Hey all,

I need a little help installing a transmission temp gauge on my 1998 f 150 with a 5.4L. I need to know where the best place to put the sending unit for a proper temp reading. Thanks

 

i put mine in the pan. but theres a test port on the passenger side kinda by the trans lines that run to the cooler and back i heard that is the most acc place. the pan will be off by about 20-30* never seen mine get about 180 thoe so 200 or 210.

 

Ok I will try looking into that.

 

i agree, go with the test port. thats where i have mine. works really well.

i have the 4r70 tranny and the test port is on the driverside about 6" above the pan by the linkage.

 

Ok thanks. I do have the 4R70W too. Iam on my third tranny the second one was installed by the ford dealer, but the F*&%'s did not replace the TC in the truck. So what happen the TC went bad and the transmission followed 13miles out of warranty. That is why i want a transmission temp gauge.

 

Does anyone know about the E40D transmission. Is it good I found that I have the E40D trans in my truck. Are there any places to put a trans temp sending unit.

 

Depends on what temps you want to see? If you want an overall 'average' of your trans temps, then the pan or the test port is the way to go.. In the pan, you are getting the temp of the fluid as it goes INTO your trans... That can be a good thing to know, sure...

If your pan temps are in the 200* range, then you are running pretty hot IMO and may want to adjust some on your current driving style...

I have an E4OD and I put my trans temp gauge sensor on the output line of the trans as it goes to the rad. I tapped into the little rubber hose part of the line that goes to the top of the rad. Spliced in a little brass T and other hose fittings I got from Home Depot...

This tells me a couple of important things (well, to me anyway..) It tells me the temp of the fluid AFTER it's gone thru the trans AND the converter.. It's also the HOTTEST the fluid is getting, so I know if I'm overheating the fluid (anything over 250* on the output side and you are starting to scorch your fluid..). It tells me 'instant' fluctuations in the fluid temp when the TC 'unlocks' and then 'locks' again... This is critical to maintaining trans temps when towing or hauling a heavy load... (you want the TC 'locked' as much as possible). And finally, it was easier to install! Well, for me anyway.... I originally looked at the 'test port' location, but it was up and around the linkage and I didn't know if it was the actual bolt or not and I heard you needed a 'shorter' sensor to install there, so I just cut the rubber hose up front on the line that goes to the upper rad line and put in my brass T and added a 12" loop of rubber trans line to splice it in and after grounding the sender had a functional trans temp gauge! Well, you still have to wire it all in, but you get the idea!

So, decide what temps you want to monitor and then go from there...

It's just what I did and I'm not saying it's the only way.... It's just what I did and I've been totally satisfied with it and I've not fried my trans in 196,000 miles and towing the TT in my sig for the last 6-7 years.....

Oh, my trans temp has never gone above 210* on the OUTPUT side, and that's only when the TC was unlocked in second gear on a grade and I didn't realize it for a couple of minutes... Yes, it only takes couple of minutes of unlocked TC action to raise the trans temp a bunch if you are working it hard...

Mitch

 

I put mine in the same as Mitch150 for all the same reasons. It works well for me too.

 

Ok thanks too all for the information. I will install it over the weekend.

 

yeah i was ****in around when i got my trans that hot. i manualy had it in 1st and was dragin it and railin on it pretty hard. still took a while to get there. and the only other time i saw it close to 200 was doing a massive min long brake torque it shot right up there to 200 the engine temp was 230* so deff watch when you do brake torques or stuff like that.