OK....I'm going to go ahead and spend the bucks here. I just installed 4" turbo back, adding an AFE intake and looking at the Superchips 1705 tuner and guages. My 2003 250 7.3 has a trans gauge in the dash and from what I have read on previous posts if it starts to move that means temps are really heading up and I need to be more alert. The big question. If I am towing with the 1705 on the first setting, how concerned should I be that temps are going to get to a point where I have to take some type of action. I tow 5000 lbs regularly 65mph some mountain driving and desert driving. I guess I am a little leery about adding these mods if it is going to force me to constantly be worried with temps and having to take action as a result thus taking some of the pleasure out of an enjoyable drive with a great truck. Any comments would be helpful....

Signed......"temperature worried"

 

Yo, Airstream

I installed gauges (boost, pyro, & trans) and determined that the stock trans gauge on my '02 F350 was a real POC - not even close to reality. And, unless they substantially upgraded them for '03, I'd absolutely get a real one. I'm in WA state (western) and rarely heat the thing up, but I know EXACTLY how hot it is. If I were in CA, pulling in the heat, I'd get very nervous about my trans-temps. It's a small price to pay for insurance and peace of mind. I've found myself more obsessed with the boost and pyro gauges, however, and in a way - it's ruined driving for me. My wife is thrilled - I used to take our local mountain pass at 80-85 pulling our 24ft trailer (passing those Cummins things), but now I'm a weasly 60-65. I'm a freak about not burning past 1270 on the old pyro (and cooking my turbo). At least I'm now getting +2 MPG from my pre-gauge days. Good luck!

 

chip or no chip, trans temps can get up there, esp when the tcc isnt locked up.
ie stop and go, accel and shifting

 

I've got a chip and a 6 speed. I just put my gauge in today and after about 30 mins of driving I never got above 120... not sure why

 

youve got a trans temp for your manual?
i went for pyro, boost and oil press as my 3 gauges.
however, ive always wondered how hot the manuals run...

 

Yeah, I have an oil pressure gauge as stock but I went for the trans temp just to be safe. It will be neat to see what happens when I take my drive to Moab from Denver and towing.

 

My trans temp (auto-trans) doesn't even approach warm for 30min to an hour. Unless I'm towing. But on the way to work (30-min), it has yet to climb over 120 (outside air temp has yet to get over 50, though, too). Towing in 50-65 degree weather, I've seen it up to 150. I expect when I head to WY this summer from Seattle, I'll get it a little higher. If anything, I may have just convinced myself NOT to buy additional tranny cooling devices. Time will tell whether I'll need them. I please so far and will also be curious what the 6-spd temps get to.

 

Thanks for all of the valuable info. I'm going with the trans and pyro. I tow approximately 50% of my annual miles (30,000) and will be heading around the country for two months in June with my 26' Trailer...approx 4500lbs. Desert, Mountain, and just plain hot summer weather so I feel that combo should keep me informed on what is going on. I'm not a "hot dogger" and tend to tow fairly conservatively and will keep the Predator on the first or second setting pretty much all of the time. Thanks again...

 

I just got back from a trip from NJ to Harper's Ferry WV, Detuned the engine to the tow safe mode of the SCMT. Got the trans temp as high as 210 going across one of the hillier back roads (route 9 from 340 to route 81. Once on 81 and cruising at 68, temp didn't budge over 205. Not bad considering the outside temp was 90. AS for the pyro, mine is located down near the exhaust manifold and on one long hill in OD it was in the red, till I kicked it out of OD. Turbo boost at 10 Lbs, temps stayed in the yellow, while I was maintaining 68 MPH. I tow a 32ft. TT weighing in at about 8 - 9K. The X is the first vehicle I have owned and 3 TT's later (and bigger) That I can tow and use the cruise control.
I went with the quad pillar guages and have the manditory Turbo Boost, EGt and Trans Temp. Those will be the first options I add if/when I get a newer PSD.