Ok, first post, be gentle. 2013 RDX new to me with 90,000 miles. Purchased vehicle to pull small trailer with ATV for ice fishing along with daily driving. Thought I would get a baseline transmission temp before pulling intended heaviest load of 1100 lbs (trailer + ATV). Purchased Scangauge III and installed. If not familiar, it plugs in via OBD II port and used CANLF to monitor Transmission Temp among other things. Average outside temperature in the last week 28 degrees in the morning, 45 degrees for a high in the afternoon. I always start the vehicle up and let warm up 4-5 minutes before driving. Driving 30 mins Trans Temp reading via Scangauge III never gets above 102 degrees. Pulled a trailer one time with clothes washer loaded (combined 510 lbs) temperature never broke 145 and averaged 130. Everything at this point with vehicle is stock, no upgrades to cooling system. Does this seem low to anyone out there that is monitoring there 2nd Gen RDX Transmission temperature?

 

I mean, better cold than hot I would say. I assume your fluid is in good condition, the dedicated cooler sounds like its doing its job just fine. At speed, the seasonal cold air blasting the trans case would help too I'd imagine.

I am now curious about the average temp for ours. We have hardly towed anything with it, but just having your temps as a frame of reference now has me interested in seeing for myself.

Though in the grand scheme of things, this trans shouldn't be fragile to the point where a 1k lb difference is going to burn up your system. If you were towing a 10k lb mini excavator, that would obviously be a different story.

 

It just has me curious because what I can find on the net, which is limited, says automatic transmission temp should be between 175 and 220. Anything over that may do harm, but can't seem to find any info if running 75 degrees cooler.

 

Interesting. I did a quick search and weather can play a part in the Transmission temperature. What is the engine temperature? Are you having any issues with shifting?

 

I have a VCM controller installed so output reading stops at 163 for engine temp unless it goes over 215 degrees then it opens a bypass. Shifting seems normal except I do notice a slight rpm bounce once in a while on the tach. Don't really feel anything but visual on tack for sure. I am going to replace 3rd gear pressure sensor when I change fluid.

 

I have a VCM controller installed so output reading stops at 163 for engine temp unless it goes over 215 degrees then it opens a bypass and true temp is shown. Shifting seems normal except I do notice a slight rpm bounce once in a while on the tach. Don't really feel anything but visual on tack for sure. I am going to replace 3rd gear pressure sensor when I change fluid.

 

I wonder if the VCM is affecting your transmission temperature readings. Unforutnatley I don't know enough about how the VCM controller works.

 

It just Y's into the line via the temperature sending unit for the coolant. So I don't believe it could interfere with the trans temp, but I could send an email to the manufacturer and see if they have ever had any other inquiries about it. It's used across a wide variety of Hondas and Acuras that have VCM so if it did cause the transmission temp reading to be off I would think they would have heard about it. Not to say they would post that on their website 😀

 

You might disconnect the VCM temporarily and take another transmission temp measurement to see if it goes up. Trust but verify, as the saying goes.

 

You are correct, thought of that too. Kind of a pain, but may be worth the piece of mind and eliminate one possibility of a low reading. I'm heading out today for a 1.5 hr drive, we'll see what I get for temps. Although it is 18 degrees here this morning, it might take a while to get up to temp for the trans 😁

 

Drove for 1.5 hrs trans temp never got above 125 although ambient temp never got above 35 degrees today. Maybe it runs that cool in low outside temps....I will disconnect the VCM controller in the next couple weeks to see if I get different readings.

 

Can I ask why you need this VCM controller? Have problems with oil consumption?

 

It's just a personal preference. I don't like the feel of the transmission, particularly the downshift when the VCM is active and would rather run on all 6 cylinders vs running on 3 or 4.