[mloganusda]

I had the same experience with my 2018 FWD (30K miles), outside temp of 85*F, the tranny temp ran up to 219*F in heavy traffic. I install an external cooler with a thermal bypass to keep temps down during the summer. I do not tow, but still worried about high transmission temps.

 

[Rumblemonkey]

My dealer tells me honda does not make a factory tranz cooler for a 2020? Aftermarket ones? Suggestions? Thanks!

 

[HRL383]

My dealer tells me honda does not make a factory tranz cooler for a 2020? Aftermarket ones? Suggestions? Thanks!

Presuming your 2020 Rigi is AWD, it already has a factory installed tranny cooler. I would think just about any aftermarket cooler would be larger/more efficient/cool better than the tiny factory cooler.👌 See post #60 for an aftermarket example.

 

[Rumblemonkey]

2 wheel drive. I looked and did not see anything like this under the front grill.

 

[ISO Truck]

2 wheel drive. I looked and did not see anything like this under the front grill.

Yeah, the FWD Ridgelines did not have the transmission cooler.

However, the AWD Ridgelines do have one, including the 2020 model year. Maybe check availability of the 2020 AWD transmission cooler? And then investigate compatibility. But as others have said, an aftermarket cooler might be a better option.

 

[zroger73]

My dealer tells me honda does not make a factory tranz cooler for a 2020? Aftermarket ones? Suggestions? Thanks!

Honda does not offer an ATF cooler for FWD Ridgelines, which are rated to tow a maximum of 3,500 lbs.

As stated, AWD Ridgelines come with a cooler.

Honda offers an accessory cooler for the AWD Pilot, which is rated to tow a maximum of 5,000 lbs. when equipped with the cooler.

 

[fdeno]

It is my understanding that Mr. Duess later traded his Odyssey for a Durango, but never had any issues with the Odyssey towing the 34' Airstream.

I guess I'm older than many here, working in the car biz in the Navy town of Norfolk in the 60's when the sailor husband got transferred to San Diego (or wherever) the wife often had a trailer hitch put on the family sedan, loaded up everything in tailer and towed across country with two kids and a dog on board to move to their new abode, and, usually without incident, and, before modern interstates in many cases.

I'll tow up to the limit in my '22 as needed without any add'l mods that some huckster talked me into.

 

[wjfyfe]

I had the same experience with my 2018 FWD (30K miles), outside temp of 85*F, the tranny temp ran up to 219*F in heavy traffic. I install an external cooler with a thermal bypass to keep temps down during the summer. I do not tow, but still worried about high transmission temps.

I would recommend that if you do some research, I believe that you will find that an occasional temporary temperature spike up into the 220-230 degree range is not going to harm your transmission. Today's fluids are designed for these higher temperatures. Even with our 6-speed and previous trailer doing a hard pull we would see a temporary spike of 220 degrees or so, but then it would rapidly cool back down coming down the other side. Doing a fluid analysis after several of these peak episodes showed no fluid damage. If an owner is not towing, I honestly believe the addition of a larger cooler would be totally unnecessary.

Bill

 

[mloganusda]

Look on eBay for a True Cool 8" X 6" transmission cooler and also a thermal bypass (for wintertime protection). There is a YouTube video on how to install the cooler. I have a 2018 FWD and my temps did not come down from city driving in heavy traffic.

 

[HRL383]

2 wheel drive. I looked and did not see anything like this under the front grill.

I have a 2WD Rigi also so no factory cooler. After installing the Tru-Cool MAX aftermarket cooler, I observed a 40*F drop from 210F plus to 170F running around town in triple digit ambient temps. Very pleased.👍

 

[Rumblemonkey]

Good intel gents! How do you tell the temp of the tranz fluid while driving?

 

[john brown]

Good intel gents! How do you tell the temp of the tranz fluid while driving?

if honda was to add one thing to the ridgeline, it would be a trans temp gage on the dash.

 

[mloganusda]

I use a Scan Gauge to monitor my transmission temp and also water temp.

 

[Rumblemonkey]

Good idea on the thermal scanner, how soon after stopping do you test? Where?

 

[HRL383]

Good intel gents! How do you tell the temp of the tranz fluid while driving?

I use a ScanGauge to monitor TFT, CT2, IAT and VCM on/off. I also use a separate, stand alone, temp gauge to monitor CT1.

 

[mloganusda]

There is no thermal scan for the temperatures, the scan gauge reads full time while driving.

 

[Rumblemonkey]

Who makes this Scangauge? Info please? I don't even know what the above initals mean? VCM? IAT?

 

[HRL383]

Who makes this Scangauge? Info please? I don't even know what the above initals mean? VCM? IAT?

Ooops, sorry.

www.ScanGauge.com

VCM = Variable Cylinder Management (when on, 3 cylinders are disabled)
IAT = Intake Air Temp
CT1 = Coolant Temp (coolant temp where coolant exits the heads)
CT2 = Coolant Temp (cold radiator tank)

 

[Rumblemonkey]

Sounds good, thanks! Who makes this? Wireless or?

 

[HRL383]

Sounds good, thanks! Who makes this? Wireless or?

I believe the website says the ScanGauge is made by Linear Logic Mesa Arizona. It simply plugs into the OBDII port located under the dash. It can easily be moved from one vehicle (1996 and newer) to another. The OBDII port is standardized making plug-n-play easy from one vehicle to another.