The Best Time to TORTURE TEST a Ram 2500 Cummins? When It's Nearly 100 Degrees - Here's How It Does!
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2022
- ( www.genyhitch.com & www.alumaklm.com/ & www.rttrailer.com/) It's freaking HOT across the west right now...so what better time to do a towing torture test with the Ram 2500 Cummins? Let's find out how it does!
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#ram #cummins #trailer - Auta a dopravní prostředky
As others have mentioned, manually limiting the top gear would be better. If you tow with a diesel that has an EGT guage, you can clearly see that allowing it to upshift to lower engine speed increases the EGT. You need the same power to pull the load up hill. To get the same power at lower RPM you have to increase torque with more fuel. You can get the same power with less torque at higher RPM. I do understand you are testing to see how the trucks perform as designed, but it would help if the truck owning public understood how the machine works and how to best use it.
Yeah these clowns dont know how stuff actually works though.
+1
I have never owned a diesel, so excuse my ignorance. Do these trucks allow you to set a top gear? Do they have a manual mode where you can select the gear? I'm guessing they no longer come in a standard transmission.
@@anthonyzhang4918, correct they are no longer available with manual transmissions, but you can electronically select/limit the top gear. In my Ram I can select 5 instead of allowing the computer to upshift to 6th if it senses the appropriate conditions. I prefer to modulate the throttle to keep the desired engine and road speed...I will go a little slower if it keeps the trans from hunting/shifting gears...which can drive up trans temps!
@@anthonyzhang4918 yeah gas trucks will too. You can manually lock out gears where it will shift up to but not above.
I like that you test how the transmission does on its face but you can see why semi trucks just pick a gear on steep grades.
yeah. it's good to know it can handle the stress of constant shifting. but that's exactly why I just pick a gear and keep it from upshifting and downshifting each time the road momentarily flattens out.
I would have pulled it down one gear!!
That's what I do on my 03 put it in a certain gear an pull the incline.
I've put over 200,000 miles towing with a 68rfe. Never had an issue, typically don't exceed 200 degrees, and I've never, ever seen anything more than 210-215 under the most extreme conditions, but I always shift myself, or I make sure it doesn't shift erratically. Typically on a mountain pass, I rarely ever shift, or rarely allow it to shift, up or down from 3rd, where it's comfortable, and keeping the TC locked.
How much do you usually tow? What's the max payload/towing on your truck?
@@SurelyYewJest I rarely haul around more than 10,000lbs, so it's comparable to this
As for towing and hauling capacity, the one truck I have with the most miles I believe has a ~2,300lb payload rating and ~12,000lb max trailer rating. I don't have the truck's information in front of me, so I could be wrong, but I believe that's what it is.
At high altitude the transmission cooler isn’t as efficient (thin air)
@@mardenpace4874 My experiences include both sea-level and higher altitudes, like 8,000+ feet.
I just recently went on a trip through and around Utah, with outside temps in the high-80s and mid-90s, with plenty of higher elevation driving. Pulling 7,600 pounds, I never saw much more than 190 degrees. My 68rfe runs as cool as a cucumber, or cool as I'd like it to.
Really, their truck performed how I expected it, until they hit the dirt road. But I attribute the high trans temps to it not being shifted manually, allowing the transmission to erratically hunt gears and the torque converter being unlocked.
@@AkioWasRight I believe you are correct. Forcing the truck to maintain a speed that it cant achieve is gonna make a constant up/ downshift situation with converter locking and unlocking. You gotta know how shit works to use it correctly. I also have a 68 behind my cummins.
It would be interesting to see how other HDs do on this route as well. Uphill, slow speed, 100 degrees outside temp, on and off the throttle to navigate sharp turns, traffic, and road conditions. This should be part of the Gold Hitch test. I think given the conditions the Ram did very well. I can understand why half tons didn't, given their smaller fluid capacities it would be difficult at best.
I would take this test one step forward run these HD twice uphill and downhill. That seems more realistic.
It would be cool to actually see all trucks tested this way, even the small ones.
