Last Time I Overheated a New Silverado Towing Up a Mountain - Chevy Fixed It SO Let's Try Again! 

Freeway towing is not a towing test at all. Try Priest Grade for paved towing. And thousands of mountain roads and trails.

I agree!

You are right sir

Yes test more trucks !

Agreed 👍

I'd definitely like to see how a Toyota with no transmission cooler would do on it.

You are correct. That 255 degrees temp on the fluid is WAY too hot. GM has failed on this truck.

@@JohnSmith-ug5ci whats new?

Yep. Testing the various trucks on this type of test would be a BIG win for both TFL and for the consumer. I’d wager that this is one of the reasons Toyota re-introduced the external transmission oil cooler on the new Tundra.

Agreed that's way too high, definitely going to replacing torque converters.

Iirc, TFL did so a test like this on the F150 too, and it overheated. Ford responded by saying max towing rating is reduced by altitude. I'm glad to hear GM didn't offer excuses, but went right to work on fixing the problem.

That's why it's stupid for people to just go based on advertised towing numbers. A trailer that size should be pulled by a heavy duty. That's too heavy and too tough of a road for a half ton to do. Maybe at 7000 lbs it would have been better. The big question is how are the transfer case temps and diff temps. That rear diff probably took a beating. The good thing though is it's not hard to replace the fluids after a huge tow like that

What is a heavy duty

@@ytjhhh Generally speaking... in terms of consumer vehicles. Not big rigs. I'm referring to a full size truck that's a 250/2500, 3/4 ton and up.

@@ytjhhh back in the day they were axle ratings. Your standard F150 or ram/GMC/Chevy 1500 are half tons, they used to be rated to carry 1000lbs of weight over the rear axle, that's long since changed but the terms are still used, they claim a half ton is capable of 13000lbs max towing and depending on configuration could be about 2800lbs of payload. F250, and 2500 are 3/4 ton rated to tow 20000ish lbs max around 3500lbs payload depending on configuration . F350 and 3500 are 1 ton that also come in dually 30000+ lbs max and about 4000lbs of payload depending on configuration Heavy duty trucks are generally built for more stressful loads and regular hauling. Their cooling systems, transmissions and differentials are more stout

No, the warning isn't programmed to come on until ~270F. Been this way for years. 255F < 270F. Not sure why people are making false assumptions when it's easy to disprove. Modern transmissions and synthetic fluids are able to handle the higher temps without issue. This isn't the 1970s.

Modern transmission fluid can easily withstand temps of 230+. Where are you getting your info?

@@dieseldrax this is wrong…the warning showed up last time at 245F and power got reduced… What the dude is saying here might be tots true

Considering the fact that gm wouldn't say exactly what the problem was, it's definitely possible.

Probably threshold because it got pretty hot

😂😂😂

Well not that. Temp is 255 vs 300. I would like to know though. Kind of defeats the purpose to not know.

@@Heath3250 i think gm didn't want to tell them because as soon as they do everyone is gonna want gm to do the fix under warranty. That's a lot of money gm doesn't want to spend.

First the F150 Lightning should be able to make it to the road and return to a charging station, the battery range towing is low.

It'll do about 80 miles fully charged while towing 7000 pounds up on the mountain. Add charging hiccups, I don't see it happening but I'll be happy if they do.

@@professorsergio3819 it did 80 miles towing on average highway towing a 5000 lb travel trailer it would go 25 miles after this

No tranny to cool, so I can't imagine it would fate poorly... Besides the range hit

@@paimond223 No tranny, but the battery pack and motor controller electronics need substantial cooling. Is the cooling system up to the task? The fan will now have to do the work natural airflow did at higher speeds.

Exactly it was climbing way too fast. Fail for GM , trans cooling capacity is not nearly enough for the trucks tow rating.

Agree, way toooo high

Perhaps GM just reprogrammed the TCM's high temp threshold a bit higher so it didn't throw the alarm as fast. That would be the GM way to "fix it" lol.

@@matt9c1 absolutely saw no better performance. truck just ignored the problem for longer.

I've got one now stuck in 3rd gear and major delays on parts NC

I’m a gm service advisor and this is sadly true. ALL 8sp trans across the GM lineup have issues with torque converters and the trucks are the worst. V6 A8 Camaros are getting really bad too.

@@T67GS300 just the 8 speeds? I have a GM 6 speed, 3500, and the new Ford/GM 10 speed....both have done extremely well for me

@@workct4102 The 8 speeds were only in the 1500 trucks. Your 6 speed is much more robust designed for heavy duty cycles.

@@workct4102 you have nothing to worry about 6sp hd trans don’t have any issues

The only way to make the transmission last longer is to make it shift harder and faster. The problem is most people who buy these trucks want smooth shifts.

@@CaptainRudy4021 Agreed too bad GM doesn't sell a manual anymore.

Excessive clutch slippage? It's far more likely that the torque converter was slipping which was heating up the fluid. That's a really easy fix, you just have to downshift so the transmission is more likely to lock the converter, but if it can't at least the torque converter doesn't have to slip as much because the gear is doing most of the torque multiplication, that, and with a lower gear, less torque needs to go through the input of the transmission.

