B&M Cooler Install tomorrow - gauge required?

[Kung]

Like darn near everyone else I've seen on this site who owns a 3rd Gen, I'm having the dealership install my external tranny cooler. (Yeah, I know, I could do it myself, but they're charging me like $70 - and at that price, it's worth it, for a guy with a ton of irons in the proverbial fire.)

I did NOT buy a gauge, and I guess my question is this - do I need one right away, or can I wait a week or two? It's not going to get driven every day as it is; aside from a trip to mom-n-pops this weekend (150 miles), it'll be driven maybe 30 miles a day, 3 days a week.

I can't imagine that the lack of a gauge will cause any problems; but I like to be thorough.

 

[the great him]

no, you dont need a gauge

 

[Kung]

Ok, follow up question (sorry if I'm being a pest.)

While Missouri obviously isn't the Arctic Circle, it gets somewhat cold there - average low in Jan/Feb is probably around 15 to 20 or so. I'm having the dealer install the cooler per the 'recommended' method I've seen - side entrance, with the inlet on the bottom. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

Any concerns with overcooling? Or does this sound alright overall?

 

[the great him]

sounds good to me, as you can see from my signature, i am running dual coolers here in the PNW, at the coldest we might see a week of 15-20* weather but that would be cold

 

[Kung]

Sweet. I'm running the one B&M 70268, as I've seen recommended elsewhere. Thanks for the advice.

 

[IanB]

20 isn't cold yet, you have nothing to worry about. No sense having a gauge really either IMO. Scanguage 2 will do it, and MANY other useful things. I sometimes wish my truck was OBD2 so I could get one.

 

[the great him]

20 isn't cold yet, you have nothing to worry about. No sense having a gauge really either IMO. Scanguage 2 will do it, and MANY other useful things. I sometimes wish my truck was OBD2 so I could get one.

the scanguage II will only tell you your trany temps if you are 99 or newer, for us older trucks we have to use a guage(if you want to know your temps) and im not saying 20* is cold, just that is cold for my/our area.

and to the op, again dont worry about over cooling cause as i was saying im running dual coolers and im not having issues with over cooling

 

[4-Ripcord]

B&M have built in cold fluid bypass valves, so dont worry about over cooling.

And if you have a 99 or newer, get a scangauge. It shows tranny temps, MPG's, many other temps and stats all in real time. A must have for 160 dollars.

 

[Kung]

Thanks for the info. I do in fact have a '00 - I'll be sure to buy one of those. Going to update my sig line now.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Thanks for the info. I do in fact have a '00 - I'll be sure to buy one of those. Going to update my sig line now.

Amazon has the best price on the SG II that I have been able to find. 159.99

Its an amazing tool. I forgot to mention it also tracks fuel fillups and records fuel costs and yearly fuel consumption too. It also scans and clears engine codes. Takes 10 mins to plug in and calibrate, super easy.

For the 4 gauges, I have mine displaying Tranny temp, Air/Fuel ratios, average MPG and instantaneous MPG. Worth every penny.



On a side note, I also have an analog tranny temp gauge set down by the tranny shifter. You can see it in my build thread if you are interested in seeing it.

 

[Kung]

I can actually get it for a bit cheaper - I'm in pretty good w/the local mechanics and they get deals evidently. I have found it for about $130 with them. Have also given some thought to an analog tranny temp gauge; though will probably hold off on that until a month or two goes by. Selling the 'boss' on an SGII would be easier considering everything it can do. LOL

 

[4-Ripcord]

I can actually get it for a bit cheaper - I'm in pretty good w/the local mechanics and they get deals evidently. I have found it for about $130 with them. Have also given some thought to an analog tranny temp gauge; though will probably hold off on that until a month or two goes by. Selling the 'boss' on an SGII would be easier considering everything it can do. LOL

NEVER lose those friends! lol

 

[Kung]

Trust me, I'll do whatever I can to ensure I don't. Although it's not that hard to stay on their good side - show up every so often with a case of beer and I can get darn near anything I need to done, so long as I'm willing to do most of the grunt work (which I am). LOL