Have had many vehicles with 4auto.
But not in his scenario. Long heavy pull up - long distance on gravel road.
I believe Toyotas full time system would be fine. I have it on my 4Runner and have never had to lock up either - unless it was for kicks to keep it lubricated. You can't go wrong with any vehicle that has a Land Cruiser 4wd system.

 

Yes, only the limited, but I was just letting him know because he said that it wasn't in NA to his knowledge.

 

It would be in RWD majority of the time. Only engages when slip is detected

 

That is not how 4Auto works in Ford or GM trucks. Ram's I know less about but know they also use a Borg Warner case like GM/Ford so i assume its probably the same.

My F150's 4Auto was active all the time, sending power to the front axle even in a straight line on dry pavement. The hubs would engage as soon as you went into 4Auto and then the t-case would vary the clutch pressure on the fly.

 

My GM worked as borla described in 4Auto, didn’t activate until the rear wheels slipped. So, the Ford acts like AWD when in Auto…aka 4H?

 

@mass-hole
Words and terminology.
Its active in that it will kick in "auto" matically when selected. Its in rear 2wd in normal mode.
I can tell you that a family member with a F150 and Sierra both with 4Auto last summer, told me that the GM system was faster kicking in to the front when coming into the trails.
Meaning he sensed a little slip with the Ford. Subjective.

 

this^ , tons of people miss that fact.

 

so the cooler from say the LC500 would not be a feasible option?

I’ve been looking around seems the LC500 or even the LC350 may have a good cooler option similar transmission?

Something like this perhaps?
https://lexusboutique.net/products/...-is-500-automatic-transmission-oil-cooler-kit

 

All of my low speed off-roading has been with skids. Adding the external cooler dropped temps significantly. My drivetrain, which granted is different than yours @SDHNTR, has greatly benefitted from the external cooler.

The internal oil cooler puck in my transmission is still working to make the transmission fluid track engine oil temps. So it works against the external cooler *up to* the temp of the engine oil.

The main benefit is that I have something now that keeps temps from running away from that internal oil cooler puck.

This is with engine and transmission/cat skids.

 

Given the current quality issues many of the Big 3 are suffering with, I would strongly consider installing an aux cooler (properly) before taking a loss on a new truck by selling it, especially if this is the only issue with the truck. If there are others, that may be a different story.

We personally have nothing but headaches with our GM's here at work.

 

Wrangler folks are halving the same issue.

"I just had the same scenario a few weeks ago. I was in 4 Auto going slowly and the same message came up. Trans temp was at, I think, 240 something. I switched to 4 Lo and the temp went back to around 180. I just went to 4 Lo whenever there was a stretch of slow, high effort wheeling and didn't have any issues the rest of the day."

 

Interesting. I had two Cherokees with 4Auto. Jeep has been making 4 Auto going back to the 80's.
4 Auto is best for varying conditions. You can set and forget. It will bring on the front diff as needed.
But if you are on terrain best suited for 4 Hi, 4 Auto will work but it will always be "on", so the drag will still be high like 4 Hi.
You might as well use 4 Hi which will have better grip, and then go to 4 low if needed. JMO

 

The Fords can vary the torque to the front axle anywhere from 0 to 50% on the fly. It’s not on or off.

It’s called the Torque on demand transfer case and ford has been running it since 2012
https://www.borgwarner.com/newsroom...-wheel-drive-transfer-case-for-the-ford-f-150

I don’t know what year GM you had but their trucks have had the same system as ford since at least 2019.

 

I’m not even going to argue. It’s not worth it. I posted a link if you wanna read it. Fords been running and “active awd” 2 speed t-case since 2012. It does what I said it does.

 

Do you think the Ford 150 transmisson and the way it is programmed (gearing), will also heat up like the Tundras in these conditions?
Forcing 4wd Low running. Long uphill slow climb 15-20 mph, loose gravel, pulling a heavy load.
or.. the OP should rent a F150, GM or RAM for the weekend and find out for sure.

These 4wd systems are old. The only thing complicated about them is the marketing. For Pickups breaking the systems down into the basics helps.

2wd - Rear, 4 Auto, Part Time 4wd (4Hi/4Lo), and Full Time 4wd (i.e. Torsen based system - New Tacoma)
*****
AWD term used alot is for cars suvs vans (Sienna)

 

Continue to argue, plz.

I'm finding value there.

 

Got it. Never had a ford and my GMs were older than ‘19…a decade and over, so makes sense. Haven’t paid attention to GM in a long time.

 

Ford and GM never have an transmission overheating issue, I use the 4 hi all the time when off roading on both the Ford and Tahoe as well as all wheel drive, they have never once overheated the transmission…. It’s just Yota…

I use 4hi with the traction control completely disabled.

 

You want the truth? Can you handle it?
Go up to your Front Diff and have a Come to Jesus Mtg with it.
Look at its round face. Stare it down and ask it nicely.....

Hey Diffy……if we are travelling on a good dry road, and I reach over to that thingy, button, dial thing on the dash and turn it so it points to 4Auto. Are you at this point going to be helping me drive the vehicle or are you just hitchhiking?
It will give you the truth.
'8^0

 

GM transfer cases are notorious for taking a shit.

 

why is this still going, seems like plenty of good options and other options have been provided but yet 7 pages of back and forth lol

1) use 4 LO
2) drive faster in 4 hi
3) use 2wd until you actually need 4wd, then 4lo or 4hi for a shorter distance
4) add another cooler to the truck
4) sell the truck and buy a ram, gm, or ford

 

because it is a public chat forum, its raining, and I don't want to do my taxes.

 

fair

 

Maybe not the transmission, but I've been in an Ecoboost truck that had the engine overheat.

 

My 2018 f150 hit 250 degrees in 2wd going 65!
Ford reflashed the control module and I really
fix the problem by purchasing a tundra.

 

Mine is 2736 at 62.3k miles.

 

UPDATE:

Had the truck into the dealer today. And go figure, they claim they experienced the exact opposite condition. They said they got the tranny "really warm" and it DID NOT register on the gauge as being warmer than normal. So after conferring with "Toyota engineering" they think that the sending unit/software communication from tranny to gauge is bad. I'm HIGHLY skeptical. They say they need to hook the truck up to the computer, drive it around, get it hot again, and video everything to send to Toyota Engineering on Monday. Gonna let them do their thing and keep my fingers crossed, but I almost want to laugh.

Oh and they are working on the excessive wind noise too.

 

A faulty sending unit or gauge was one of my first thoughts. I hope that's all it is.

 

You said you were done. No take-backsies!

 

We have emailed back and forth a few times, and I see 200 posts ago you suggested drilling extra holes for better flow in your Talons transmission skid, and I do not think that would change your situation in this case.

While we have not tried this on a Tundra, when we got our bronco and stared wheeling it V1 of our skids did not have any holes in it for airflow. I mostly wanted to test a theory and we took it wheeling the following weekend. We did not notice any change in transmission temps from stock as read on the factory digital gauge. We also hit some areas with a temp gun and had the same results.

While I do not doubt that the transmission skids hamper air flow to some extent, they do not totally block it, and it is not an airtight seal around the transmission area. There are lots of gaps all around the skids, along with our logo and vent holes to facilitate extra air flow. Think about trying to heat or cool your Tundra then rolling a window down. Even though there is a lot of cab around you, it really negates the ability to keep it hot/cold.

It sounds like you have the transmission skid off, and the dealer was able to get the transmission hot without it? Does this mean I can stop laying awake wondering about this now