Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat.... (Read 657 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Yahoo Message Number: 17759
I just posted an excel file with the raw data and a basic chart of the trip with some notes explaining some of the temperature changes. I used this one and not the return data file because the return temps were under 208 for both engine and tranny for the entire trip and the temps outside were at 104 degrees.
I am interested in anyone's thoughts about this data. Also this is an example of what you can do with the VMSpc software and hookup.

Kary

05 Inspire
#51499

Re: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 17760
Kary,

Thanks for posting the data, I may need to get the VMSpc system too. Although we have different CAT engines, your data and trend looks pretty similar to what I observe. In normal operation the water cycles from about 188 to 204 on a pretty constant basis (normal cooling cycles). But, the concern I have with my tranny temps is also obvious in your data, the temperature just seems to slowly climb as the time at load continues.

Can you clarify if you had any grades? Also, where you mention the stop and go, did the temp rise and then improve when traffic began going again? Mine climbs very quickly in a traffic jam at 100+ outside. I need to take it out of drive when I can to reduce load on the tranny.

I still believe that additional tranny cooling is needed.

Ron

04 Intrigue 42 C13 with cooling update

Re: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 17761
Ron, that trip data was the worse case as the trip home was pretty level without any peaks. The trip home was also hotter temps starting out at 104. Just prior to the highest temps on the chart I posted in the stop and go is the beginning of various short and long grades as we move into the high desert. So there is load for sure with some grades sustained while others are bursty. I do not believe there is a gradual increase in temperature for the tranny over time from the other trip data I have, though I will be going out again this weekend up to Big Bear where there will be some good mountain grades to pull up that are slower speeds and will see how it turns out. I will not be towing in that case though

We have different engines and different coach weights so I think it is difficult to compare a C9 Inspire 36' to a C13 Intrigue 42'. Do you tow like I do?

I am pleased with the VMSpc and the current performance results I am getting. It has shown that my engine is producing the horsepower and torque it should, and has helped in monitoring the coach health during a trip.
Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

Quote from: ron930cab

Re: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 17763
Kary,

Yes the coach's are different for sure, but the design criteria should be similar, that is the acceptable cooling performance, not the design of the cooling systems since they have to deal with different weights and engines, etc. We are fully loaded with a 5K tow. Also, I live in phoenix so high temps all summer. Our last trip was in 115-120 weather and we saw 226 on water and 235 on tranny at top of grades, 4th gear, 2000 RPM. Into and out of Laughlin at 120 was really fun on the engine/tranny temps and the brakes.

The tranny trend looked pretty pronounced in this data set, starting out you had similar temps and as the day progressed the tranny never returned to those temps. I think its an issue of response rate (or capability) with the current tranny cooling design. Mine can take a 30 minutes or more while driving to go from 235 back to 220 or so.
Yours took about 20 minutes.

Thanks again for posting, I really enjoyed looking thru all the indicators. Enjoy your trip this weekend. We are off to Flagstaff (cool) next weekend.
Ron

04 Intrigue 42 C13 with cooling update

Re: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 17767
Ron, the data I posted started with an outside temp of 75 degrees and began increasing as we moving into the desert to close to 100 degrees.
That is why the trend appears as it does. The fact that the slow stop and go traffic happened when it was around 100 degrees makes it difficult to come all the way back down to the temps it had when the outside temps were in the 70's at the beginning of the trip. Later on I will post the return trip results to show the temps are pretty consistent.
Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

Quote from: ron930cab

Re: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 17770
Kary,

I guess I discounted the outside temps because the water temps did almost immediately return to the 188-204 and so on. This is what my coach does almost irrespective of outside temps in range of 85-110 for sure.
Ron
 

Re: Engine and Tranny temps while towing in heat....

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 17777
Ron, we have the C13 also in an '05 Intrigue Ovation. Our water temps are the same as yours. We run between 192-204 until we hit a long downgrade and then the water temp drops to 188. The tranny temps start out cool and then work up to 214 normally. While driving through Montana at 101 degrees we went to 216. I have noticed that on long upgrades the tranny temp will actually come down if the fan goes to high speed and stays on for a while to cool the water. I also shift into neutral in traffic jams but it says to do this in the Allison manual and the Allison video. My Ford truck had the same issues.
Bob

'05 Intrigue LE #11872

Quote from: ron930cab

Kary,

Thanks for posting the data, I may need to get the VMSpc system > too. Although we have different CAT engines, your data and trend > looks pretty similar to what I observe. In normal operation the > water cycles from about 188 to 204 on a pretty constant basis > (normal cooling cycles). But, the concern I have with my tranny > temps is also obvious in your data, the temperature just seems to > slowly climb as the time at load continues.

Can you clarify if you had any grades? Also, where you mention

the