I use torque to watch my temps in my 99 Tacoma with the 3.4l. We hit 110F back in June here, and I saw my temps hit 222f up steep grades on the highway, and staying over 200 at idle. Turns out it was low a half gallon of coolant, even the overflow was empty. A shop had replaced my thermostat the week before, and they forgot to replace the coolant that came out when the thermostat was removed.
Since I topped off the coolant, and with the new thermostat, the highest I've seen is 208F up those same steep grades, and idle is back down to 188F where its been for years in the summer. This was with 102F ambient temp. We never had another 110F day, but it would have been interesting to see how it would have done if it had gotten that hot again.
Edit: Wanted to mention my truck has a manual transmission, and the ECU doesn't report transmission temp, so no way of knowing how hot it runs.
THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE! I love seeing these trucks REALLY work. The Ike is almost becoming too easy. Seeing these trucks pull loads up slow up winding steep hill is a true testament to their capabilities. Most of us are farmers hauling a tractor or something up a winding country road so this is more applicable as most of us don't have giant expressway mountains to drive. As a 22 ram 6.7 owner I loved this.
So glad you guys found a new torture test. Real world usage videos like this are your guy’s best content in my opinion. Keep it up!
Yes, thank you for including this as part of the more regular towing torture tests.
Hi 👋 Andre,thanks again for going to the front of the Ram Truck and letting us listen,hear and saw the fans as they work much harder to to keep everything cool and well below the dangerous limits
This test is more inline with the towing I do. Great test 👍🏼
A few years ago we went up Pikes Peak in our 1 ton 3500 Cummins Dually. HO engine and Asian Trans. Coming back down I locked it in 2nd gear with exhaust brake on. Only had to touch the brakes on the sharp turns. Worked really well .
I am willing to do this test in my 2022 3500HD Sierra AT4 if you guys want to compare it...
I was feeling nervous as well, but you did it. Cummins performed well. I have one just like it but blue color. So far, so good.
Great video. I can't wait to see your overland project for this truck.
Finally! I’ve been waiting for a 2500 to go up here ever since I saw the Silverado 1500 go up! Great test! I want to see the 3.0 diesel Silverado next.
As always enjoyed watching. Good job with lot's of information.
When towing heavy loads up wash boards roads at lower speeds, I drop my tire pressure accordingly, I have (F rated mud tires) to road conditions and weight I am hauling and use 4low to keep the rpm’s up, the egt’s down and the transmission torque converter locked and lets you pull those wash board roads and slow down for the switch back turns. Keeps my transmission temps under 200 pulling 10k+ lbs on 8miles of dirt roads.
I love your show you go thru much to give us great contained. One other thing since my 2004 5.9 5 speed automatic did not require pig fuel I could go up hill fully loaded to Yosemite 1500lbs clothers and camping gear and still get 21 miles a gallon, I loved it. owned it for 12 years. Only hitch was i replaced 3 water pumps til I sold it at 125,000 miles. And 1 fuel pump. It needed a Bully Pump.
I pulled 7k camper to Estes Park with 3.0L F150 Powerstroke with no issues going up or down. From Lyons it's about 20 miles climb to Estes my transmission peaked momentarily at 217 and stayed below that all the way.
Wow, I am surprised the ram did so well. It's nice to see that even ram is making progress with towing.
Awesome job! Thanks for this!
That is the EXACT pull off I go to for killer sunsets whenever I visit my buddy in Westminster. I wish people who camp there would stop leaving trash. That would be nice. Now, with the weight of the trailer the computer should know to keep it in high engine brake. Using manual shift to keep it in first also reduces the risk of damage or death. Excellent test Andre and crew. Now to do the new F250 in same test
Goes to show this test exceeds most manufacturers testing parameters. Lock out the transmission gears and let the torque converter lockup should give you different results.
^^^^what he said. I live on a road similar to this one and haul very heavy loads in my 1 ton dually. Learned quickly to limit the top gear and lock up the converter was the way to go.
