A method of modeling initial temperatures of a dry DCT includes reactivating a controller after a time lapse between first and second clock times representing an offline period. The last known temperatures of a first component and a second component are read and a first temperature difference therebetween is calculated. The method calculates a stop time and a start time on a predefined exponential function from the calculated temperature difference. A first conductive heat transfer between the first and second components is calculated by integrating the predefined exponential function between the stop time and the start time. Based upon the calculated first conductive heat transfer, a first conductive temperature change between the first and second components is calculated. A starting temperature of the first component is calculated from first conductive temperature change, and a control action on the dry DCT is executed based upon the calculated starting temperature.