I've got an '02 V6 2WD Manual X with the weirdest issue that's been pretty chronic for the year that I've owned it. Every now and then the center console gets too hot to touch. I'll actually have to pull away my right leg from resting on the center because it gets so hot.

This is an issue that'll happen pretty randomly. I see some consistency in it when I go through a lot of shifting, that makes sense. But there are times where I'll be cruising at a gentle 65 on the freeway for 15 minutes and then all of a sudden my right leg feels like it's on fire.

Is it safe to assume that I'd get better temps out of the transmission if I changed out the fluid in it? My X is at about 82k right now and it's probably got factory transmission oil in it.

ummmm yes. Better yet, forget about the heat and change it before you need a new tranny ... ... ...

I can't imagine that old fluid would make that big a difference in terms of heat in a manual (though you should still change it)... but maybe it's a bit low on fluid? That might 'splain things

You live in Phoenix. Can we assume you're not talking about times when it's 110 degrees? The temp on the pavement would be significant above that, and your truck will absorb some of it.

I would get the tranny flushed and filled. If it hasn't been changed in 82K, you are way overdue.

This happened back in the winter too, like jan/feb when daytime highs were only about 70.

There are flushes for mantrans too? I thought they were just drain/fill?

The transmission warms up a bit but most of the heat is conducted through the engine block into the transmission. The rest of it is radiating off the exhaust. Remember the faster you go it will channel more air past the exhaust and rush behind the engine, around the firewall and transmission tunnel. Since these vehicles are so high off the ground you also get a stream of air running underneath them that is slightly higher in pressure than ambient at higher speeds, that will keep the hot air as high as possible. If you had an exhaust leak this effect would be exacerbated further.

I have an 01 5 speed and my center console gets just as hot when I cruise at a constant speed on the highway... I,m at 190K and I've had the transmission drained and flushed a few time... never makes a difference and the explanation of the airflow issue makes a lot of since... I've been driving mine since 07 and it's always gotten hot like that, but I have yet to have a problem out of it...