Nice job on the truck. Down where I live in south Louisiana we used a lot of cummins ram trucks.
Also I like the view the scenic view going the The Mountain ain’t coming down. We was there in July. Will be back next year in October.
Thank you for doing this!
Seeing how the 2500 Cummins did, I’m very impressed with how the Silverado did. It just shows how far these 1500’s have come.
Makes me glad we bought our 23 2500 Tradesman. Looking forward to mountain towing our fifth wheel. This is an awesome real world video!
Every time I see one of these torture tests and you show the transmission temp I'm just always so shocked at how they get so high. I'm also used to driving an 18 Wheeler And the highest my transtemp has ever went was 220 and I was close to 80000 pounds pulling on 70 at the steepest point. All my fans were on and it never went above 220 on trans. Oil temp the highest that I ever got was 250 but then the fans came on. Fans normally come on for coolant temp at about 210 at the absolute highest
Fun vid! I sure wish you had the HO version with the Aisin Tranny to test in these conditions. The Aisin is clunky compared to the 68RFE, but shifts are solid and temps run MUCH cooler when comparing apple-to-apple loads and environment. (I own both versions). Anyway, this was a fun series in general. Thanks for the efforts.
My comment was either heard or it was already planned. Either way, awesome!!!
When you made this run with the Silverado 1500, you said you had it floored and could not gain speed at one point. Did you have this issue with the Cummins or could you always accelerate?
Love these videos, real torture test.
We need a GM 3.0 diesel and a TTv6, either tundra or F150 next!
I always learn something from Andre, thanks bro. 😁
I have the same truck, different color and this is my 4th 68rfe 6.7L since 2008. I know these trucks and their behaviors very well. When I listen to the engine it sounded like Andre was being very erratic with the throttle (intentionally?) causing the torque converter to unlock. I usually like these guys but this seems to appear malicious for the sake of content. Try the same pull with the cruise set and tow/haul engaged and the trans temp probably doesn't exceed 180F. Pulling my loaded 10k lb toy hauler through the Ozarks mine rarely goes over 170F. I've never had a problem with the 68rfe, then again I'm not trying to create drama.
I felt exactly as you did, before he even started he was dogging the transmission and he was constantly making the transmission shift up and down.
That poor trans needs a fluid change
I love love this new towing tests your doing !!!!!!!
But keep it fair, I smell a little BS on how he was driving the truck to artificially inflate the trans temp. There's too many variables in how someone operates the truck (erratic throttle to keep converter unlocked) for this to be a repeatable test.
98 degrees isn’t much of a torture test. Come to PHX AZ in July and do a torture test. 110+ is normal in the summer, and we also have some steep grades.
Yes! Texas Panhandle / West Texas will also give that run for your money. Phoenix is a special kind of pain though, I admit! Got out of my car there a couple of years ago as we arrived at midnight… 101 degrees!! Wow!! West Texas desert would have been 78 degrees after a 101+ day!
But no mountains to climb in the Texas Panhandle and West Texas lol! Flat flat flat!
Next time on TFLTruck TTT: Will the orange EV converted truck tow an HD Ram when it is 90 not 100 degrees out? 🤪
I would be curious to see if the transmission would get so hot if you used 4 low once you got onto the gravel. It would let the transmission use higher gears and the torque converter would be able to stay in lockup more. This should decrease the amount of heat created by a good margin.
Agreed, converter would have stayed locked and temps would have stayed much lower. I really think he intentionally erratic with the throttle though to keep it unlocked. Break something and they get more views. I usually like TFL but this felt shady.
Back to testing trucks. Great video. 👍
Awesome test!!
Yes! Transmission COOLER KIT! and if it already has one get a bigger one! Yeah! you reminded me of the days of my 71' Mack with a 350 small cam, 13spd, 4:11 mack boogies (twin rearends) pulling 80,000lbs up a 28% grade only 3 miles long, but it was plenty long enough. Many guys heavy pulling heavy loads would break down; including me /broke 2 drivelines/
Nothing pulls like Cummins / Aisin
Just pulled 10k up hwy 168 out of Fresno in 108* weather.