If the trans is that hot, I would certainly hope that GM is smart enough to run the fans without having the AC on. I have never seen an application in a truck where having the AC on didn’t lower the cooling potential of the radiator/trans cooler, other than in remote cooler setups.

Clutches aren’t slipping dude.

My 1500 ram tans never overheated the transmission but it didn't like towing

Josh would tow with a mythical truck (maybe just maybe he meant fiat Ram duh 🙄)

They did in the previous segment this is just a follow up because the chevy kept overheating the ford overheated as well but they never stopped they kept pushing it to the end.

Ford broke down too. It’s a tough test at max capacity. Tough on any vehicle

Was thinking the same.. It definitely overheated again.

Wouldn't put it past GM. Or redesigned it to come on at 300°!

Exactly. An unlocked torque converter can generate a crap ton more heat than a trans cooler can be expected to reject. Dropping a gear and locking the torque converter I'll bet would've kept the temp barely above normal.

I looked for towing instruction before I started towing my 5000 lb camper with my 2016 chevy silverado 2500. Couldn't find anything. So I just let it do want it wants. How do you know when to put in in M and pick a geer and which geer to pick? What rpm should it run at? I was nervous before, but got more nervous when my transmission burned up on the flat and I had to replace the transmission, radiator, and transmission cooler. They said something fell apart in the radiator and clogged it.

Agreed; towing 101, 1st step is put in tow/haul mode, 2nd step, lock out all overdrive gears ( 2016 Silverado w/6 speed tranny) M5 at least, lock out 6th gear, even 5th or 4th in lower speeds. Keep it from excessive shifting!!! I’ve done that with all my trucks, no matter what brand (Fords, Chevys, Dodge makes no difference.

I always manually shift when on grades. I put my F150 in manual and lock it into a gear. The constant shifting creates a lot of heat. I wouldn’t let the temps go over 230 in my truck.

I lock out 6th in tow haul, pulling 6k lbs TT with ‘12 F-150 5.0 in 90 degree heat and it never goes beyond normal trans temp. Did this when I noticed 6th was nearly useless towing, why stress the trans? Good to know on the torque converter with the gear lockout.

It’s super annoying but I just slide the fast forward until it’s over takes 1 sec

250 is still too hot for any trans. It is literally being fried, internally.

Since when? 08?

yeah, I just recently was stuck behind a truck going through the Rockies in Montana....we were at about 20 mph in 3rd gear towing about 6k# and the trans hot up to 232°. Once I sped up into higher gear it cooled back down to 214°

@@workct4102 Yeap. The airflow alone helps with the cooling.

This 1/2 ton can out tow 3/4 tons from 20 and maybe even years ago and do it with less problems. Everyone always says 3/4 ton is needed but it also depends on how old of one.

@@jameshowey9958 maybe but the type of trailer is more important than anything else. I’ll agree modern 1/2 tons have more power and even better brakes than older 3/4 tons but they still don’t have better axles and tires. The size and type of trailer is a greater determining factor to what size truck you need though. Open trailers and a lot of boats are perfectly fine to tow with a 1/2 ton. But big boats and almost any enclosed trailer or camper really needs atleast a 3/4 ton. Like an enclosed trailer or camper that weighed 9600 pounds like this test had would be way too much for any 1/2 ton. Really the weight wouldn’t matter too much in that type of trailer. Once you start approaching 28-30’ box length that’s too much for a 1/2 ton. Now I know people will say I tow a 30’ camper but they measure those from the rear bumper to the tongue. So most of the time a 30’ camper is actually like 25’ or 26’ box length. But even that is pushing it especially at Interstate speeds.

@@jameshowey9958 there are a lot of factors....but you're mostly right. I still have a 1968 F350 with an old straight 6 and 4spd manual that will tow 20k#, but it is not going to tow even 10k# at highway speeds like a new 1/2 ton from any manufacturer

well said

GM 6, 8, 10 speed autos in half tons 2014 - current have the thermostat just outside the transmission that keeps it in a closed loop until a specified temp. Called the pill, when it opens at specified temp probably 180 - 200 degrees then trans fluid then flows to the cooler which is shared with the ac condenser. Several manufacturers do this today. One part does double duty. My guess is GM either replaced the trans thermostat because it was malfunctioning (not opening) or out in a lower temp transmission (pill) thermostat.

I just wish they said in the manual what temps should be. Like between a-b for regular driving and c-d for loads. And stay below z or shortened life. All my Silverado book states is to check oil levels between 160-200 degrees. Gives us just to guess which seems pretty poor for a $40k+ tool. I can’t even find any info online from the manufacturer, again poor!

