Transmission hang-up in temps below 20F

[Svtrit]

When it gets cold, as in 20 degrees or less, my transmission seems to hang up and require high RPM to keep the car moving. After I get to about 1/3 warm on the temp gauge, the transmission settles in and operates normally. High RPM means 3000 rpm at 30-35 mph.

I am due for an oil change, and usually do it myself, but was thinking of taking it in to have a transmission update done along with the oil change, if this is a software issue. Anyone else have this issue?

The car just turned 19,000 miles and is a 2019 SLAWD.

Thanks.

[VStar650CL]

I've seen a few other people online note the same thing. We don't often get sub-20 temperatures here in Arkansas for me to investigate, but my guess is that the latest TCM firmware is designed to request some extra RPM's and induce some extra torque converter slip until the fluid temp gets out of the basement. On the whole I'd say that's probably smart from a durability standpoint. Wear in the transmission is greatly accelerated even at room temperatures just like in the engine, so the quicker both of them get up into the comfort range, the better. Until the beehive warms up with engine heat, the transmission's only good way to self-heat is TC slip. So what your car is doing seems sensible (if possibly annoying).

[Svtrit]

I’ve assumed the same thing. My 2016 wasn’t that way at all, and it is still going strong with 150k miles on it as my sons car.

It’s funny how pulling out of my 40 degree garage has no issue, but a mile or so later it starts dong this.

It feels like when I drive my Jeep in 4 low!

Thanks for your input.