Tranny Temps - ScangaugeII versus Autometer
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 80
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From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Tranny Temps - ScangaugeII versus Autometer
I purchased and installed a ScanguageII a couple of weeks ago and have been doing some comparisions of the transmission temperatures displayed on the Scanguage versus the autometer gauge with the sender installed in the "extra" pressure port on the side of the transmission.
For the most part, the two have agreed pretty closely in day-to-day driving. In normal driving with ambient temps about 70F, they both seem to settle out at somewhere between 140F to 150F. The scanguage reading is a lot more responsive than the autometer gauge, but they both usually end up in the same spot.
I picked up my 6,000 lb travel trailer this past weekend and towed it home about 300 miles.
What I saw for this trip was that the autometer gauge was typically reading about 20F HIGHER than the scangauge. The temperatures fluctuated a bit depending on the terrain, but the autometer gauge was always reading higher.
In normal towing on the flat terrain, the scangauge was about 165F compared to the Autometer at 185F. During one long incline, the Scangauge peaked at about 207F where as the autometer read almost as high as 230F!
Are these temps normal? Should I be concerned? Also, can anybody comment on the discrepancy? Perhaps based on the location of the temp sensor? Obviously, the scanguage is reading based on some factory installed sensor from Ford......I am not sure where this sensor is located.
Lastly, I have always read that locking out overdrive is never a bad idea when towing. My experience with the transmission temps was that letting the truck go into overdrive would bring the temps down IMMEDIATELY. It was extended periods of time in 3rd gear when the temps would rise. Is this normal? Regardless of what gear I was in, I was being careful not to let the converter unlock for very long.
For the most part, the two have agreed pretty closely in day-to-day driving. In normal driving with ambient temps about 70F, they both seem to settle out at somewhere between 140F to 150F. The scanguage reading is a lot more responsive than the autometer gauge, but they both usually end up in the same spot.
I picked up my 6,000 lb travel trailer this past weekend and towed it home about 300 miles.
What I saw for this trip was that the autometer gauge was typically reading about 20F HIGHER than the scangauge. The temperatures fluctuated a bit depending on the terrain, but the autometer gauge was always reading higher.
In normal towing on the flat terrain, the scangauge was about 165F compared to the Autometer at 185F. During one long incline, the Scangauge peaked at about 207F where as the autometer read almost as high as 230F!
Are these temps normal? Should I be concerned? Also, can anybody comment on the discrepancy? Perhaps based on the location of the temp sensor? Obviously, the scanguage is reading based on some factory installed sensor from Ford......I am not sure where this sensor is located.
Lastly, I have always read that locking out overdrive is never a bad idea when towing. My experience with the transmission temps was that letting the truck go into overdrive would bring the temps down IMMEDIATELY. It was extended periods of time in 3rd gear when the temps would rise. Is this normal? Regardless of what gear I was in, I was being careful not to let the converter unlock for very long.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,103
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From: Houston
I use a Scanguage II, don't have any other method of temp testing so I can't comment as to the differences...
Your right about the torque converter needing to be locked to keep the temperature under control. It sounds like you know what to do to keep the temperature under control. Do you have the factory tow package with the trans cooler? If so you could always get a larger cooler with a fan to help control the temps, if you don't have one adding one would make a huge difference.
Your right about the torque converter needing to be locked to keep the temperature under control. It sounds like you know what to do to keep the temperature under control. Do you have the factory tow package with the trans cooler? If so you could always get a larger cooler with a fan to help control the temps, if you don't have one adding one would make a huge difference.