1. If you have recently registered with a gmail email address, you must contact me, as gmail will not forward our confirmation email to you. Contact me and jim@trishieldperformance.com to complete your registration.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. In and effort to reduce the spam on the site, several years ago I had went to a program where I manually approve each and every new registration. This approval gives you full access to the site, to pictures, and to post, among other things. To be able to enjoy the full potential of the board for you, you need to be fully registered.. and that's easy.. Just send an email to me at jim@trishieldperformance.com and I will verify your registration. This policy will remain in effect indefinitely, as it has completely eliminated the bad actors from our site, who would spam and hack it, once they gained access. Thanks JW
    Dismiss Notice
  3. The "Group Buy" for the 1967-68 Deluxe Steering wheel recasting is now officially "Open". Now is the time to start sending in the wheels. The latest date that the wheels must be received by Kochs is 31 March 2025 The cost for each wheel is $750. The only "up front cost" is your shipping the wheel. If you send in more than one wheel, each additional wheel will cost $700. Shipping and insurance to Kochs and return shipping will be extra. You will be contacted by Teresa to make payment for the wheel(s) and return shipping and insurance when your wheel(s) is complete. The shipping will be factored on your delivery address and insurance. I will be sending the contact information all of you have sent me to Teresa at Kochs. Send in your wheels, horn pad and hardware and paint color sample if applicable. Please include: First and Last Name Shipping Address Phone number email address V8Buick "Member Name" Wheel Color (SEE THE BOTTOM FOR WHEEL COLOR) Pease read the "shipping to Kochs" below. There are two addresses. One for USPS Mailing One for FedEx and UPS shipping You can use USPS/Mail, UPS or FedEx to send in your core. Use the appropriate address depending on what service you use to ship. If you use USPS/Mail ship to: Koch's P.O. Box 959 Acton, CA 93510 Attn: Teresa If you use UPS or FedEx ship to: Koch's 7650 Soledad Canyon Road Acton CA 93510 Attn: Teresa Kochs Contact: Teresa (661) 268-1341 customerservice@kochs.com Wheel Color If you wheel is Black, you can list that in your information you send in with your wheel. For colored wheels, please contact Teresa about specifics for wheel color if you do not send in a color sample to match. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you to everyone for your participation in making this a reality. And "Thank You" Jim Weise, for allowing and facilitating this project! Michael .................... to remove this notice, click the X in the upper RH corner of this message box
    Dismiss Notice

Recommendation for a trans temp gauge

Discussion in 'The "Juice Box"' started by 12lives, May 24, 2022.

  1. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    I have a bung on the trans pan and plan on a temperature gauge to watch my 2004r. So, electric or mechanical? Not looking to spend a bunch but also no off brands. Likely Autometer? What have you guys used?
     
  2. buicksWILD

    buicksWILD Well-Known Member

    Not to derail you're thread but isn't the best placement for tranny temp sensor at either the inlet or outlet by the cooler?
     
  3. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    It's the most convenient place, for sure.. but maybe not the best. The In line thinks your running too hot, the out line, too cool.. the reality is somewhere in the middle, and pan temp is closer than line temp, to the actual temp of the unit.

    I like electric for this application, I have had both over the years. The sender cable routing for a mechanical gauge is tough, with the exhaust in such close proximity to the trans pan.. Front access to the pan is often blocked, so the only real choice is to go in the rear of the pan for a mechanical sender.

    I like my AEM temp gauges. Not the cheapest, but they have features not found in a mechanical gauge.. such as overheat warnings that you can program, as well as recall of highest temps seen.

    Plus the 2 1/16 size makes them more versatile to mount, they are really light, and offer the choice of black or white faces. The digital and graphic display makes them really easy to get information at just a glance.

    JW
     
    patwhac and 12lives like this.
  4. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Interesting! That would give a quicker response but more complexity in routing and more joints to leak. Also a spike in temperature could be cause for alarm or just a normal reaction to a high load. I think the pan fluid temperature will react fast enough to indicate an issue. It will give more of an average temperature. But I'm no expert.
     
  5. BRUCE ROE

    BRUCE ROE Well-Known Member

    If you have a spike in trans temp, it is not to be taken lightly.
    Back off what ever is causing it, avoid damage. That is
    something all the 5 ton GMC owners must do when using a
    switch pitch trans. A small, high stall racing converter
    might have such problems. Bruce Roe
     
  6. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Totally bananas

    Transmission fluid is very low viscosity.

    Heat is created by the pump, the torque converter, the friction of the clutches engaging and friction from all passages/servos and spools as the fluid flows and absorbs heat.

    So, having "colder" temps is not a bad thing, since you are not dealing with a thick and heavy viscous fluid.

    Hydraulics in a tranny is different than engine oil and the need for a supporting wedge, bearing surface in engine bearings.

    So, cooler is better. Mine runs about 130-140, and might hit 160 in the heaviest of applications.

    And, remember, trans fluid does not deal with combustion byproducts, moisture or other things that contaminate and break down the fluid.

    Heat, and the breakdown of the lubrication/stiction/cooling that clutches need is what kills the transmission, and if the pump suffers, everything suffers, rapidly.
     
    patwhac likes this.
  7. Ken Warner

    Ken Warner Stand-up Philosopher

    I used a T fitting in the return line right at the trans when I swapped in the TH2004R. Installation of an electric gauge from Autometer quickly confirmed that I needed a cooler. Then it told me how the cooler I installed after a lot of research was not quite large enough. So I upgraded and now, thanks to the gauge, I am sure that I've got it right. In addition, the whole exercise taught me that the heat from the trans was also impacting my overall coolant temp as well. Bottom line, at least in my experience, is that a big trans cooler is a good thing on multiple levels!
     
  8. Houndogforever

    Houndogforever Silver Level contributor

  9. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    My question would be why? Are you using a lock up converter? If so, again I ask why you want a gauge. If you have a hi stall converter, I could see why you might be concerned. I would hit it with one of those infrared temperature guns to see if there was a problem at all. If there is, you would want to monitor it with a gauge.
     
  10. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    New 2004r, new TSP lock up converter, "new" 455, new TV cable set up, new radiator. I want a "feel good" indication that everything is working as it should. Also, heat is the death of a 2004r. Plus, I ordered the pan with the port so why not use it!
     
    Mark Demko likes this.
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Agreed, but a lock up converter cuts way down on the potential heat build up in the ATF. But if it makes you feel better, that's worth something too.:)
     
  12. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Heat is the enemy of any transmission.
    Like Larry said, if you have a lock up converter, trans temps will be low.
    The 2004R in my 87 GN barely reaches 130 on a 95 degree day
     
    12lives likes this.
  13. Ken Warner

    Ken Warner Stand-up Philosopher

    First hand experience is that just puttering around town with a healthy stall on a 90deg day is that the 200-4R will get to 200F. pretty darn quick without sufficient cooling.

    Get an electric temp gauge from the mfg of your choice and see what's going on!
     
  14. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    I’m a fan of glo shift. I get them off Amazon fair price for full sweep gauges that have custom colors and good sensors.
     
    12lives and TrunkMonkey like this.
  15. CanadaCat

    CanadaCat Well-Known Member

    I’ve used Autometer electric trans temp gauges, put the sender in the pan. It works well, gives a good indication of how the cooler and torque converter affect the temps, once the operating pattern was observed, I only looked at it after a drag pass or extreme use. We’re not towing huge loads over mountains, so it doesn’t have to be super accurate or watched all the time, you’ll know pretty quickly with that setup what’s going on.
     
    12lives likes this.

Share This Page