6th gear AC on 65-70rpm tranny stayed at 176*
Buddy’s Ford hit 235* trans and backed off.
It would be cool to see how an EcoDiesel & 5.7 with the 8 speeds would do with this test
Agree
my dad "had" a 2016 ecodiesel. 3.0 loved it got 14.5ltr/100km towing a 27ft 5th wheel at 7500LB (had a ecodiesel as the engine died dealer chaged him 250$ to see shaving in the oil pan wanted 12k$ cad to repalce the engine 1000km out of warranty so he took the loss on the truck and purchased a used 1500 hemi) he misses his ecodiesel but ram had 5+ recalls that could kill the engine after he sold it.. id guess with the 8 gears the eco would do good on this hill.
I love my Ecodiesel Jeep GC but I’m very concerned out a engine failure. Ready to trade it in for a 6.2 Yukon or Escalade. Just a reliable power plant.
@@videoguy1981 if you get the 6.2 be prepared to want to run higher octane gas, I had better reliability out of my 5.3 but the 6.2 had more power, I also had to fix a lot more in the 6.2 (both 2017 model) seems like GMs newer engines have been very hit or miss.
@@noaheh8840 I feel turning off the AFM is the saving point of the motor. Ty for your reply.
I really like this torture test. I think it would be cool to see some N/A v6 trucks on this route like the chevy colorado. Claims it can tow 7k so would be interesting to put it to the test
68RE normal operating temps are about the 200-220 range the 68RE use a synthetic transmission ATF+4 oil and is safe up to 275 degrees. Now I wouldn't expect long life out the transmission continually operating at that temperature but for towing up a steep grade it should do just fine. I would also limit gear shifting and lock it into the proper gear to sustain the speed desired. The reason for this is when shifting to the next gear the transmission slips slightly during shift and causes heat buildup which heat is the death of any automatic transmission. This is where I would recommend a aftermarket trans cooler with a fan to help keep temps down.
Mine rarely sees above 170F unloaded or pulling my 10k lb camper. Agree with everything else you said though. I think he was intentionally erratic on the throttle to keep the converter unlocked and build some drama.
This test is very difficult due the transmission shifting too much and most importantly the torque converter not locking up much or at all.
I have a 2021 ram 1500 with that gauge cluster you can go in to settings and put next drive and see what gear you at in HD may be different but it’s same gauge cluster
Great video as always. Curious how an Aisin transmission would do on a 3500.
Im not in the market for a truck, and if i did get a truck i wouldnt even come close to working as hard as this test. However, i love these videos lol
You guys should re run this test locking it out in 3rd or 4th gear.
I got my 5.7 6 speed ram 1500 to over 280F on the transmission ( I didn't see this until after I freed myself from being stuck) and I was suprised that I got no transmission temp warnings !!!! Was a bit worried but that's been 30,000 miles ago and still holding strong.
Damn that's crazy! Did you change transmission oil ever?
I did change it shorty after . I changed it around 80k , this happened around 110k . I changed it a month or so after . Now it's got 145k on it with no issues.
I have a 2021 ram 2500 Laramie cummins , and I have a small trailer (5,000) pounds and a 5th wheel trailer (loaded roughly 14,000) pounds and I towed the 5th wheel from Colorado Springs to northern montana in 90 degree heat. The truck performed great, obviously with sacrificing MPG. There is a mountain pass in Montana roughly about 6 miles long 6% grade and the highest I saw my trans temp was around 230-235.
That fifth wheel pin weight “legally” speaking was way over man be careful doin that man. Bet you payload is what 1900lbs thats the pin weight and you and whoever else is in the truck. Mine is a fully loaded big horn cummins 22 and my payload is 2200
Thanks for the video. Maybe I missed it but I would like to see how the Duramax with an Allison transmission handles this.
That RAM is a monster. Andrei sweating more LOL
Have you ever thought about testing the vehicles on Fall River road? There is a lot of grade and switchbacks.