Are you a mechanical engineer who specializes in transmission design? In the February 2011 issue of Trailer Life magazine RV Clinic in response to a reader about the maximum transmission temperature allowed in a 2009 Chevy Silverado, the Tech Team had this response. “General Motors’ in-house towing team expert provided RV Clinic with this statement: The maximum allowable automatic transmission fluid temperature is dictated by the transmission oil itself. The oil begins to degrade significantly above 270 degrees Fahrenheit, so we design vehicles so that in all but the most extreme conditions, the fluid temperature in the transmission sump stays below 270 degrees F. We allow for up to 285 degrees F in extreme conditions (i.e. towing a trailer with combination loaded at GCWR in Death Valley). But for customer usage anywhere else in the country, even at GCWR, transmission sump temperature should stay well below 270 degrees F. Above this point, certain internal components, such as seals, begin to disintegrate rather quickly. Although newer synthetic fluids can withstand higher temperatures we still recommend this (270F) as a maximum temperature. "

@Defective Degenerate You do realize the trans temp in the first video was 275+F and it only hit 255F in this video, right? Modern GM truck transmissions don't start alerting for trans temp until around/just over 270F. So no, Chevy did nothing like what you're suggesting.

@Defective Degenerate because just like all their other 10 speeds that have had this exact problem to fix is a replacement torque converter but by the time it's identified by the customer typically it requires an entire transmission replacement and there is no long-term solution if the customer continues to tell with it it will continue to give him problems.

@@gogofastful I don't believe this one bit and the biggest reason why is because although they can say that all they want that's for that one event so that one day but what is the long-term damage done to the fluid cuz I'll tell you right now that even Allison's fluid if you run them that hot you have to replace it after that event. So for instance like they did here in this test if they don't replace that transmission fluid they will continue to have overheating issues with the fluid because the fluid has lost its ability to perform as expected anything over 190° starts to destroy transmission fluid that's why even on GM's owner's manual if you tow they make you replace it every 45,000 miles (which by the way I got a quote from the dealer and it is $675 for transmission fluid replacement)...... If you're towing like they are here and letting it get this hot you're going to be doing that every single time you go out to tow. There's a reason that most manufacturers of heavy duty transmissions recommend temps below 190 it's for fluid longevity your fluid will last forever if you don't heat cycle it. as will the seals in your transmission the more you heat cycle the seals the brittle or they get the worse they seal. That's before you get to the fact that all of these new trucks have super soft aluminum valve bodies that are built into the case if you warp them from excessive heat cycling you have to replace the entire unit it is not rebuildable at that point.

The 10 speed has the ability to lock the converter in first and second gear however I Believe programming dictates that it won't lock in first but it will in second.

B.S.

That’s good but they were towing close to 10k.

@@brentvance3958 yeah I know that. I wasn't testing. Just living in the real world. I'm just giving folks info.

@@paulmadkow9143 you were also probably going 70+ mph. Airflow = cooling.

@@chrish1850 sure.

That’s still hot bro put a bypass you won’t regret it

Yeah

You can't run it in 4th at 25-30 mph with 9500#'s behind you. Your stuck in lower gears on these roads at these speeds. Temps will soar.

GM doesn't alert for trans temp in modern GM trucks until ~270F. Been this way for years. The trans fluid is fully synthetic and can deal with the temps. I see a lot of "old school" people trying to apply 1970s transmission fluid and design limits to current vehicle and you just cannot compare them anymore.

@@dieseldrax 270° is simply too high for transmission internals, no matter how "synthetic" the fluid is. And this isn't just to rag on GM. Toyota experienced a similar issue on Tundras once they removed the trans coolers. And to be fair, I think this is more of a tuning issue with GMs transmission torque converter not locking soon enough, which can explain the rapid heating of the trans.

@@dieseldrax Doesn't matter what year it is, the friction clutches in a transmission don't take kindly to heat, neither does the aluminum casings....just ask your local transmission shop if its ok to run your transmission at 300+ degrees because you have synthetic ATF. Wait, they'll say its fine they want your transmission rebuilt after you've toasted the transmission.

Why the ford 5.0? They were using a GM 6.2 big block which is their tow motor. It would be appropriate to use the 3.5 ecoboost. It’s already shown to outperform either the GM or Ram motors. I can see including the 5.0 if your only goal is to show its capability over other small block motors.

It’s an Allison “branded” transmission made by GM, not made by Allison.

@@jamesaandf ok, alright. Regardless, it shifts like butter, no quirks like the half tons, and never gets hotter than 165 when I tow.

@@rocketj7449 Eeek, shifts like butter = clutches slipping and torque converter slipping....smooth shifts in a tow rig aren't your friend, you want a crisp firm shift, not slipping clutch packs.

@@wildbill23c I have tuned transmissions for firm shifts. Believe me, it's not comfortable to drive on a daily basis.

Please explain..

@@davemachoukas6175 for example. If just one of the rear straps comes loose when crossed the rear of the vehicle is free to move to one side. If the rear of the vehicle moves to one side now both front straps are also loose. One loose strap creates a domino effect. If straps are not crossed and one comes loose the vehicle is still held in place very well.

GM vehicles are garbage stay away

Good man 👍

Lol

@@gogofastful Whatchu laughin' at, Harcek?

yep - I would have called it at 230