Can I use a water temp guage as a transmission temp guage?

I have been toying with the idea of putting one in for some time. I found a few water gagues on sale. Now that I have a new/bigger/heavier travel trailer I think it's time.

TIA!

 

This is the one I am thinking of picking up

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

 

Can you afford to go cheap when it comes to monitoring something as expensive as an automatic transmission?

 

I figure something is better then nothing. Not too many places carry Transmission Temp Gauges around here. would have to order online and pay for shipping/brokerage/Duty etc Thats why I asked the question. If a water guage works, why not...

 

i see you are in calgary , go to your nearest Auto Value store they sell Transmission Temp Gauges.

 

I think it might work, provided that the gauge you hook it up to can power the sensor and read the data correctly. The sensors look remarkable similar in design and are both sealed, and read the same basic temp ranges.

 

A temp gauge does not care if it is temping oil or water provided it is an anolog gauge. What you do need to consider is if the probe is oil resistant.

 

Just don't tell the gauge or sending unit what it is monitoring and it'll never know.

 

 

It sounds like a nice little project, although you already have a light that will tell you if your tranny overheats, so you really don't need the gauge. Plus, if you don't set it just right it may give you the wrong reading...

As long as you stay within towing limtis and change your ATF on time you should be just fine. I have one of those gauges on my SUV and I don't remember the last time I actually looked at it, even when towing very heavy loads.

If you add a bottle of Lucas tranny conditioner it will bring your temp down by at least 20F under heavy load, I have seen it with my own eyes.