Which is more accurate?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: South Dakota
Which is more accurate?
Autometer Tranny guage installed in the tranny service port, or my Diablo predator?
Why am I asking?
My Predator shows a progressive gain over my Tranny guage. At times almost 20F more.
While towing a empty 6x12 enclosed steel trailer down the interstate at 75mph, My tuner showed the tranny at 180F but my Tranny guage showed a little over 150F.
Why am I asking?
My Predator shows a progressive gain over my Tranny guage. At times almost 20F more.
While towing a empty 6x12 enclosed steel trailer down the interstate at 75mph, My tuner showed the tranny at 180F but my Tranny guage showed a little over 150F.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
I didn't know there was a temperature sensor installed in the transmission from the factory. If so, both readings may be correct due to the different locations that they are mounted.
That said, I tend to think that the factory sensor would be the one to go by, due to it's higher reading on the Predator.
That said, I tend to think that the factory sensor would be the one to go by, due to it's higher reading on the Predator.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: New Hampshire
i wonder though kwik... i know the stock guage is junk... but it must get it's signal from this sensor... is it just the programing on the guage that causes it to read "normal" so fast...? my stock guage is up to full normal posistion long before my aftermarket guage even moves...! and i KNOW that my tranny is NOT warming up that fast when it's zero degrees outside...!
question for you srman.... does the gauge ever come into agreement with your predator's reading, or is the predator ALWAYS 20* more than your aftermarket guage..?
question for you srman.... does the gauge ever come into agreement with your predator's reading, or is the predator ALWAYS 20* more than your aftermarket guage..?
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Logistics Pro
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From: South Dakota
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
I didn't know there was a temperature sensor installed in the transmission from the factory. If so, both readings may be correct due to the different locations that they are mounted.
That said, I tend to think that the factory sensor would be the one to go by, due to it's higher reading on the Predator.
That said, I tend to think that the factory sensor would be the one to go by, due to it's higher reading on the Predator.
Both the Predator readings and the Tranny guage read the same right up till about 140F after that the factory sensor's readings follow a steeper slope than the sensor in the service port.
I don't know the exact location of the factory sensor, but I believe that it may be inside the valve body, but that's just a guess.
The service port gauge is prolly seeing temps of the fluid after it has returned from the cooler, and the factory may be seeing the temps before the cooler. This may explain what's going on with my Predator and my Autometer gauge.
BTW, my '00 doesn't have the factory tranny dash gauge that the newer trucks have.
Last edited by superrangerman2002; Jun 21, 2005 at 08:29 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Yeah, if you are getting temperature data for the Predator, it's most certainly NOT coming from the aftermarket sender. That means there has to be a sensor somewhere inside. And I would surmise that it's fairly accurate.
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Logistics Pro
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From: South Dakota
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
Yeah, if you are getting temperature data for the Predator, it's most certainly NOT coming from the aftermarket sender. That means there has to be a sensor somewhere inside. And I would surmise that it's fairly accurate.
On the newer 7.3L Super duties, they (most of them) have a tranny guage that is in the instrument cluster right from the factory. I would guess that this guage runs off the same factory sender that tells the ECU what the tranny temps are (which is where my Predator gets the info) on my '00 and your '99 (EDIT: not with the ZF-6 you have but on similar year autos)
It's nice having the Predator to read all the cool info that the ECU sees, but it sure is a PITA to keep looking down at the screen for the tranny temp while driving. This is why I installed the aftermarket guage.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: SHELTON, WA
Originally Posted by superrangerman2002
Not sure where I said the Predator was reading from the aftermarket sensor, but I can see how confusing my posts were when I typed them with only 4hrs of sleep in 36 hrs...
On the newer 7.3L Super duties, they (most of them) have a tranny guage that is in the instrument cluster right from the factory. I would guess that this guage runs off the same factory sender that tells the ECU what the tranny temps are (which is where my Predator gets the info) on my '00 and your '99 (EDIT: not with the ZF-6 you have but on similar year autos)
It's nice having the Predator to read all the cool info that the ECU sees, but it sure is a PITA to keep looking down at the screen for the tranny temp while driving. This is why I installed the aftermarket guage.
