trans temp gage?
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 243
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From: Virginia Beach VA
trans temp gage?
why do I need a temp gage for the trans. currently running 33x12.5x15lt tires, 3.55 rear diff, 4r70w trans, B&M shift kit set to heavy duty/4x4 and trans cooler (besides the rad cooler) mounted in front of radiator.
does watching the temp tell me to back off while towing or easier to watch the temp go high?
if watching the gage go too high how do you cool it down?
I understand importance of low temp, fluid flow and so forth but what is the purpose of the gage, someone please en-lighten me.
Randy
does watching the temp tell me to back off while towing or easier to watch the temp go high?
if watching the gage go too high how do you cool it down?
I understand importance of low temp, fluid flow and so forth but what is the purpose of the gage, someone please en-lighten me.
Randy
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 6
From: Puyallup, WA
Well, I was one of the 19 views to your post in the Transmissions forum, but did not really have a good answer for ya when I really thought about it!!
After seeing Sidewinders reply, he gave some decent reasons for needing one and not needing one..... Gave me some other ideas as well......
IMO, you really only need one if you tow or haul a lot of weight on a regular basis or run your truck in such a manner as would cause higher transmissions temps.... (could still mean anything....)
For example, if you drive off road a lot, you might want to consider one. Lots of slow speed stuff and the trans cooler will not have a whole lot of airflow to cool down enough. Get stuck and do that reverse and forward gear change deal.... Well, you'll heat up that fluid pretty fast. Drive in the sand any? Well, that really bogs down the engine and the trans will have to work and slip a lot more to turn even stock tires.... Those wide 33" ones will create even more resistance.
I tow a #4500 travel trailer with 3.55 gears and 31" tall tires. I wanted one because we have lots of 6-7% grades around here and that means second gear and about 3500 rpm to maintain 50 mph. I can go faster, but it just heats up the engine and trans more then really is needed......
On hot days and I'm totally empty, my trans will get to 180* in stop and go traffic. Once I get going over 40 mph, it'll cool down to around 165* or so..... Towing is the same way. Stop and go, it gets hotter, but get air moving past the cooler and it'll cool down.
What to do when you see the temp getting too high? I've determined that for me, a sustained temp on the gauge of 210* is when I'll do something to get it cooled down.
I've found that if you make sure that the TC is LOCKED in whatever gear you are in (2nd or 3rd) and just keep moving, is the best way to cool it down and still be able to keep going.
Depending on where you are and what you are doing when the temp rises, will depend on what you do as well... If you are rocking the truck back and forth, you can't very well "keep going", so I would stop, put the truck in N and keep the engine running and maybe bring the rpms up to around 1000 or so. The fan will provide some additional airflow and since the fluid is not getting any hotter, it will start to cool down.
When I'm backing my trailer into it's parking spot at home, I have to go up an incline and that's really where my trans temp would rise.... It shot up to 210* before I was even close to being done.... I just stopped and let it idle in N for about 10 minutes and it cooled down enough for me to finish.... It heated back up again, but I was done and unhitched and took the truck for a spin to cool it down. What I did the next time was put the truck in 4 LOW and back it up..... Oh, what a difference! trans did not heat up at all and it was much easier to manuever the trailer too.
If I didn't have that gauge, I would have fried that trans if I just kept parking it the way I was. As it was, that was about the third time I had backed it up that way, but the first time with the gauge.......
This is getting way too long, so I'll just finish up with it's really up to you, but if you do any of the above, I'd really consider getting one..... Oh, one more thing... I've also got a "real" water temp gauge too. The stock one is just an idiot light with a needle on it.... It'll NEVER move from it's normal position. I've had mine up to 210* and the stock gauge was just sitting there looking "normal"..........
Good luck!
Mitch
After seeing Sidewinders reply, he gave some decent reasons for needing one and not needing one..... Gave me some other ideas as well......
IMO, you really only need one if you tow or haul a lot of weight on a regular basis or run your truck in such a manner as would cause higher transmissions temps.... (could still mean anything....)
