Trans Temp, Do you trust yours?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
Don't have the stock guage so I am out. Mine barely moves until it is real hot out and then never moves too far. Again, I have an aftermarket. Probably another go no-go gauge or idiot light from the factory.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
I really don't trust any of my factory gauges for much more than an over glorified idiot light. Heck, even my fuel gauge is stuck right now. 
Seriously though, I don't know that many of the factory gauges have enough variance in them to tell you much. By the time most of them read say too hot, damage has already been done. Play it safe and add an aftermarket. 
Seriously though, I don't know that many of the factory gauges have enough variance in them to tell you much. By the time most of them read say too hot, damage has already been done. Play it safe and add an aftermarket.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
The stock tranny gauge is junk. So is the oil pressure and coolant temp. They just show a huge range as "normal". Like the other guys said, just glorified idiot lights. I hate that Ford did that to us. My wife's chebby Astro had real working gauges.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
From: Mississippi
I have an after market Banks trans temp guage, at first I thought it wasnt working! I hooked up to the trailer, (toy Hauler) ran down the interstate and it finally climed to around 170*, after having it installed for about a week,
In the morning on my way to work it wont even reach 140*, sometimes in the afternoon if I drive around (goofing off) It might come up to 145-150*, So I wouldnto worry, it sound normal to me.
Rich
In the morning on my way to work it wont even reach 140*, sometimes in the afternoon if I drive around (goofing off) It might come up to 145-150*, So I wouldnto worry, it sound normal to me.
Rich
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 0
Trusting that factory gauge is like trusting a theif to hold you wallet while you get money out of an ATM, by the time you know it you just got owned. The trans temp gauge says overheating is 250*, at 250* you better change that trans fluid out at that points, kinda useless in telling you when to back off. Get an aftermarket gauge and keep her under 210*.
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Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
I have a pillar trans guage and the factory guage. My pillar guage moves around but the factory guage is always right in the same spot (unless it's a morning start up). My feeling is that if you are hoping to use the factory guage to know when your tranny is too hot then you are setting yourself up for failure. By the time the factory guage shows you are in trouble it will be too late.
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Rather Be Floatin
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,468
Likes: 0
From: Marble Falls, Tx.
Originally Posted by Texas Outlaw
I have a pillar trans guage and the factory guage. My pillar guage moves around but the factory guage is always right in the same spot (unless it's a morning start up). My feeling is that if you are hoping to use the factory guage to know when your tranny is too hot then you are setting yourself up for failure. By the time the factory guage shows you are in trouble it will be too late.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
My stock gauge stays the same no matter what the truck is doing. My pillar gauge will move about depending on what I'm doing. I think I saw a thread here once that said the factory gauge only has two reading FINE & FRIED!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Lets see, I put my sensor in hot water with a thermometer in it. I know it is right at the time of install. I don't have a Ford gauge. However, I think back of the oil pressure gauge that says "NORMAL" until there is less than 5 psi of oil pressure. No thanx. I will trust my aftermarket gauge.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
From: Millbrook Alabama
Look here http://www.itpdiesel.com/store.php?transgauge=1 It pretty much sums up everyones thoughts. Pictures are worth 1000 words.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,437
Likes: 2,925
From: Reed Point, MT
Originally Posted by Izzy351
The stock tranny gauge is junk. So is the oil pressure and coolant temp. They just show a huge range as "normal". Like the other guys said, just glorified idiot lights. I hate that Ford did that to us. My wife's chebby Astro had real working gauges.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Originally Posted by cleatus12r
However, being that I am on the other end of that spectrum (the repair facility), I can tell you that 99 times out of 100 I would rather the General put in lights or "glorified idiot lights" instead of "real" gauges. Customers don't generally like that their oil pressure drops when idling (because they don't understand) or that the coolant temp gauge sometimes reads 230 degrees (normal). It sucks when you try to explain why the gauges move. Most folks don't need to know...a light is more than enough. For towing/problem children vehicles that NEED to know, that's fine....and the customer KNOWS what to look for. However, in an "A-hole van", there is absolutely NO need for gauges.