trans temp gage, why or why not?
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 243
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From: Virginia Beach VA
trans temp gage, why or why not?
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 to 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 to 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 2003
Posts: 175
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From: Mechanicsville, VA
Watsonr,
A temp guage, IMHO, is only needed when you are towing something heavy (5k # +) in hilly terrain. It does allow you to monitor your right foot position. I routinely tow a 3600# camper around here locally (we are in internet terms neighbors) and I don't have a temp guage. I would like to get one for my trips to the blue ridge mts, but there is no good place to put one in my 02.
The guage pods available all seem to interfere with your vision to another necessary item, like the water temp or the WINDSHIELD.
Post this question in the "towing and hauling" section of this forum. There are a few towing gurus over there that can probably be more helpful than me. My opinion of your situation is that any additional guages you add will be for LOOKS more than FUNCTION. There isn't a hill within 200 miles of VA BCH that will cause your tranny to overheat in that truck with those tires, unless you are towing alot of weight very often.
Sidewinder
A temp guage, IMHO, is only needed when you are towing something heavy (5k # +) in hilly terrain. It does allow you to monitor your right foot position. I routinely tow a 3600# camper around here locally (we are in internet terms neighbors) and I don't have a temp guage. I would like to get one for my trips to the blue ridge mts, but there is no good place to put one in my 02.
The guage pods available all seem to interfere with your vision to another necessary item, like the water temp or the WINDSHIELD.
Post this question in the "towing and hauling" section of this forum. There are a few towing gurus over there that can probably be more helpful than me. My opinion of your situation is that any additional guages you add will be for LOOKS more than FUNCTION. There isn't a hill within 200 miles of VA BCH that will cause your tranny to overheat in that truck with those tires, unless you are towing alot of weight very often.
Sidewinder
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 357
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From: Winchester, MA
I've had my Autometer Trans temp guage hooked up for about 2 months now and I wish I had it (along with the bigger auxillary cooler) all along. My truck rarely sees any towing or hauling, but quite a bit of city traffic and Boston driving.
On warm days above 85 degrees the trans will heat up to 150 - 165 . On cool days it will hover lower. When I'm driving like a complete jerk, its hotter than when I'm driving like a sane person. the needle moves pretty rapidly and in an expected pattern. Hard acceleration makes the needle jump, overdrive on the highway cools it back down. I've yet to see my temps peak above 180, but I installed a 16,000 lb rated fin cooler at the same time as the gauge, so I think the temps were higher with the stock setup.
For the cost, I'd do it again, but its not absolutely necessary in my application. If I was towing anything at all, it would be the very first thing I'd add to my truck.
On warm days above 85 degrees the trans will heat up to 150 - 165 . On cool days it will hover lower. When I'm driving like a complete jerk, its hotter than when I'm driving like a sane person. the needle moves pretty rapidly and in an expected pattern. Hard acceleration makes the needle jump, overdrive on the highway cools it back down. I've yet to see my temps peak above 180, but I installed a 16,000 lb rated fin cooler at the same time as the gauge, so I think the temps were higher with the stock setup.
For the cost, I'd do it again, but its not absolutely necessary in my application. If I was towing anything at all, it would be the very first thing I'd add to my truck.