Another good video! Nice hill, looks like a daily drive to work for me, but your roads are in much better condition, Landcrusier loaded with 800kgs on tray towing 1500kgs. Get hold of an Aussie truck and try the test, would be interesting.
Truck Dr. Dre doing it big as always!
Our Motorhome has a Cummins ISB (same as Ram 2500) albeit with Allison trans and our 24k lbs Motorhome towing our 9k lbs boat has never exceeded 215F uphill on the engine temp and no more than 205 on the trans temp. It’s no rocket ship (like the Cummins ISX) but I always have more power than the big rigs coming in at 39,000k lbs. Great engine! Deleting it was the best thing we could have done. Extra 150hp and 200ft lbs while gaining 1-2.5ave mpg.
man i freak out when my power wagon transmission gets close to 200 and you guys blew right past that! crazy!
it seems like that 68rfe is a little bit hotter than PW zf 8spd
I would really be interested in what kind of impact adding a Heavy duty transmission cooler with electric fan combo would do in these slow hill climb.
Loved the video the Ram is just a good overall vechiel not the most powerful or fastest. The Ford lighting did cut power to 85 percent if you whatched going down the hill. Loved to see the Rivan and gmc hummer.
As he mentioned, it was likely cutting power due to charge level dropping to very low levels. It does that even in city/highway driving when range and charge level get low.
Also put a set of Toyo Open country at3s from the firestones. Huge difference in ride quality on and off-road.
Hello, great video! Does that truck have an electric fan ?
Good video very good truck. Thank you
I know you guys have a lot of suggestions in the comments but I would like to see how a Ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi and 4.10 gears does up the Ike gauntlet and this test. I know y’all did the Ike with a Ram with 3.73 but it would be interesting to see how much gearing can affect towing..
Same! I really am interested in it too!
That truck was shifting way more than it should have, every time the camera was on the gauges it was shifting up or down 2 gears. Was tow/haul mode being used? I don't think tow/haul would let it up-shift so quickly unless you were getting on the brakes at ever corner, then getting on the power hard just to have to brake again for the next corner.
100% agree, they were intentionally being erratic with the throttle to keep the converter unlocked. Drama = views. Pull that hill with a different agenda and that truck doesn't break a sweat.
I've got a 22 row 2008 single wheel Cummins factory upgraded transmission cooler on a 1/2 ton Silverado and it runs the same temps as a TruCool 40K for $20 at a junkyard. Towed 7500 800 miles in July heat never got over 170F, even going 25mph up an down 10% grade for 30 miles through the hills on dirt roads.
That's insane temps for the trans, would definitely change the fluids. I've never seen mine go up past 205°F on my 17' 2500 towing 15k up the mountains on hot days.
Probably because Andre never locked it into one gear and just let it hunt gears/lock and unlock the converter 100 times
I wish you would have let the gear selector show what gears were being used on the way up. All we saw was D.
The half tons towed the same load and basically did the same as the ram. Not much of a torture test if the ram is so far from its max trailer weight. Curious to see what trans temp would be with 12,000 trailer.
Sounds great.
Any automatic is going to get super hot doing that since the torque converter isn’t locked at those low of speeds that puts a lot of heat really fast.
Impressive, especailly with your temperatures. What's up with that? Love the RAM.
I wonder if any of the 1 ton trucks will come out with an engine break instead of just an exaust brake?
For what it's worth they actually have it in the truck's manual stating that if you're going to run it at less than 25mph for an extended period they recommend 4LO for the mechanical advantage. Plain and simple it WILL overheat if you have the torque converted unlocked in 1st gear a lot. I took a similar truck as yours through the mountains in CO with a 11,000 5th wheel and it didn't have any issues, even while in Utah in 120+ F heat. You could have done that climb without overheating the truck if you put it in 4LO once you were on the gravel for sure.
4LOW at that speed = cooler transmission
Are you going to do same test with !500 Ram and F150? Siverado did pretty good.
Y'all need to try taking a Rivian R1T up here and see how it does. The last update supposed to have improved its cooling performance.
