I am looking to add a temp gauge to my transmission, I already have a deeper pan but would like to know what temp it is in there. There was a recent post, on a different thread, seemingly by a transmission person, that stated their preferred place to install the sensor was in the line out, to the cooler. Second choice was in the pan. It seems to me that the line out is instant temps but the pan is more "averaged" if you will. What is the general consensus of location for the sensor?

I have the tow package, so I have the additional cooler but I want to add another, aftermarket cooler. My thoughts are to route the fluid through the stock cooler then through the aftermarket cooler. I would leave the radiator cooler part out of the system. Do we really need that part of it? I am told that it helps to heat up the trans fluid and I have also heard that the tranny heats up well enough on its own (and by the time the thermostat opens, the tranny is warmed up already). So, should I leave the radiator cooler out of the loop? If I leave it in the loop, will it create too much back pressure in the system?


Eventually, at some point, I might install a switch and have a sensor in both the line out and the pan. Right now, I'll start with the basics.


Thanks

 

I have the fluid going through an external filter, then the factory external cooler then a thermostat and then the auxiliary cooler. I added the thermostat when I discovered the transmission fluid was running too cool. The thermostat diverts the fluid until it reaches 180 then allows full flow through the auxiliary cooler. I found that without the thermostat, the fluid was running from 100 to 120 degrees, which was way to cool. Now the fluid runs 160 with peaks of 180 during the winter months and 180 with peaks of 200 during the summer months. And it gets prey hot here in Texas. My gauge samples the fluid at the exit point for the fluid.

 

Temp coming out at the cooler line will be more indicative of what temp the trans is actually running at. Temp in the pan is after the fluid has been thru the cooling circuit.

 

Yikes! I have a similar setup. I never imagined that transmission fluid could be too cool in Texas! My transmission is brand new, so this will bear some more research.

Summer is coming...

 

Yep, there's really interesting threads in here concerning the design and ability of the fluid to offgass contaminants at lower than designed temperatures.

 

According to MonteC the following holds true for the 46RE normal operating ranges

Hot side 180-210

Cold side 150-180

 

Where did you mount your transmission temperature gauge?

 

Mounted on the "output" line from the transmission on the auxiliary transmission filter mount.

 

The Auxillary plate style cooler with electric fan (fan is in puller mode on the back side of the cooler)

 

Thermostat mounted on frame below the radiator.