Patent ID: 7806803

Claim:
A method for cooling a fluid in a transmission, the method comprising the steps of: determining a first temperature of the fluid in the transmission; determining whether a torque converter lockup clutch is applied; determining a first engine torque; calculating a first tractive effort of the motor vehicle; engaging the torque converter lockup clutch and prohibiting the transmission from up-shifting if the temperature of the fluid exceeds a first temperature threshold, the torque converter lockup clutch is not applied, and the engine torque exceeds an engine torque threshold; determining a second temperature of the fluid in the transmission; determining a second engine torque; calculating a second tractive effort of the motor vehicle; and disengaging the torque converter lockup clutch if the second temperature of the fluid is less than a second temperature threshold, the second tractive effort is less than a tractive effort threshold, or the second engine torque is less than the engine torque threshold.