Transmission and engine getting very hot

[Ronin]

So I drove for about 30 miles straight today, longer than most trips, and by the time I reached my destination, I felt some heat emanating from the transmission area...I put my on the shifter in the boot area and it was down right hot...I've seen someone mention a transmission cooler, is it possible this may be getting defective?

I've also noticed the engine temp itself is getting hotter than normal. when I bought the car, and until about a week ago, the needle stayed around the N. Lately, especially when running the AC (don't forget that I have a P1SC), it really starts to climb...I shut the AC off today when it hit the "M"...this can't be normal, and is going to be a SERIOUS problem in about a month (I live in Phoenix). The coolant has been changed, it doesn't leak, and I know the radiator was replaced in '06. I'm pretty sure I need to replace a pulley, since it squeaks sometimes (note the last image in this post: http://sn95forums.com/index.php/topic,50795.msg849797.html#msg849797 - FWIW, it doesn't squeak this bad any more, but I'm not dumb enough to think the problem is gone)...is it possible that if a pulley is going bad, everything is working harder? That would also explain why I'm not making much boost...I do have an appointment with a dyno shop to get it tuned, just so you don't think I'm needlessly flogging it, I just couldn't get in any sooner than a week from Saturday.

I think for now I'm not going to drive it.

 

[Ronin]

anyone?

 

[theory29zane]

the engine temp to me is normal i know ever since i have had my car it runs at about the m in normal no prblems with mine and i live in tx. i have done the same fresh antifreeze, t-stat no leaks anywhere. so i would say from my experiance this is where it should run. dont know if it helps any but hope it puts you a bit at ease.

 

[Ronin]

Ok, I'll let it go next time, see if it goes past the M.

Any thoughts on the temperature of the transmission?

 

[Lee12609]

blown head gasket, sell your car quick and buy a saturn ion redline!!!!!!! just picking.





everything sounds very normal...

at the M on the temp gauge your coolant is just at 205 degrees give or take a few, but nothing to worry about. mid ways through the O and i'd start to worry.

was this stop and go or while moving constantly....

the transmission area gets real hot especially with stock exhaust w/ all 6 cats. if you're really worried you can grab a coolant temp gauge and verify the temperature to be on the safe side, but i wouldnt worry.

FWIW, my 95 and 96 would sit dead center of gauge until the a/c is on then they'd go up a tick... my 96 is now tuned with a 180 degree thermostat so it doesnt even hit halfway unless i sit for a good bit of time, and its been in the 90s here aswell.

 

[Ronin]

blown head gasket, sell your car quick and buy a saturn ion redline!!!!!!! just picking.

Ha-ha...going to be a while to live it down, I guess. :tongue3:

everything sounds very normal...

at the M on the temp gauge your coolant is just at 205 degrees give or take a few, but nothing to worry about. mid ways through the O and i'd start to worry.

was this stop and go or while moving constantly....

the transmission area gets real hot especially with stock exhaust w/ all 6 cats. if you're really worried you can grab a coolant temp gauge and verify the temperature to be on the safe side, but i wouldnt worry.

FWIW, my 95 and 96 would sit dead center of gauge until the a/c is on then they'd go up a tick... my 96 is now tuned with a 180 degree thermostat so it doesnt even hit halfway unless i sit for a good bit of time, and its been in the 90s here aswell.

Thanks for the info, but wouldn't it be midway through the A, not the O, since O is before M (which you say is ok)?

Yeah, it's stock exhaust, I guess that's another reason to change that pipe set to something with only one cat per side.

 

[jwyche]

]I'd like to ask a question pertaining to this discussion. What, in numbers rather than letters, is the optimal operating temp for coolant. Since I'm new to the Mod motor thing, it's new ground for me.

I have a stroker aluminum block, Patriot Heads, Cushman 2.5 N/A cams, Victor Jr., 3200 stall (with tranny cooler) and 3.90:1 gears. The radiator is a thee core aluminum with a 195 degree thermostat.

It normally sits between 195-200 degrees. Hot weather, running air and O/D off, it sits on 220 with no dramatic effects. Is this normal, given the equipment, or should I opt for a cooler T-stat?

Your observations would be appreciated!
Jim

 

[jwyche]

BTW, that 220 number would be in either bumper to bumper or running the twisties manually shifting up and down through the gears.
JW

 

[Ronin]

oh, I also forgot to say that the high engine temps I was seeing was from stop and go on the freeway, but the hot transmission was after mostly free-flowing traffic.

 

[Lee12609]

220 is hotter than I like, but being you have aluminum heads and block you can get away with it. I'd get the fan on temperature checked. And a 180 degree t stat but then you have to have the pcm recalibrated to turn on earlier.

Ronin you're right I meant the A.