Could Superchips Have Killed My Transmission? - Diesel Forum

bmwfish · 09-05-2009, 09:56 PM

Hi y'all,

I spent about 45 mins searching on "transmission", and aside from gaining the knowledge that my tranny isn't the only one that's ever puked, I didn't see anything related to Superchips programmers being a possible cause of transmission failure.

The long story:
I've got 67k miles on my 2nd hand '02 and about a month ago, my tranny puked going up a very steep grade, pulling a 9k lb 5th wheel and a cab-full of family and dog on a 98F day. I noticed the trans temp gauge ramping, so pulled over into a turnout and saw a fast flow of ATF boiling out of the tranny and a trail back down the road as far as I could see. Since it was a dangerous place to stop (with no cell service), I had little choice but to try to limp it up over the top of the grade to a safer turnout after letting it cool for about 20 mins. When I reached the turnout, the truck pitched a fit and would not go fwd or reverse...it was cooked. I guess I should be appreciative that it went the extra couple of miles to get the family out of harm's way. I'll skip all the frustration related to towing a crewcab and 30' 5th wheel down into town, but three days later, I had a new rebuild and cooler installed and I was on my way home...wallet $3800 thinner.

The question that's been nagging me is whether the Superchips tow performance setting could have hastened the failure of the transmission. I thought I had it in tow safe, but no.

Any thoughts?

I'm going to take it up to a local tranny expert next week and have him give it a once over and make some recommendations to try to increase reliability and squeeze a bit more than 67k miles out of this one.

Thanks in advance.

fish

Mark Kovalsky · 09-05-2009, 11:22 PM

Yes, it is very possible. The chip increases the power the trans has to handle, and that shortens it's life.

woodnthings8 · 09-05-2009, 11:48 PM

IIRC tow safe with the SCMT is for towing under 6k..... Tow safe is what you should have been in. But you know that now.

How fast were you going when you were begining to see the temps rise? You need to be going at around 45 mph for the torque converter to lock up, otherwise you are generating a ton of hot fluid to cool down. That is why most install a 6.0 l trans cooler. The OEM cooler has 9 rows the 6.0 coolers are 26 or 31 rows. Much better in keeping the temps cool.

bmwfish · 09-06-2009, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodnthings8

IIRC tow safe with the SCMT is for towing under 6k..... Tow safe is what you should have been in. But you know that now.

Yes, I sure do.

Quote:

How fast were you going when you were begining to see the temps rise? You need to be going at around 45 mph for the torque converter to lock up, otherwise you are generating a ton of hot fluid to cool down. That is why most install a 6.0 l trans cooler. The OEM cooler has 9 rows the 6.0 coolers are 26 or 31 rows. Much better in keeping the temps cool.

Probably no more than about 35mph. It was a very steep and twisty grade.

Since I just paid for a brand new OEM cooler, will an additional aftermarket cooler do the trick? I guess I ought to add a tranny temp guage to my pillar stack too.

Mark K: I was thinking more along the lines of how the Superchips programmer changes the shift points and makes them crisper...and whether that would hasten an early demise to my tranny.

Oddly, I recall remarking to my wife how great the truck was pulling the trailer up that grade just before it puked. d'oh!

Mark Kovalsky · 09-06-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfish

Since I just paid for a brand new OEM cooler, will an additional aftermarket cooler do the trick?

That runs the risk of too much restriction in the line, and probably not as much cooling as a 6.0L cooler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfish

Mark K: I was thinking more along the lines of how the Superchips programmer changes the shift points and makes them crisper...and whether that would hasten an early demise to my tranny.

Crisper shifts in general are better for the trans. Without instrumenting the trans and calculating the energy that the clutch has to absorb on a shift I can't say for sure if the modified shifts are better or worse than stock.

Bucky21804 · 09-06-2009, 08:27 AM

I have found that the SC tuner alters my TC lockups to the point that I am now towing in stock with my new tranny. With tow safe loaded, I was seeing only first stage TC lockup. Oddly, I don't remember this happening with my original tranny, but my new tranny has a 3 stage converter(Ford) and that may be fooling the SC tuner. I need to call them, they may have a download to correct this.

Mark Kovalsky · 09-06-2009, 09:55 AM

What is stage one lockup? I've never heard of that.

I also don't know what a 3 stage converter is. I know what a triple disc converter is, is that what you mean?

woodnthings8 · 09-06-2009, 11:42 AM

You will find you get no real help from Superchips. If you are running a 1705 tuner, the only thing it changes is the line pressure in the transmission. I had one of these and had similar issues that you guys are experiencing. I sent it back to them two times, always with the "we will fix it up for you" attitude. Got it back both times and nothing changed. I sold it and bought the DP-Tuner. You can feel the shift strategy change between programs and when I run my Autoenginuity on the truck you can verify the differences. Tuners are "one size fits all" they will not change parameters for you on a case by case basis. If you want to see a difference put in a custom tuned chip from one of the popular chip builders on this site. I ended up towing in stock for a whole summer because I would not use that programmer again.

bmwfish · 09-06-2009, 12:18 PM

So am i good to go here, or is there something I absolutely, positively must correct before I think about considering my F250 CC a reliable TV? I do NOT want to strand my family on the highway again. Ever.

Thanks for the responses so far.

woodnthings8 · 09-06-2009, 04:33 PM

Well that depends on what you plan on doing. If you install a trans temp gauge, you will save your trans if it gets hot. No more than 225*, you must pull to the side of the road an let truck sit at a high idle in neutral or park to allow the fluid to circulate and cool. If you notice you are always pulling over due to temps put in a 6.0 cooler. Never run your truck in anything other than tow safe or stock! Or buy a custom chip that has a tow setting for your setup. You are not the first person here to loose a trans on the road due to chip or tuner increases. Most will tell you to put a BTS trans in and you will be set. Obviously you had no choice for your new trans, just remeber you must take it easy when pulling in warm weather, under tc lockup speeds, & on hills. Then you will be ok, also change the fluid every 30k!

Mark Kovalsky · 09-06-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfish

So am i good to go here, or is there something I absolutely, positively must correct before I think about considering my F250 CC a reliable TV? I do NOT want to strand my family on the highway again. Ever.

Then you want your truck stock. That's the most reliable way. Any chip reduces the reliability.

bmwfish · 09-07-2009, 07:24 PM

Thanks guys! You rock.

fish

Bucky21804 · 09-08-2009, 06:52 PM

Mark, I am seeing a 2 step TC lock up from this reman Ford tranny. It made me nervous at first. I am counting the shifts, and the lock ups. It's like it has a triple stage TC. No lock up, then a partial, then a full. Or the darn thing is screwed up. Temps are OK, 150 solo, 200 towing 8200 lb TT parachute. The local Ford dealer had the vin at time of order, I have to believe that they sold me the right trans. Thats the problem with owning a PSD when you are a GM guy. You have to rely on somebody else. I bought this truck because I wanted it, but it is frustrating to not be able to control things like I can in our dealership.