I have read installation instructions from different manufacturers that say to install the gauge in the return line.

 

                 

 

Why's that?

 

I was more interested in the oil temp. in the transmission rather than in/out temps of the cooler, that's why I put the sender there, plus I didn't have to cut the lines or add a spot in the pan.

 

It seems that the popular opinion is to put the sensor unit in the pan. That's why a lot of pans have a spot for you to drill for installing a sensor. But B&M Racing published installation instructions with the sensor in the return line. They say it is so that you can see the temperature going back to the transmission and gauge the effectiveness of your cooling system.

 

It makes a lot more sense to me to put the sender in the test port on the side of the transmission. That will give an internal temperature of the transmission. But what do I know about transmissions....

 

There is no real 'right or wrong' place to install the sender IMO... You just need to know where it's installed and interpret the results accordingly, as you will get different readings depending on it's location.

If you put it on the trans output line, you can expect to see varying temps depending on what the TC is doing and how hard you are working it. You'll be seeing the highest temp the fluid gets no matter what you are doing. This may or may not be what the actual pan temp is depending on what your TC is doing too.

If you put it in the pan, you can expect to see only gradual temp differences, as you are sampling 5+ qts of fluid. These temps will be what your trans is seeing before it goes thru the TC and is more or less what the temp is after it goes thru the coolers.

If you put it in the trans input line (after the coolers), you can expect to see lower temps and all you'll really know is what the temp of the fluid is before it gets to your trans..

I put my sensor on the trans output line. I wanted to see the hottest the fluid gets at any point in time. If your TC is unlocked for whatever reason, you'll see your trans temp rise pretty fast. Get it to lock again, and you will see the temp drop pretty fast too.

On straight hwy running with the TC locked and you are just cruising, you probably won't see much of a difference between the output temp and the pan temp, as it's all pretty much equalized in temp as it flows thru the system.

Hit a grade or have to slow in stop and go traffic and your TC unlocks, that's when I see the temp rise some. The most my trans temp has gotten is 210* while pulling a long grade in 2nd and the TC was not locked towing a #5000 TT. I've also gotten this hot while backing the TT up a driveway.. This was before I started to use 4lo to backup and now the temp never gets over 180* while backing up the same driveway no matter how long it takes me!

Anyway, for me it was easier to put it in the output line up front near the rad. For others, they use the 'test port' on the side of the trans. Others go with a bung in the pan..

Hope that helps..

Mitch

 

thats where i have mine, works great and was really easy to install.

 

I don't really get it. B&M says to not to install coolers with the ports on the bottom. But most OE applications I see have the ports on the bottom. B&M says to install the gauge on the return line. But most people tap into the pan for the pan temperature.

 

Where is the test port?

 

drivers side. it says LINE next to it. it is a small bolt.

 

Thanks. Hopefully the 4R100 is the same.

 

pretty close

 

yeah I got my sender installed

 

So what is the difference in temps between the test port and the output line? I would be curious if it get a lot hotter after the test port or if the test port reading would be close to the output line.. ??