Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 15, 2025 ...

We just returned from Iowa, having bought the 2000 U320 with mid-entry and ISM engine.  Our first stop was to Sapp Bros. in Omaha where we bought new Michelin  "X Line Energy" tires.  Unfortunately, the black and gray water valves leaked, so we couldn't use the plumbing on the way back.  Also, the transmission cooling fan didn't work, so we had to watch the temps.  Not a fun trip, but we like the coach and were impressed with the power.  I'll post a photo once I learn how to attach it here.
Sven

The normal operating temperature of the transmission, according to Allison, is  140-220.  On our trip, the trans.  temp spiked over 230, which is unacceptable and will degrade the fluid.  I may have to replace the cooler.
 

"I may be incorrect but the trans cooling radiator is in front of the engine radiator.  Twin hydraulically driven fans cool to the system.

Trans radiator, charge air cooler, then engine coolant radiators are the assembly."

You are right Bob.  I'm used to the dash air condenser being up front, closer to the cab.  Usually when you have the trans. cooler and radiator next to each other, they have similar readings.  When I inspected the exterior of the coach, the radiator looked fine. Because of the very low clearance I was unable  to get under the coach at the time.    On close inspection of the trans. cooler today, I can see that the fins are in bad shape and the unit may need to be replaced.  Ouch.

You need a silverleaf setup to verify the dash gauges readings before you do anything.

My 97 in normal city driving trans temp is in the 190's.

Continious 230 or above will not burn trans fluid.  300 for an hour will.

Voltage variations and grounds alter the readings.  You are at the start of a long process.

Start by verifing the readings

The normal operating temperature of the transmission, according to Allison, is  140-220.  On our trip, the trans.  temp spiked over 230, which is unacceptable and will degrade the fluid.  I may have to replace the cooler.


I read that the regional Foretravel rep. is in Escondido, but the phone number I  have is no longer current.  Any leads on where I should go to have this problem remedied?

 

My trans cooler is a tube like cooler before the radiator. I had to replace mine last summer

Any leads on where I should go to have this problem remedied?

  If stopped for more than 30 or so seconds, slip it into neutral.

I bought my trans cooler from FT it was a large tube structure like an oversized muffler. It was a a couple grand I think but I also had the radiator replaced and it was the same price I think.

I had been monitoring the critical temps, etc. using the Silverleaf software set up on my laptop on the dash, since I don't trust 16 year old analog gauges.  In fact, the transmission fluid gauge does not read above 200.  The RV "wants" to climb hills at 1300-1500 RPMs, so I manually step down the gears so that it is around 2000, for reasons you mentioned, Brett.  I suspected that using the retarder would create more heat, due to heat of friction (I'm guessing  it is similar to a torque converter) and I was correct in that. 
I found that the temp jumped rapidly from 227 to 234.  When it got over 220, I started to look for a place to pull over.  I'm guessing that I was in the 230+ range for less than 30 seconds.
I will get a better look at the transmission cooler tomorrow.