I just bought a 2009 F150 with the 5.4l and the max trailer towing package. When I start it up, the trans temperature gauge goes to mid span quickly. In my last truck, a 2000 GMC 2500, the gauge would stay on cold except in hot weather or when towing.
Is it normal for the gauge to indicate the fluid is warm so quickly?

 

I think the temp sensor is next to the exhaust pipe and gets heat quickly like in the super duties. My trans gauge starts at cool and moves up as I drive. I'm just guessing here, I am sure someone with the correct answer will be here soon.

 

The sooner it gets warm, the better your MPG. Ford has done this on purpose for MPG gains.

 

my warms up slowly when im driving, but if i let sit in the driveway and idle it moves a little faster.

 

Could the trans work like the cooling system. Using fluid in the trans and not the reseviour untill every thing warms up them then a valve like the cooling thermstat opens Then the trans always has warm fluid and not starting out on molassas during the winter. ???
Mine does the same as described by others, and workd fine with the trailer behind.

 

Yes the trans has a thermostat that will re route fluid back to the trans in cold weather. But the temp gauge is fake just like the superduty trucks its just an idiot light. The PCM controls where it moves and it should move right on up to half way in under 2 mins of driving and stay there. Only if the trans gets to 225 degrees will it move to the "hot" mark and by then you have already done a lot of harm to the trans.

 

I'm not sure I agree with that... my trans temp gauge in my '09 will stay cold until I drive it... and it actually seems to vary some. Get in a hilly area with a trailer where it's working the tranny a bit and it will climb a tad. My '05 SD was definitely a gauge version of an idiot light - I'm not sure my 09 is...

 

Had a problem with my trany temp gauge also. took it back to the dealer and they told me they had to reset the controler. What controler i have no idea. After i picked it up the gauge starts moving after a mile or so and by 5 to 6 miles it's up to a little left of center

 

That's true. There was a reflash for 09 model trucks due to customer concerns over their trucks Trans Temp gauge not functioning proper.

 

mine seems to work like it should, it changes depending on the weather and if i have a load. its not just an idiot like. mines an actual working gauge

 

Thanks for the replies. It is good to know that others have noticed the same thing as I did.

I became concerned with the gauge's accuracy when I noticed that if I started the truck from cold condition (about 35 F) and left it in park, the transmission temperature gauge would indicate about 1/4 of the way up after just a few minutes. In this case, the indicated transmission temperature increased far quicker than the engine temperature.

I brought the truck to the dealer to have them check into it. They reprogrammed the TCM and PCM, installing the latest software into each but they reported that there were no other issues. No codes set or complaints logged in OASIS.

If this is normal, I guess I'll have to get used to it but I worry what will happen when I tow in 90 - 100 F temperatures?

 

i towed a 20 something foot trailer with a tractor over the summer when it was 102 outside and didnt have any problem. and it was a pretty heavy load.

so dont worry, these trucks are made to pull. that way the the radiator and trans cooler are upgraded.

 

You might be able to see the actual temperture via the 'engineer' mode. This is for an Expedition, but may work on the F150.

Engineering Test Mode:

Ignition in "OFF" position.
Cluster type.
For Base Clusters (without message center cluster): depress the reset stem on the cluster while turning the ignition switch to the "ON" position.
Message Center Clusters: depress the reset button in the vehicle while turning the ignition switch to the "ON" position.
Continue to hold down the reset stem/button for 5 seconds until the cluster message center displays "engineering test mode".
Press/cycle reset stem/button until the message center displays "manufacture" and the date of manufacture (MM-DD-YYYY).

Keep cycling through to get to mpg/KM, coolant temp, etc.

 

it worked on my 05, it should work on the 09s. i love the digital speedo in the list.

 

Sorry for bringing up an older post but thought to share what I learned on the way home from work. I put the IC into engineering mode and switched to the trans temp reading (yes the process above works for '09/10's). Before I started the truck it read 10 °C. I let it warm up to 14 in a few minutes, the gauge had moved by roughly 5%. By the time it hit around 20 °C, the reading was at 45% on the gauge. And it never went higher even by the time I got home my temp reading was 82 °C.

Also interesting, is that it took the entire hour drive home to get there and it rose gradually. Had mixed highway/city traffic at different intervals. I switched over to my Coolant temp, it was at 90 °C. I'll check that someday.

So it looks like it will show normal for a normal range of temperatures. Pretty sorry if you ask me. I'll run it again in the summer towing to see the upper range. If I remember though this past summer it didn't change, but didn't really pay attention. Looks like I still need to hook up something if I want accurate readings and be better to react to a climbing temp issue.