6L80 oil temperature, gauge and overheating - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Tomash · 12-20-2013, 05:57 AM

Excuse me if this has been asked before, I've been out of forum for a few years, but now that I'm buying my first 'Maro with L99 I have a few questions about 6L80 transmission.

First and foremost, in the 90s (and later) american cars with automatic transmissions have been known in Europe for overheating of transmission oil due to prolonged driving with european-highway speeds (~90-100 mph etc.). This overheating of course caused quicker failures of the transmission.
Many owners of imported cars have leveraged this problem by installing either transmission oil temperature gauge, transmission oil cooler or both.

My questions are:
1. Does the L99 Camaro have transmission oil cooler?
2. If not, are there aftermarket ones? Or is it not necessary even if you drive fast for a few hours straight?
3. Is there a transmission oil temperature gauge? The four gauges below radio include oil temperature, but I guess it's the engine oil.
4. Is transmission oil temperature available via OBD2 and therefore readable in Torque or similar apps after plugging in ELM327?

Scott@Bjorn3D · 12-20-2013, 06:24 AM

Yes it has a cooler. If you add a bigger stall convertor I would add an aftermarket on ADM Performance makes a great one. If you buy a 2SS it will come with a trans temp gauge. The 2SS also has a engine oil temp gauge.

Do not know about hooking up to the ORB.

Leb SS2/RS · 12-20-2013, 06:28 AM

You will have no problems, the camaros auto transmission (6L80e) is actually very advanced in technology and performs great innall conditions.. Although the auto tranmission does heat, but nothing serious, it's the 6L80e transmission nature... Yes you will have a transmission temperature gauge in 4 pack gauge cluster, and if you want better comfort you can go out and purchase aftermarket transmission oil coolers... You have many options..

Tomash · 12-20-2013, 06:29 AM

Awesome, thanks

Tomash · 12-29-2013, 12:31 PM

I've got one more question.
How's the reliability of 6L80?
Quick googling yields promising results, although the found threads are about cars with smaller engines and more truckish than sporty (5.3 Avalanche, for instance).

Googling "6L80 reliability" also returns a company from the US offering an extensive tune (basically a rebuild with stronger parts) of 6L80 for almost 4k$:
http://www.centurytransmission.com/s...smission-build
Is it worth the price and hassle?
I've found a few companies here in Poland (and more in Germany) specializing in not only repairs but also enhancing automatic transmissions, either for performance or reliability.

Also, any tips for a noob? Besides "don't do burnouts with half-brake"?

Excuse the noobish questions, this will be my first car with automatic tranny and I'd like it to outlive the engine, not have undergone full repair every 50k km.

Synner · 12-29-2013, 12:37 PM

You don't need to touch the transmission unless trying to push huge power numbers through it. The tune is important for longevity when adding power.

If you're that worried get an aftermarket cooler like flexalite's. The mounting is real nice and clean.

332 · 12-29-2013, 02:27 PM

I talked to Ted about this one and if you are stock than it is no need for a cooler etc. He told me that 200-220 F is normal temp during city driving.

12-20-2013, 05:57 AM	#1
Tomash Drives: (black 2SS Camaro), Suzuki SX4 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 204	6L80 oil temperature, gauge and overheating Excuse me if this has been asked before, I've been out of forum for a few years, but now that I'm buying my first 'Maro with L99 I have a few questions about 6L80 transmission. First and foremost, in the 90s (and later) american cars with automatic transmissions have been known in Europe for overheating of transmission oil due to prolonged driving with european-highway speeds (~90-100 mph etc.). This overheating of course caused quicker failures of the transmission. Many owners of imported cars have leveraged this problem by installing either transmission oil temperature gauge, transmission oil cooler or both. My questions are: 1. Does the L99 Camaro have transmission oil cooler? 2. If not, are there aftermarket ones? Or is it not necessary even if you drive fast for a few hours straight? 3. Is there a transmission oil temperature gauge? The four gauges below radio include oil temperature, but I guess it's the engine oil. 4. Is transmission oil temperature available via OBD2 and therefore readable in Torque or similar apps after plugging in ELM327? __________________ http://tomash.soup.io/ -- lots of awesomely funny stuff from all over the internets http://tomash.wrug.eu/ -- personal homepage & techblog

12-20-2013, 06:29 AM	#4
Tomash Drives: (black 2SS Camaro), Suzuki SX4 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 204	Awesome, thanks __________________ http://tomash.soup.io/ -- lots of awesomely funny stuff from all over the internets http://tomash.wrug.eu/ -- personal homepage & techblog

12-29-2013, 12:31 PM	#5
Tomash Drives: (black 2SS Camaro), Suzuki SX4 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 204	I've got one more question. How's the reliability of 6L80? Quick googling yields promising results, although the found threads are about cars with smaller engines and more truckish than sporty (5.3 Avalanche, for instance). Googling "6L80 reliability" also returns a company from the US offering an extensive tune (basically a rebuild with stronger parts) of 6L80 for almost 4k$: http://www.centurytransmission.com/s...smission-build Is it worth the price and hassle? I've found a few companies here in Poland (and more in Germany) specializing in not only repairs but also enhancing automatic transmissions, either for performance or reliability. Also, any tips for a noob? Besides "don't do burnouts with half-brake"? Excuse the noobish questions, this will be my first car with automatic tranny and I'd like it to outlive the engine, not have undergone full repair every 50k km. __________________ http://tomash.soup.io/ -- lots of awesomely funny stuff from all over the internets http://tomash.wrug.eu/ -- personal homepage & techblog

12-20-2013, 06:24 AM	#2
Scott@Bjorn3D Drives: Kami, 2013 2SS LS3 Luvin Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eufaula, Alabama Posts: 6,427	Yes it has a cooler. If you add a bigger stall convertor I would add an aftermarket on ADM Performance makes a great one. If you buy a 2SS it will come with a trans temp gauge. The 2SS also has a engine oil temp gauge. Do not know about hooking up to the ORB.

12-20-2013, 06:28 AM	#3
Leb SS2/RS Drives: 2011 Camaro SS2/RS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Beirut, Lebanon Posts: 92	You will have no problems, the camaros auto transmission (6L80e) is actually very advanced in technology and performs great innall conditions.. Although the auto tranmission does heat, but nothing serious, it's the 6L80e transmission nature... Yes you will have a transmission temperature gauge in 4 pack gauge cluster, and if you want better comfort you can go out and purchase aftermarket transmission oil coolers... You have many options..

12-29-2013, 12:37 PM	#6
Synner Drives: cars Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oversneeze Posts: 4,544	You don't need to touch the transmission unless trying to push huge power numbers through it. The tune is important for longevity when adding power. If you're that worried get an aftermarket cooler like flexalite's. The mounting is real nice and clean.

12-29-2013, 02:27 PM	#7
332 Drives: 2SS Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 136	I talked to Ted about this one and if you are stock than it is no need for a cooler etc. He told me that 200-220 F is normal temp during city driving.