Anyone have advice/experience with trans. fluid temp gauges? In particular, which is more reliable and/or easier to install: mechanical or electric? Mechanical gauges seem to be more expensive, but if I need additional items (sender, etc) for an electric one, then I'd get a mechanical one.
By the way, I'd be installing the gauge the same time I'm putting in a trans. cooler, so should I get one with those NPT fittings, or regular slip-on tubes?

Thanks alot!

Chuck

 

Chuck,
I run an electric gauge in mine, the sender came with the unit. It seems to read correctly although the mech. would be more accurate I do believe. However with the mechanical, you have lines with fluid to the sender, depending on how and where you use your truck this may not be a concern. An electrical wire torn off won't effect anything except the gauge. If a line gets torn off and fluid is lost, this could be a big problem. I do the off-road thing and try to keep everything as damage proof as possible. As far as fittings, I wouldn't use any slip fit tubing on this, it does get quite warm and the expansion/contraction cycles can loosen these to the point that they will leak or slip off completely, just not worth the time/effort/money you may save at the time. Just my opinion for whats it's worth! Chuck P.
PS-I think the electric is easier to install

 

Chuck,
Thanks for the info. Im planning on putting the gauge on the A pillar, in one of those pods, so I'm glad the electric one is preferred (by me, anyway)!
To Chuck, or anyone else: I, being a novice, assume ther are some plugs, or other access point, to get to the fluid to allow it to flow through the cooler/gauge sender? I have the E4OD tranny.

Thanks again, everyone!

Chuck

 

Hey Chuck,
The place mine is mounted is actually in the pan. I've always had a drain plug in there so when I got mine it seemed the best and safest place to put it(never hit the plug-yet!). The gauge I have came with an adapter to splice into the return line from the cooler with mechanical(flair)connections. It just seemed easier to put it in the pan itself. It's easy to remove, pull one wire and unscrew to drain the pan, a little tape on it when it goes back in. The main idea for any mounting location is to read it before it goes up into the tranny, the fluid comes out very hot, thus the need to get it as cool as possible before it goes in again. I figured the best place to know what's happening is in the pan. Hope this makes some type of sense! But, really, anywhere in the return line is OK as long as it's not next to the radiator. Wherever is the easiest for your truck. To find which is the return, take her for a short run, then check the lines to the cooler/coolers, be careful, one will be very hot and the other will only be warm, you want the warm one. Take a few minutes to look around under there, test "fit" the sender were you think you would like to mount, then check a few other spots just for XXXX (edited by Admin for by passing language filters)s and giggles. Might mark the return with a ty-rap so you can slide it around as you work your way back and don't lose the return line, pullin' it tight to mark the spot you want to place it. Hope this helps a little bit! If you need anything else post or e-mail me! Chuck P.
PS-Please don't get to upset if I don't get back to Ya right away, some days I'm here some days I'm not!(out playin' in the truck!!)Good luck!