Gear Shift Too Hot

These things are relative to where he is getting his shifter temp from and what "too hot" means. Transmissions get hot especially in the summer and especially when worked such as up long grades. This heat will transfer up the through the shifter at least "a ways". If the gear shift HANDLE is "too hot" then something is obviously wrong, but if he's feeling the shift stick down near the base and it's very warm to the touch, that would be normal.

Not a lot one can do to "check" the transmission fluid as a driver. Typically those are maintenance free for the life of the truck at the first carrier. Most places will pull a top plug and check to see the fluid level is okay at various intervals but this is not on the driver. If it sounds right, ok, if it seems right ok, if the shift stick "too hot to touch", then there may be a problem but nothing the driver himself could check out and verify or rectify.

 

I've got a transmission temperature gauge in my truck. Normally it runs at about 190-200ºF, but pulling or descending a grade will bring it up to about 220-230ºF.

Did your son notice the heat during or after pulling or descending a grade, or was this just normal on highway cruising?

 

I also have a temp gauge for the tranny....highway running loaded it's anywhere from 170-190* in the summer.....book for the transmission (Eaton-Fuller 8LL) says about 100* over ambient is normal.....

 

Why can't a driver check the transmission fluid level? Requires an adjustable wrench is all

 

Seriously? You think somewhere there is a company DRIVER who is going to go buy a creeper, crawl under a truck, ruin a set of clothes, to check a transmission fluid level that is more or less "permanent" and is normally only checked by authorized technicians? Let's be real, shall we? All company drivers here who have checked their truck's transmission fluid level, raise their hand ..... waiting .... I did not say a driver could not check a transmission fluid level, I thought I indicated this is something a driver normally does not do ... kind of like a driver does not normally check the camber of the steers on each and every pre-trip.

 

Why not? I did when i was a company driver, but then i have extensive knowledge of trk's and years of experience working on them

 

Part (most) of my job as a company driver is keeping the wheels turning.....the dirty #### is my favorite part.....

 

Could be a multitude of things with a transmission getting to hot, low oil level or oil in trans is way past it's useful life,bearing coming apart inside, oil cooler partially plugged or without knowing the make or model of trans it could be a restricted coolant flow thru the cooler. Some are internally cooled or external

 

I think if it could be the difference between walking and driving I could find a piece of cardboard and slide under the truck with an adjustable wrench to made sure there's some oil in there at least. I know you were talking tongue in cheek but there's so many guys on this website that make everything such a big deal.