Trans Temp Gauge
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Trans Temp Gauge
Just bought an Autometer Z-series trans temp gauge, looking for some advice about mounting the temp sensor.
The gauge came with a threaded brass nut, which has a threaded hole in the middle where the temp sender threads in, is everyone following so far?
So the instruction page says that it can be welded into the transmission pan, but can brass be welded to the pan? What are the threads on the nut for? Is there a better way to do this?!
The gauge came with a threaded brass nut, which has a threaded hole in the middle where the temp sender threads in, is everyone following so far?
So the instruction page says that it can be welded into the transmission pan, but can brass be welded to the pan? What are the threads on the nut for? Is there a better way to do this?!
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From: The dark carnival
The threaded hole sounds like it may be for mounting the sensor to the test port of the trans. Not the greatest place for it, but it is the easiest place to install.
I would say the best place to install (assuming you are installing only 1 sensor) is in line with the return line of the trans cooler, that way you can see exactly how warm the oil is that enters the trans. What I am going to do is put one sensor in line with the return, another in line with the pressure line and an oil PSI gauge in line with the pressure line.
Don't tell me you STILL have not put your headers on yet.........
I would say the best place to install (assuming you are installing only 1 sensor) is in line with the return line of the trans cooler, that way you can see exactly how warm the oil is that enters the trans. What I am going to do is put one sensor in line with the return, another in line with the pressure line and an oil PSI gauge in line with the pressure line.
Don't tell me you STILL have not put your headers on yet.........
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Haha eco, I can't get the exhaust work done on the weekends because the exhaust shops aren't open, so no, I haven't gotten the headers yet.
As for which line to mount the sensor, I would rather put the sensor in the outgoing line so I can see how hot the ACTUAL transmission is (or the oil inside of it), rather than the temp of the oil coming into it... Seems to me that it would make more sense there...
Care to elaborate why it's not the best to put it in the test port? And also, where is this test port so I can see for myself? Thanks buddy.
As for which line to mount the sensor, I would rather put the sensor in the outgoing line so I can see how hot the ACTUAL transmission is (or the oil inside of it), rather than the temp of the oil coming into it... Seems to me that it would make more sense there...
Care to elaborate why it's not the best to put it in the test port? And also, where is this test port so I can see for myself? Thanks buddy.
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From: The dark carnival
Originally Posted by Skandocious
Haha eco, I can't get the exhaust work done on the weekends because the exhaust shops aren't open, so no, I haven't gotten the headers yet.
As for which line to mount the sensor, I would rather put the sensor in the outgoing line so I can see how hot the ACTUAL transmission is (or the oil inside of it), rather than the temp of the oil coming into it... Seems to me that it would make more sense there...
Care to elaborate why it's not the best to put it in the test port? And also, where is this test port so I can see for myself? Thanks buddy.
As for which line to mount the sensor, I would rather put the sensor in the outgoing line so I can see how hot the ACTUAL transmission is (or the oil inside of it), rather than the temp of the oil coming into it... Seems to me that it would make more sense there...
Care to elaborate why it's not the best to put it in the test port? And also, where is this test port so I can see for myself? Thanks buddy.
I am not going to tell you about the test port because you lied to me before when you said that you were going to put the headers on a few weeks ago and you didn't.
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Hahah I'm doing the best I can with the headers project!! I didn't LIE, I thought I was going to get them on and I just haven't gotten the chance. Trust me eco, I wanna get these damned things on as much as you want me to. Now wheres that test port?
And in response to your first point
The sensor on the outbound line would show a higher temp if the inbound temp was rising... Dontcha think? If the cooler starts operating inefficiently then the ENTIRE system is going to heat up, not just that inbound line. I'm just gonna stick with 1 sensor for now.
And in response to your first point
Originally Posted by eco
Yeah but then you don't know if the oil is getting cooled enough to effectively cool and lubricate the trans...
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From: The dark carnival
Originally Posted by Skandocious
The sensor on the outbound line would show a higher temp if the inbound temp was rising... Dontcha think? If the cooler starts operating inefficiently then the ENTIRE system is going to heat up, not just that inbound line. I'm just gonna stick with 1 sensor for now.
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Of course multiple gauges is the best setup but I'm just not doing it that way for a few different reasons.
