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The optimal temperature range for transmission fluid is 175 to 220 degrees. Above that, for every 20 degrees bad things happen, starting with formation of varnish at 240 degrees, followed by seals hardening, plates slipping, seals and clutches burn out, carbon is formed, and, ultimately, failure.Sep 25, 2018
It doesn’t take long for the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to heat up once the vehicle is in motion. Normal driving will raise fluid temperatures to 175 degrees F., which is the usual temperature range at which most fluids are designed to operate.
Fluid Life Expectancy vs Temperature
The ideal operating temperature of transmission fluid is 175 degrees. Overheating occurs after the temperature surpasses 200 degrees, and the failure rate doubles for every additional 20 degree increase after that.
How Hot is Overheating? Since automatic transmissions are located closer to the middle of the car, how do you know when your gears are running a little too hot? … A transmission operating temperature normally tends to be anywhere from 175 to 200 degrees, with the fluid inside ranging between 185-194 degrees Fahrenheit.
Normal transmission fluid temperature is about 160-175 degrees. It might rise as high as 200-220 degrees under demanding conditions but hopefully it won’t go any higher.
Allowing the car to idle in neutral, while sitting at red lights, in congested traffic or at rail road tracks, reduces the strain on the transmission, allowing the transmission to cool.
Reasons for overheating include low fluid levels, leaks, burned, old or dirty fluid, or problems with the solenoid. You can ensure the long life and efficient performance of your transmission – and your car – by doing some things to make sure it does not run too hot.
200-225 is very common when the ambient air temp is 80-100 degrees and your transmission is under an increased load. Temperatures from 230-240 have been reached with no damage to the transmission. If you are seeing temps above 225 degrees on a regular basis you should check your fluid level.
The ideal temperature for your transmission is 200 degrees. For every 20 degrees past 200, the lifespan of your transmission is reduced by a factor of 2. In other words, if you hit 220 degrees, you can expect to get about half the normal life out of your transmission. … Hot transmissions give off an odor.
Temperatures from 230-240 have been reached with no damage to the transmission. If you are seeing temps above 225 degrees on a regular basis you should check your fluid level. Fluid levels to high may cause excessive temperature. … These transmissions will run from 200-230 in the summer months when towing in hilly areas.
Without enough transmission fluid or effective fluid, your transmission will start acting out. The ideal fluid temperature is under 175 degrees, but as fluid ages it starts to break down and lose its capacity to cool down the transmission. This is when transmission overheating occurs. At 220 degrees, varnish forms.
Since the CVT fluid is cooled (and warmed) using engine coolant via a heat exchanger, CVT fluid temperatures of 200 to 210 F (slightly above coolant temperature) can be expected in normal hot-weather operation.
#1 Cause of Failure
The optimal temperature range for transmission fluid is 175 to 220 degrees. Above that, for every 20 degrees bad things happen, starting with formation of varnish at 240 degrees, followed by seals hardening, plates slipping, seals and clutches burn out, carbon is formed, and, ultimately, failure.
The ideal temperature for it is 175 degrees, plus or minus 25 degrees, and when the transmission gets below zero degrees, it gets too thick. The fluid can also fail to lubricate parts when it is too cold, wearing parts down unnecessarily.
Change the transmission fluid regularly
We recommend that you change the transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, and more often if you drive long-haul routes, operate your vehicle in hot climates, or tow heavy loads. This reduces transmission wear, which in turn reduces the risks of overheating.
Low or Bad Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid keeps your transmission lubricated and ensures that the machinery operates at an optimal rate and temperature. Bad transmission fluid — or not enough fluid — will cause your transmission to overheat quickly.
#2: Overheating CVT
The belt-driven CVT transmission is cooled by transmission fluid. If there’s been a fluid leak, a glitch in the computer or some other problem, the transmission could begin to overheat. … You may be low on transmission fluid, or the fluid you already have may need to be exchanged for fresh fluid.
Heat is a huge cause of transmission failures but running too cool is bad also. Just as an engine has to run hot enough the trans has to run hot enough to get rid of any condensation that builds up inside and to keep the viscosity at the correct level for best operation.
Normal operating temps will range from 180-200 aprox 100 degrees above ambient air temps. These transmissions will run from 200-230 in the summer months when towing in hilly areas.
You can run up to 250°F for up to a half hour at a time. Above 250°F you should find a safe place to stop and idle or fast idle in park or neutral to cool the trans. You won’t actually start hurting things until you are well above 300°F.
Anything under 235 is normal temp for these engines, and is where they are designed to run. As for the trans, anything under 220 or so is fine. Even 220 isn’t bad if your towing. if it has the factory DEX VI in it, it is good to around 235-240 without much breakdown.
The CVT is a transmission not an engine. Any engine needs a little time to warm up to make sure it is properly lubricated before driving no mater what transmission it’s connected to it.
There is no Nissan-approved substitute for the specially-formulated NS-2 CVT fluid. Use of any other transmission fluid can damage the CVT.
There really isn’t a reason to warm it up, unless you are in extreme sub-zero temps. Letting the engine idle for a couple minutes should do the trick (that is even a hot debate). If you are experiencing trouble shifting when the trans is cold, it could be an indication of upcoming issues, so get it checked out.
A few common causes are low or dirty transmission fluid, or faulty shift solenoids. The transmission uses fluid pressure to shift the gears, and does so using electronic solenoids.
Transmission shifting hard issues can occur due to the presence of impurities in the transmission fluid. This also goes for using the wrong fluid for your transmission system. If the fluid is not right or is contaminated or changes the original color, you have to flush it out.
Even running in the 200-220°F range isn’t bad, although I wouldn’t want to run there all day long. Brief spikes over that (to 240°F) are also OK. I would be uneasy running over 240°F, although brief spikes above this will not instantly kill your trans. Cooler is better (for durability).
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