Would like to see the allison on a 3/4 duramax to see if there a difference in transmission and drivability.. Since i own an old Dmax would like to see it win 😉
those hills are were i love my 5 speed manual cummins. i can pick my gear and rpm/ boost pressure. (the added + 300hp/600lb torque might help some)
You can do the same with the auto, all the HD rams have that capability
Manual mode shifting will greatly help keep it in the sweet spots.
See my 2009 6.7 Cummins trans temp got up to 242 pulling a 32 ft toy hauler loaded down on dirt roads at low speed but highway up a 7 percent grade doing 60 mph just sits at 182 . The 68rfe trans are based a lot off ambient temps freaks me out but I try not to push it on the forest roads. But I’m paranoid
I'm sure the F100 weighs alot more since you ruined it. Did you re weigh it TFL?
Does it come with a transmission cooler?
These trucks have a gear limiter, this is the perfect place to use it. You absolutely need to use it, all those constant shifts in the beginning were painful to watch. This is the second video where I'm just shaking my head at the driving (the chevy 2500 gasser going up the ike where you guys were just lugging it up at 2200 rpms lol). Computers are not perfect yet, nor are they perfectly tuned for every combination of load, speed, and hill size.
Those corrugations on the dirt road just like all of dirt roads in Australia.
This showcases one of my biggest complaints for the 68rfe: no 2nd gear torque converter lockup. If I was driving this road I would have gone to 4 low (instead of 4 high) so that I could get into the upper gears and actually lock the torque converter. That's the way to keep the tranny cool on the way up. Also, 4 low would make the descent more comfortable on the dirt portion as well since you would be able to get into lockup to hold you back more (if needed).
Enjoyed the video, the Cummins is always a favorite of mine.
Only criticism is the overly dramatic delivery was a bit much.
Still enjoyed it.
Just had to chuckle a bit at some of the over dramatized parts.
Between this tow test and the Ike, you guys are really giving these trucks a workout. Great job! This is exactly what you guys are known for. I wonder how a Ram 3500 with Aisin trans would do. Also, if you could get a hold of a Ram 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi and its 8 speed trans, would love to see how it performs on this test.
A hybrid diesel 1500 would be epic
Andre when you are towing on the dirt that slow, the temps are telling you to do something. You should have switched it into 4lo and it would have helped your trans out a lot. I suggest you consider trying that in future runs.
The few views of the RPMs showed regular shifting. Too bad you didnt lock in a gear with the manual selector to prevent the constant up shifting. It probably would have held the transmission temps down quite a bit
Please run the same test with the Aisin transmission in the same truck with the 3500 high output version of the Cummins.
Mericans loves their trucks 🥳 They tow the old one with the new one 🥳
This performance was about what I was expecting. Sadly, Chrysler installs a transmission cooler bypass in order to get the transmission up to optimum temperature quickly for efficiency sake and nothing else. Then once at around 160⁰f, the bypass closes and allows the atf through the trans cooler radiator. Unfortunately by that time, it has to play catch up and the bypass block is also restricted in size so you don't really get a full flow through the cooler. So most of us delete that block so the atf is running through the cooler all the time, even on a stone cold startup. This mod would have helped this '68 run much cooler during this test but I feel it still would have reached 225⁰f. Either way it's a little annoyance most Cummins owners know about and it's a $100 mod worth doing.
I don't know about it actually having to play catch up. Those transmissions typically run about 185 to 200 degrees, so having the atf flowing by 160 is a nonissue.
I noticed you're not using the towing mirrors this time, how come? what happened Andrey?
Torture test. Come to deep south Texas. Also known as the valley. At 7:30 am on a March morning is already at 80°.on a may month it's 90° at 8 am . Fun right .
What was the fedex truck doing up there
I wonder if Ram is using the fan as extra engine braking like heavy trucks do.
Any chance of testing a Rivian on this route?
Engine and oil temps were stable, but I was a little surprised to see this 3/4 ton truck's transmission temperature rise to 2048 degrees Fahrenheit.
RAM for life 🔥