On the newer 7.3L Super duties, they (most of them) have a tranny guage that is in the instrument cluster right from the factory. I would guess that this guage runs off the same factory sender that tells the ECU what the tranny temps are (which is where my Predator gets the info) on my '00 and your '99 (EDIT: not with the ZF-6 you have but on similar year autos)
It's nice having the Predator to read all the cool info that the ECU sees, but it sure is a PITA to keep looking down at the screen for the tranny temp while driving. This is why I installed the aftermarket guage.
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From: Helotes, Texas
A friend explained to me that the sensor in the tranny is mounted in the valve body and will reflect temperatures that may be higher than the fluid temps. The temperature differential or TD is the result of the fluid cooling the components in the transmission much like the evaporator in your air conditioner (the evaporator is much colder than the air passing across it in order to remove heat). As the temperatures rise, the differential will become greater due to loss of efficiency with added btu load. So both gauges are probably correct. Just keep your fluid temps below 200 and it should be okay.
Max
Max
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Logistics Pro
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From: South Dakota
Thanks for confirming my theory.
I was working the truck pretty hard yesterday morning (left at 1 am, and returned back at 1 pm) with that enclosed trailer + the speed I was going with the cruise control set + traveling in western South Dakota (It's like one really big roller coaster ride with the Badlands and the Black Hills).
I was surprised on how well the fluid temps held a constant 160F (aftermarket guage) despite only having the factory tranny cooler.
I guess it pays to keep those tranny fluids and engine coolants changed (i'm a fluid change freak). Who would have thunk it?
I was working the truck pretty hard yesterday morning (left at 1 am, and returned back at 1 pm) with that enclosed trailer + the speed I was going with the cruise control set + traveling in western South Dakota (It's like one really big roller coaster ride with the Badlands and the Black Hills).
I was surprised on how well the fluid temps held a constant 160F (aftermarket guage) despite only having the factory tranny cooler.
I guess it pays to keep those tranny fluids and engine coolants changed (i'm a fluid change freak). Who would have thunk it?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Central Wyoming
Originally Posted by superrangerman2002
I was working the truck pretty hard yesterday morning (left at 1 am, and returned back at 1 pm) with that enclosed trailer + the speed I was going with the cruise control set + traveling in western South Dakota (It's like one really big roller coaster ride with the Badlands and the Black Hills).
I was surprised on how well the fluid temps held a constant 160F (aftermarket guage) despite only having the factory tranny cooler.
I guess it pays to keep those tranny fluids and engine coolants changed (i'm a fluid change freak). Who would have thunk it?
I was surprised on how well the fluid temps held a constant 160F (aftermarket guage) despite only having the factory tranny cooler.
I guess it pays to keep those tranny fluids and engine coolants changed (i'm a fluid change freak). Who would have thunk it?
Example, yesterday I pulled my boat in 96* weather and tranny temps were 165* or about 70* over air temp and with my Travel Trailer, I may see 180 in the same situation.
Just my .02
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Logistics Pro
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From: South Dakota
Originally Posted by Max1775
I wonder why they don't put an actual temperature gauge in the dash? Couldn't cost that much...
Max
Max
My father's '03 7.3L/4r100 has a tranny guage in the instrument cluster. I believe that this was the first year for them.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Helotes, Texas
Originally Posted by superrangerman2002
They do!
My father's '03 7.3L/4r100 has a tranny guage in the instrument cluster. I believe that this was the first year for them.
My father's '03 7.3L/4r100 has a tranny guage in the instrument cluster. I believe that this was the first year for them.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Spring City, Pennsylvania
I notice that my trans temp gauge on the cluster never moves. After barely 5 minutes of driving it says that the temps are at their normal operating temps. At this time, my aftermarket gauge hasn't even hit 100*'s yet. I've seen the aftermarket gauge go up to 170*'s and the stock gauge hasn't even budged. So quite possibly it all depends on where the sensor is located.