Glen, may I make a suggestion regarding tranny overheat.? My 2000 Rialta has 180K mikes on the ODO.? Am the original owner.
Overheat had been a constant nag.? Now! Without a cooler, I no longer overheat the tranny on any type grade.
IMHO the tranny design has flaw.? On a grade, and in order to maintain RPM an electric clutch is allowed to slip cycles (Apply/release.)? That's where the heat is generated.
On each apply, a moment of friction heat is generated.? (The clutch is submerged in the Fluid.)
The trick is to stay in solid lock overdrive mode as much as possible. On a long grade if your tranny is running hot, just slow down and MANUALLY downshift.?
if the grade is very long just get behind the 18 wheeler and drive in D2. Its Ok even at 40 MPH, at the cost of a little wasted gas.) That keeps the engine unloaded leaving tyranny mostly in the solid lock mode.? If it's a shallow but very long grade (EG: Interstates Highway, D3 will work too.)
A must is the tranny dipstick mod.? Every other year I hand pump out the old fluid thru the dip tube and replace with Havoline ATF the same amount. No need to drop the pan.? Easy and fast. Burnt fluid gets gummy and wrecks the valve body.?
Burt 2000 rialta HD
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