thebaton wrote:i`ve a vdo temp gauge on my auto trans - gets very high uphills or carrying loads on 40c days (130c plus)
Ive a 2009 MN 2.5 auto 5 speed GLX-R
I installed automate yesterday and took a spin up a steep hill. Normally the temps go above 100c here. On a 40c day the temps go crazy. As the trans oil is routed through the side of the radiator to warm it up in cool conditions (presumably for fuel economy which is terribly despite this) the coolant starts to get very hot in these conditions. I fitted a larger capacity radiator which helped a little. I also fitted a larger trans cooler under the tray with twin thermo fans. The trans oil temps then stuck to 90-100c on these uphill runs. The trans oil now does not run through the radiator as we live in Australia not North American or Europe or Japan etc. For additional safety and for future mods I also installed an engine oil cooler with a thermostat and thermo fan and water meth injection for EGTs.
After fitting the automate I repeated the same hill and temps stuck to 60c. I suspect that if i did this initially I would have solved the issue. I also now think a large part of the reason why those with the auto trans get terrible fuel economy is because of torque converter slippage.
My next edition will be a nomad extreme valve as Im going supercharging the vehicle. I at least have all the extra cooling I need. To be clear the engine never had a catastrophic overheat. Once it did go into limp mode on a 44c day going on a steep 7km long incline while fully loaded going off camping. I believe the car should be able to handle this as I lived in north west queensland for years with a navara d22 and never had such an issue. The navara was a manual and this is my first automatic as my wife only drives auto. I`m kinda appalled at the fuel economy compared with the d22 and appalled at how hot it can run fully loaded.
I eventually want to tow with this thing. How on earth do people manager to use the autos to tow in hot conditions?!?!