I think it would be better to have the sensor on the outbound line because, if I'm pulling enough weight to heat the transmission to dangerous temps, where is the fluid going to become hot FIRST, on the outbound line. The fluid will heat inside of the transmission and then enter the outbound line. If I put the sensor on the inbound line, I will be working the transmission in this hard condition for the full ~16qt fluid capacity before the hot fluid travels through all the lines, cooler, radiator, and back to the sensor.
Yes, you're right about multiple sensors/gauges being the best setup, but for a single gauge setup, I think I would be safer keeping it on the outbound line. Bottom line is, I would like to know how hot my transmission is, not how hot the fluid from the cooler is.
I think it would be better to have the sensor on the outbound line because, if I'm pulling enough weight to heat the transmission to dangerous temps, where is the fluid going to become hot FIRST, on the outbound line. The fluid will heat inside of the transmission and then enter the outbound line. If I put the sensor on the inbound line, I will be working the transmission in this hard condition for the full ~16qt fluid capacity before the hot fluid travels through all the lines, cooler, radiator, and back to the sensor.
Yes, you're right about multiple sensors/gauges being the best setup, but for a single gauge setup, I think I would be safer keeping it on the outbound line. Bottom line is, I would like to know how hot my transmission is, not how hot the fluid from the cooler is.
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brass can be welded ... ofcourse .... but its called Acyetalyne welding .... with torches .
Take the pan off , clean the pan .... take to your favorite welder ... and its done .
eyeball the placement in the pan to be sure the sender isnt going to hit the valve body .
A good temp to have that trans ..... is 160 degrees . If its higher .... get you one of those nice parallel flow coolers for like 60 bucks . They kinda look like a tiny radiator .
Take the pan off , clean the pan .... take to your favorite welder ... and its done .
eyeball the placement in the pan to be sure the sender isnt going to hit the valve body .
A good temp to have that trans ..... is 160 degrees . If its higher .... get you one of those nice parallel flow coolers for like 60 bucks . They kinda look like a tiny radiator .
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Yeah thats okay, I decided I'm just going to buy the cooler line manifold like this one
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...?part=ATM-2286
But I don't know if I need the 3/8 or the 5/16. Anyone know?
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...?part=ATM-2286
But I don't know if I need the 3/8 or the 5/16. Anyone know?
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http://www.compperformancegroupstore...ct_Code=498010
This pan has a threaded port on the pan, plus extra capacity.
This pan has a threaded port on the pan, plus extra capacity.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Lol, for $500 I think I'll pass on that pan. I already ordered my Derale deep pan with tubulator cooling for $80 from Summit, I've heard awesome things about this pan, supposed to bring my ATF temp down by 20-50*
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=DER%2D14108&N=700 +0&autoview=sku
It actually has cooling tubes running right through the bottom of the pan
Also has a built in drain plug (magnetic I might add) which is real convenient.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=DER%2D14108&N=700 +0&autoview=sku
It actually has cooling tubes running right through the bottom of the pan
Also has a built in drain plug (magnetic I might add) which is real convenient.
Last edited by Skandocious; Sep 25, 2007 at 05:45 AM.
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From: P.N.W. / Wa.
. . . . hopefully this will help ya out, Skan...........i have just finished doing the install of an External Oil Cooler for mounted in front of the Radiator and measuring the "outside_diameter" of those line's is reading >>> .312 with my dial indicator = 5/16" lines......these are the lines from the trans going into the rubber/flex hose fitting's of before the Cooler's connection spout.........
.......[ just gotten done installing one of these: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=BMM%2D70264&N=700 +4294924500+4294839034+4294888847+4294906626+42948 88846+115&autoview=sku . . . . . for the Tran's
]
. . . . . funny thing, i just did this same job onto my 96 Explorer, BUT it has 3/8" fluid lines {bigger??}! ! ! ? ? ?
with the v6_4.0L eng. 
. . . . .
mr. Charles
.
.......[ just gotten done installing one of these: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=BMM%2D70264&N=700 +4294924500+4294839034+4294888847+4294906626+42948 88846+115&autoview=sku . . . . . for the Tran's
]. . . . . funny thing, i just did this same job onto my 96 Explorer, BUT it has 3/8" fluid lines {bigger??}! ! ! ? ? ?
with the v6_4.0L eng. . . . . .mr. Charles
.
Last edited by mr. Charles; Sep 25, 2007 at 09:43 PM.