trans temp guage
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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trans temp guage
Hey guys, I just bought a 96 f-250, 460 with a E4od for towing this summer (between gas pumps) and I want to install a trans temp guage and trans cooler. Question is would a mechanical guage be better than electrical? Also a local mechanic told me the e4od has fittings in the case to plumb in a mechanical guage. Also any recomendations on a cooler type? My way of thinking is to get the biggest one I can find. Suggestions,info? Thanks. Marty
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
DOn't know which is better mechanical or electric. I would guess the electric is less prone to failure since it is just a thermocouple type device, no moving parts.
I have a Permacool remote filter with guage and it has been fine. Biggest problem with my 94 is finding a wire with power to drive the electric guage. Also because of the remote filter, a ground was required since there just isn't any room under the hood except on the plastic wheel well.
Don't always get the biggest cooler you can find. Get one rated for a bit more than your expected load. You can over cool a tranny.
Too cool is not nearly as bad as too hot but a cool tranny does have different shift points which looses a bit of mileage and creatres a little bit more wear and tear. If you live where it gets really cold I would think you never would get the tranny up to operating temps unless it had a built in thermostat, some aftermarket ones do.
When I lived in Oregon the temps would regularly get into the 20s and occasionally teens. With my factory cooler on my 94 F250 4WD, it would take several hours for the tranny temp to rise above about 130 to 150 degrees. 180 is about normal the rest of the year for my truck without trailer. I think if I had a bigger cooler, the temp might never get to operating range, about 150 to 180.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
I have a Permacool remote filter with guage and it has been fine. Biggest problem with my 94 is finding a wire with power to drive the electric guage. Also because of the remote filter, a ground was required since there just isn't any room under the hood except on the plastic wheel well.
Don't always get the biggest cooler you can find. Get one rated for a bit more than your expected load. You can over cool a tranny.
Too cool is not nearly as bad as too hot but a cool tranny does have different shift points which looses a bit of mileage and creatres a little bit more wear and tear. If you live where it gets really cold I would think you never would get the tranny up to operating temps unless it had a built in thermostat, some aftermarket ones do.
When I lived in Oregon the temps would regularly get into the 20s and occasionally teens. With my factory cooler on my 94 F250 4WD, it would take several hours for the tranny temp to rise above about 130 to 150 degrees. 180 is about normal the rest of the year for my truck without trailer. I think if I had a bigger cooler, the temp might never get to operating range, about 150 to 180.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
The tranny sending unit (thermocouple) is longer on a mechanical gauge, so that can cause interference problems if the case hole isn't deep enough; no wiring to worry about, though.
Coolers are available with t-stats, to eliminate overcooling.
Steve
Coolers are available with t-stats, to eliminate overcooling.
Steve
