4L60E Question
4L60E Question Well it is winter time in N.C. for sure now. It was 19 this morning and suppose to be 9 degrees tomorrow. I always warm my engine before hitting the road, but I was wondering?
When your cars sitting there in Park with engine warming up is the transmission warming up itself too? Is the pump circulating tranny fluid? I know the torque convertors spinning its little vanes around but thats about all I know about it. Should I be easy with the car until she gets a couple miles on it when its this cold or just drive it like I do in normal weather?
When your cars sitting there in Park with engine warming up is the transmission warming up itself too? Is the pump circulating tranny fluid? I know the torque convertors spinning its little vanes around but thats about all I know about it. Should I be easy with the car until she gets a couple miles on it when its this cold or just drive it like I do in normal weather?
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From: Az
If you have the transmission cooler in the end tank of the radiator still connected then the coolant will warm the transmission fluid as it circulates through end tank cooler. You fluid levels are at there lowest when cold so there is more potential to cavitate the pump on hard launches. In sub zero temperatures the fluid will turn to a gel subtance, then there is a delay in engagement.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Elgin, Il
The transmission is actually going to warm up the engine when your driving.There is a LOTTA heat building in the converter - and since trans fluid runs through a part of your radiator to be cooled, the heat that drops from the trans oil helps to warm your coolant up. But only while driving. (ever wonder why you don't get very good heat until your moving?) The pump is spinning when the engine is running, trans in park, but its not building up a lotta heat since the impeller and turbine of the trans are spinning close to the same speed (the impeller isn't dragging like it would in gear at a stop). Hope that makes sense. I would let it run for a few minutes, then drive it.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
firedup the OP is talking about 19 degree weather and you think the trans is heating the motor up? have you ever looked at coolant temp vs. trans temp on a 19 degree day? my trans has a hard time getting over 130 when it is 60 or below. i can drive miles at normal operating temp when its 40 out and the trans wont even be at 100.
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So I quess the answer would be not to dog the transmission until its hot enough to allow the torque convertror to lock up? I crank my car in the morning to get the frost off of it. After 15 minutes the windows are defrosted and the heater/defrost is blowing warm air. If I get in the car and drive it at this time I will still have to go about 5 miles before the tranny fluid is hot enough to allow convertor OD lockup.
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