I just installed a dakota digital transmission temp gauge on my F150 and wonder if it is working properly. I have the sensor plumbed into the transmission send line to the cooler, about 8" from the transmission output.
The gauge is grounded, the sensor itself is not. When I first start the truck, the gauge temp starts at @ 40 degrees and climbs v-e-r-y slowly to between about 120 and 140 degrees. It takes 15 to 20 minutes of normal driving driving before reaching these temperatures. Ambient temp is around 70 degrees. Easy driving around town and on the highway. Does this sound right? I was expecting much higher temps from what I had read here and I would have thought it would have come up to temp pretty quickly.
Thanks for any thoughts.

 

Nope, your normal! I wish mine ran that cool...

 

Mine fluctuates. Sometimes I'll be a rock solid 140ish and other times I'm 180 not even towing anything and everything in between.

 

If you installed it on the trans line itself, with a metal 'manifold', then the sensor is 'grounded'.

The temps you are seeing is what the sensor is reading.

Sounds about right to me however.... My sensor is on the output line too, but up front where I spliced into the little rubber hose part of the line. I had to run a separate ground to the sensor because of this.

My temps are basically the same as yours and xpois. Try going in reverse, up a steep incline and you'll see your temp go way up, real fast!

When your sensor is on the trans output line, you won't see 'spikes' or higher temps until your torque converter is in 'unlocked' mode.

Mitch

 

I have mine mounted in the same place and see the same average temps.
If you do stop and go city type driving in hot ambients the gage temp will tend to climb toward 180 +/-. I's all dependent on how much time the converter is unlocked during driving.
You will see the temp veriations much faster than a pan mount location but you will also see (the sensor) cool faster when the truck sets after running and shut down.
The absolute reading is subject to tolerences of the sensor and gage but still give all the needed temp indications.

 

The sender needs a good ground. Shouldn't be 40 if the temp outside is 70.

Adrianspeeder

 

Not intending to hijack the thread, but B&M install instructions (Step 2) for their analog gauge state the sender should be installed in the return line. Makes more sense to me to know what's coming out of the trans as in this installation, not what's going back in.

Which is right?

Andy

 

It's hard to say which is right. It depends on what you want to know.

I like to know the average temperature of the trans. To get that, install the sender in the pan or in the test port on the side of the trans.

Others like to see the hottest temps that the fluid sees. To get that install the sender in the line from the trans to the cooler.

Cooler manufacturers seem to want you to see the temps coming out of the cooler. That shows you that the cooler is working. To get that install the sender in the line from the cooler to the trans.

So the best answer to your question is, "It depends!"

 

Hi.

Yep. Sounds like a good reason to install 3 senders and a 3-position switch .

Cheers
Bubba

 

Hell yeah why not it the same old story with the diesel boys with the EGT probe before or after the turbo.

 

Why do the diesel boys have a problem with were to measure the EGT?
Last I knew, I would want to know what it was coming out of the exhaust port for tuning use of the motor and to hell with what the temp is 'after' the tubo.
They can't reliably know what the temp drop is accross the turbo at any given time and have it be a useful item.
It's like knowing what the exhaust temp is aftet the cats on a gas engine. Means very little except how hot or efficient the cats are running and no body does that that I know of as a means of continious usefull reading.