For example, if you drive off road a lot, you might want to consider one. Lots of slow speed stuff and the trans cooler will not have a whole lot of airflow to cool down enough. Get stuck and do that reverse and forward gear change deal.... Well, you'll heat up that fluid pretty fast. Drive in the sand any? Well, that really bogs down the engine and the trans will have to work and slip a lot more to turn even stock tires.... Those wide 33" ones will create even more resistance.
I tow a #4500 travel trailer with 3.55 gears and 31" tall tires. I wanted one because we have lots of 6-7% grades around here and that means second gear and about 3500 rpm to maintain 50 mph. I can go faster, but it just heats up the engine and trans more then really is needed......
On hot days and I'm totally empty, my trans will get to 180* in stop and go traffic. Once I get going over 40 mph, it'll cool down to around 165* or so..... Towing is the same way. Stop and go, it gets hotter, but get air moving past the cooler and it'll cool down.
What to do when you see the temp getting too high? I've determined that for me, a sustained temp on the gauge of 210* is when I'll do something to get it cooled down.
I've found that if you make sure that the TC is LOCKED in whatever gear you are in (2nd or 3rd) and just keep moving, is the best way to cool it down and still be able to keep going.
Depending on where you are and what you are doing when the temp rises, will depend on what you do as well... If you are rocking the truck back and forth, you can't very well "keep going", so I would stop, put the truck in N and keep the engine running and maybe bring the rpms up to around 1000 or so. The fan will provide some additional airflow and since the fluid is not getting any hotter, it will start to cool down.
When I'm backing my trailer into it's parking spot at home, I have to go up an incline and that's really where my trans temp would rise.... It shot up to 210* before I was even close to being done.... I just stopped and let it idle in N for about 10 minutes and it cooled down enough for me to finish.... It heated back up again, but I was done and unhitched and took the truck for a spin to cool it down. What I did the next time was put the truck in 4 LOW and back it up..... Oh, what a difference! trans did not heat up at all and it was much easier to manuever the trailer too.
If I didn't have that gauge, I would have fried that trans if I just kept parking it the way I was. As it was, that was about the third time I had backed it up that way, but the first time with the gauge.......
This is getting way too long, so I'll just finish up with it's really up to you, but if you do any of the above, I'd really consider getting one..... Oh, one more thing... I've also got a "real" water temp gauge too. The stock one is just an idiot light with a needle on it.... It'll NEVER move from it's normal position. I've had mine up to 210* and the stock gauge was just sitting there looking "normal"..........
Good luck!
Mitch
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Washington
I have a temp gauge for towing purposes. When towing over the passes and the temp gets up over 200, I'll engage the fan on my tranny cooler, no thermostat, manual switch, and if it keeps on rising I'll shut off the air condititioning. If it gets over 250, I'll pull over for a short while until it drops. Besides, It looks cool in the pillar pod.
Certified Goat Breeder
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,182
Likes: 19
From: the moral high ground
I guess it comes down to how much you tow and how often.
I tow occasionally, stay within the truck's limits and am not concerned with the tranny overheating.
In six years I retire, will have a diesel dualie and be pulling a 6 ton 5th wheel fulltime.
I will have a trans temp gauge.
I will have every gauge they make.
The cab will look like jetliner c o c kpit.
If the bathroom gets low on TP, a light will flash on the dash.
I tow occasionally, stay within the truck's limits and am not concerned with the tranny overheating.
In six years I retire, will have a diesel dualie and be pulling a 6 ton 5th wheel fulltime.
I will have a trans temp gauge.
I will have every gauge they make.
The cab will look like jetliner c o c kpit.
If the bathroom gets low on TP, a light will flash on the dash.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
thanks for the input
i tow about once a week and often more. 3000lb boat and mostly on flat/hilly ground and after all these great resposes think i don't need to concern myself with one. i do have the transmission cooler and a shift kit installed and believe that is enough to ensure a long tranny life.
thanks again, Randy
thanks again, Randy