Powertrain thermal management system and method

A method for managing heat energy in a vehicle powertrain, the method comprising:

• producing heat energy in an engine of the powertrain, the engine having an engine coolant inlet and an engine coolant outlet;
• supplying a coolant to the engine using a pump, the pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the pump outlet is in fluid communication with the engine inlet coolant;
• controlling the coolant flow with a first control valve, wherein the first control valve has an inlet in fluid communication with the engine coolant outlet and having a first control valve outlet;
• releasing heat energy from the coolant by passing the coolant through a radiator having a coolant inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first control valve and a radiator outlet in fluid communication with the pump inlet;
• releasing heat energy from the coolant by passing the coolant through a heater core having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump;
• exchanging heat energy between the coolant and a transmission oil using a transmission oil heat exchanger, wherein the transmission oil lubricates and exchanges heat energy with the transmission, wherein the transmission oil heat exchanger has an inlet port and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet port of the pump;
• and
• controlling the coolant flow with a second control valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet and a third outlet, wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with the engine coolant outlet, the second inlet is in fluid communication with the pump outlet, the first outlet is in fluid communication with inlet of the heater core, the second outlet is in fluid communication inlet of the pump, the third outlet is in fluid communication with inlet of the transmission oil heat exchanger, and wherein the heat energy produced by the engine is transferred to the radiator through control of the first control valve and to at least one of the heater core and the transmission oil heat exchanger through the control of the second control valve.