[campi]

I have a Question about where to put the sensor for trans temp guage, some say in line cooler lines some say in the pan it self I have a deep pan th400 with the drain plug in it, I found a co. 400raptor.com that sells the sending unit and guage , the sending unit screws into where the drain plug goes , sound lile a good idea, Any input from the pros on this site??? sounds lie an easy way to go??? Could i get some feed back on this, Or maybe some one has done this??? I am going to put the new pan on this week , I would buy this item , If i get some pos answers!!!!! Thanks Campi !!!!!!!!

 

[snowtogo]

You want the sender in the pan no question about it.

Why would you care what the cooler temps are reading? Doesn't matter, it's the trans you want tabs on.

I run all my 400's with the sender in the pan. Autometer gage with a bung welded in the left rear side of the pan.

 

[Tileman]

Does not realy matter pan or line. Just install in line going to cooler not the ruturn line. Temps just as hot in the cooler line as it is in the pan if not hotter. Most cooler lines dump back into pan to be picked up and run back threw trany.

 

[snowtogo]

Does not really matter pan or line. Just install in line going to cooler not the return line. Temps just as hot in the cooler line as it is in the pan if not hotter. Most cooler lines dump back into pan to be picked up and run back threw trany.

Actually it does make a difference (on a 400 or most GM trans at least).

The fluid exiting to the cooler is coming from the converter, which will have a much higher temp than the overall trans temp. Which is what you want to monitor to give you a better overall view. Converter temps can be high after on a short time of use but the overall trans temp may be 50*-75* LESS than the converter temp. Doesn't give you as good a reading. You'll always think the trans is a lot hotter than it actually is.

 

[campi]

I just wanted to know, if this kit putting the senser into where the drain plu would be ok ? and as you can see i have 2 answers one said in the cooler lines, another said in the pan !! I just want to get the tru temp of the fluid!! Also i just bought tis truck, and it had a manual trans before So the guy just has atrans cooler because the rad has no place for trans lines, i just bought a bigger cooler 101/2 x15 x 3/4 will this be big enough while plowing or should i get a diff rad for auto trans ?? Thanks again campi !!!! I am ging to also try and change the transfercase the truck is 87 chevy 3/4 ton 400 trans 203 transfercase but i have a good 205 case just need to find adadpter from 400 trans to 205 case i can find them but its like buying gold !!! Thanks again for any in put, Campi !!!!!!!!

 

[campi]

I just waneted to know wher i should put the sender and if it would work with this kit putting the sender where the drain plug would go? also about the cooler and rad , I have been on this site along time and we have some really great mechanics and expreienced people on this site , i learn some thing all the time and i have been plowing for 37 yrs, now still learning 1 person can`t know it all , and some things are new to me !!!! thamks again Campi !!!!!!:feedback I need somemore please.

 

[snowtogo]

If you want the fluid temp (not converter fluid temp), the pan is the best place to get your reading.

 

[Smtty58]

I have always run mine in the cooler input line, but I use mechanical gages. I strongly recommend getting the correct radiator also. The water warms the trans fluid in the winter which helps keep moisture from building up in the oil. A good aftermarket tranny cooler will have a bypass valve to it won't make the oil too cool.

 

[Landgreen]

On my F-250 stupid duty I installed the sensor in the line going to the cooler. It's a summit sensor and autometer electric gauge. Once the tranny warms it reads 180. Sometimes cooler in the winter. I've seen it hit 210 once pulling a trailer up steep grade in 95 degree heat. I'm pretty sure the sensor and gauge are accurate. Waaay more accurate than the factory tranny temp gauge in the F-350. I think putting the sensor in the pan would work just fine as well from what I hear. Good luck.

 

[derekbroerse]

It should go in the pan to give the tranny temperature. Like stated above the line to the cooler can be higher than the average tranny temperature, and the line returning will be much cooler. Just put it in the pan and you will always know the actual temp of the transmission itself... where the temperature actually makes a difference.

 

[Alan]

This is a bit off topic but not completely so. I want to install a sender in teh out line from the tranny. Granted it may not be as accurate as in the pan but I can live with that. I plan to make up a block of aluminum with tapped holes for the line to connect in and out and a cavity for the sender so the fluid will flow around it. This way I can keep the wires and sender up inside the frame rail, out of the way of most of the salt splash and ice buildup.

Actually want to do it on two trucks, one has a TH 400 and the other a 4L80E. I haven't been under there actually looking at thigns but does anybody know right quickly just which line is the one carrying fluid OUT of the transmission?

 

[snowtogo]

On the 400 the lower port is the flow out to the cooler Alan.

The 4L80E is also the lower fitting if its a 91-96 trans, and its the forward port if its a '96-up.

Not sure if your aware or not but Auto meter makes an inline aluminum block for sender retro thats designed to be plumbed into a cooler line. Might save you some work.

 

[Alan]

Thank you for the information! I knew AutoMeter made the fitting blocks but I have several blocks of thick AL and a buddy has a shine new Sherline lathe/mill combo machine that I'm itching to try out. Besides, why spend $25 on a boughten one when you can spend $50 and make it yourself?

 

[snowtogo]

but I have several blocks of thick AL and a buddy has a shine new Sherline lathe/mill combo machine that I'm itching to try out. Besides, why spend $25 on a boughten one when you can spend $50 and make it yourself?

Happy to help Alan, and I know exactly what your saying about making the block yourself verses purchasing them...sounds like a good reason to try out the new mill. :drool

 

[Tileman]

Ok I'm going to come back and repharse my earlier statment.

What you need to be worried about is the Fluid Tempature. Not the tempature of the transmission. ( Remember your water temp guage showes the temp of the water not the temp of the motor.)

ATF starts to break down somewhere around 280 - 300 degs. You need to watch the fluid temp not the trany temp. The fluid is what will save or kill your transmission. If you burn the fluid your going to kill it.

You need all the transmission cooler you can get as big as the radiator if you can get one, plus running it threw the radiator cooler.


ATF is the life blood of an automatic transmission. Keep it cool and changed.

 

[ZachMN]

I realize this is two years old now but I believe there is a port on the side of the transmission that you can thread into; the 350 and 700 have this as well.