[bigoilbob]

First vehicle I've ever owned with a gauge for this. Like many of us, I'll be towing with my 2018, Z71, 4wd, crew cab, long box. I would like to be able to use trans temp data to stay out of trouble and in my comfort zone. But I've looked over both my owners manual, and diesel supplement and can find no guidelines on when to downshift, back off, or just pull over. Please point out guidance I'm overlooking and/or advise me on ROT's/guidelines you all use to operate safely and efficiently.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Bob,

Love that color.

Anyway, these trans run kinda hot normally, but it seems to be fine. Best we have figured is about 250° as being max temp. I can tell you what I've seen and what others have reported.

I have seen 201° on the gauge just going to the mall in traffic. I have seen around 220° while towing. Others have seen close to 220° as well. Not sure what the max temp is but, like I said, it's been established to be about 250°. I also don't know where the temp sensor is. I assume it's on the hot side of the trans.

I want mine to run cooler while I'm towing, but realistically it just stays in the 210-220° range most of the time and I guess that's ok

http://www.coloradodiesel.org/threads/max-temp-for-6l50-transmission.2801/

 

[Burgess159]

Your trans temp will, generally, be about 100 over the outside temp. If you are at highway speeds, or on back country roads, that will be true. If you are in city stop and go traffic a lot, it will get warmer like rockcrawler said. He also lives on Georgia so his is bound to be warmer normally. Mine runs around 180-190, but again it depends on the outside temp.

If you are towing a lot, like a good amount of weight, I would turn on tow/ haul. If you are on flat ground and can get up to say 65+ mph, and aren't going to stop and go a bunch, I would turn tow/ haul off so that the truck will shift in to 6th gear. Tow/ haul limits it to 5th. Going in to 6th will let the trans cool as well. Going through hills and turns where you are below 65 mostly, I would just leave tow/ haul on. It will change the shift points and turn on turbo braking to help you stop when you need to.

 

[canyon18]

How can you tell you are limited to 5th in tow haul?
I have played around with this and it seems to me it does go into 6 th in tow haul

What am I missing?

 

[bigoilbob]

How can you tell you are limited to 5th in tow haul?
I have played around with this and it seems to me it does go into 6 th in tow haul

What am I missing?

I would like this documented as well. I thought I had read my manual carefully, but am ready to be corrected if I missed this. Here is what the get to know guide says, on page 13:

"The Tow/Haul mode adjusts the transmission shifts to reduce shift cycling, such as when towing or hauling heavy loads or driving on steep grades."

https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2018/Chevrolet/Colorado/2018-chevrolet-colorado-get-to-know-guide.pdf