Transmission Cooler & Temperature Gauge Question -- 2008 V8 SE

[stanleybb50]

Nah - currently no iPhone equivalent. Something about their bluetooth privilages or something like that?

I have a buddy who bought the unit referenced above, and was frustrated he couldn't use it on his iPhone. (He's real "techy" any knows that stuff too). Luckily he had an old droid he could use.

But seriously - you could buy an old droid, and use wifi to download the program/etc, and just dedicate the phone to the OBD2 in the car. You can find realllly cheap droids on Ebay.

 

[drapaki]

Nah - currently no iPhone equivalent. Something about their bluetooth privilages or something like that?

I have a buddy who bought the unit referenced above, and was frustrated he couldn't use it on his iPhone. (He's real "techy" any knows that stuff too). Luckily he had an old droid he could use.

But seriously - you could buy an old droid, and use wifi to download the program/etc, and just dedicate the phone to the OBD2 in the car. You can find realllly cheap droids on Ebay.

thanks for the tip. i'm seriously considering doing that. then i could mount it permanently.

 

[stanleybb50]

thanks for the tip. i'm seriously considering doing that. then i could mount it permanently.

Just make sure it has wifi, bluetooth, and probably Android 2.2 (Gingerbread) or newer. Might want to check compatibility with the phone and the Torque app as well if you can? But should be good with the Android 2.2 or newer.

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

I really like the datalogging aspects of this! What about trip computer functions? One of the things I really use with my SGII is information like how many gallons of fuel burned/how much remains, trip and tank MPG, distance to empty, etc. Can it record and display these?

 

[stanleybb50]

Just an update that I got my Scanguage II in the mail, and its fantastic. Even if my Torque app had trans temp, I'd probably still rock this thing. Its so nice to have it plugged in and dedicated. And the trans temp works perfectly.

I guess I just need some black ties and some rubber to isolate around the steering column and the top of the unit. That Velcro definately wouldn't be enough on its own.

I'm sure I just happened to have a slightly defective OBD2 bluetooth unit for that app, but it will still work to help people with their check engine lights (friends fam). I haven't had a single code since I bought it on my car or the wife's, but have helped like 5 diff family members. All 5 times, it was that stupid gas cap crap for them.

Anyway, thank you all for the help!

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

I guess I just need some black ties and some rubber to isolate around the steering column and the top of the unit. That Velcro definately wouldn't be enough on its own.

I ended up zip tying mine behind the knee panel and the up above the steering column and let the wire come into the back of the unit between the cloth gasket that takes up the space between the plastic clamshell and the dash and it just rests there. It doesn't really move much, even off-road. You might give that a shot first and then get more aggressive in mounting if that doesn't work.

 

[stanleybb50]

I ended up zip tying mine behind the knee panel and the up above the steering column and let the wire come into the back of the unit between the cloth gasket that takes up the space between the plastic clamshell and the dash and it just rests there. It doesn't really move much, even off-road. You might give that a shot first and then get more aggressive in mounting if that doesn't work.

Sounds interesting. Do you have a picture?

Thanks!

 

[CXS]

Webby, question for you. I see you have an '08 and I have an '05 which may be the answer but wondering of you programmed in the altitude or if it was already in there. I'd love to know my altitude since I'm in Colorado.

Anyone looking to buy one could check AutoAnything, new customers get 15% off their first order which is what I did. I got it for tranny temps since I'll be heading off on a multi-state road trip with my popup and want to see tranny temps. I'm using it to replace some of the idiot lights, pretty cool with good bang for te buck.

 

[CXS]

Doh! Googled it - ScanGauge II X-Gauge Codes? - TTORA Forum

 

[webby]

Just changed out the OEM small transmission cooler in my 2008 SE V8, and installed a B&M SuperCooler 70264. It measures 11" x 5 3/4" x 1.5" thick. I calculated the cubic inches of this cooler compared to the OEM cooler, and I almost doubled the capacity, in cubic inches of cooling area.

I was able to use two of the mounts for the OEM cooler, plus used 1 bracket that came with the cooler, for a proper 3 point mounting. It may not look solid, but it is rock solid. I just finished the install, so can't report yet on any differences in cooling. Once I get a chance to tow with it, I will report back with my impressions.


free picture hosting

 

[webby]

Webby, question for you. I see you have an '08 and I have an '05 which may be the answer but wondering of you programmed in the altitude or if it was already in there. I'd love to know my altitude since I'm in Colorado.

Sorry, but I just don't recall if I had to program in the Altitude, or not. If you check on the ScanGauge site, for the programming numbers and so on, you should be able to figure out whether you have to plug in numbers for it.

Having said that, if you don't get it to pull ALT, then you aren't missing much. My experience is that it is 10-15% off, most often reading low. So I classify the ScanGuage altitude readout as close to a novelty. Plus I believe that it moves up and down in 274' jumps.

 

[CXS]

Sorry, but I just don't recall if I had to program in the Altitude, or not. If you check on the ScanGauge site, for the programming numbers and so on, you should be able to figure out whether you have to plug in numbers for it.

Having said that, if you don't get it to pull ALT, then you aren't missing much. My experience is that it is 10-15% off, most often reading low. So I classify the ScanGuage altitude readout as close to a novelty. Plus I believe that it moves up and down in 274' jumps.

I did pull the ALT and tested it yesterday - not even close in the Mtns, off by thousands of feet. It was worth the try!

Am I right that tranny temp should be below 220°?

 

[webby]

I did pull the ALT and tested it yesterday - not even close in the Mtns, off by thousands of feet. It was worth the try!

Am I right that tranny temp should be below 220°?

I'm going for way below 220. Check out the chart at the link.
Transmission temperature/failure chart.
I have seen similar charts elsewhere. I'm going to try to keep mine as close to 175 under all conditions that I can.

I just installed a larger trans cooler (pic earlier in this thread), and once I tow our travel trailer up the long inclines from 1000 to 7000' in 120 miles in the Southern AZ summer heat, I will re-evaluate where my trans cooling is at. If it is still higher than I am comfy with, I will next install a 12 volt fan in front of my aftermarket trans cooler. I'd rather spend a few bucks on preventative measures than end up rebuilding a transmission.

 

[DC runner]

Normal highway driving for me, I never topped 170 and hung out between 150-170 for most of the time...

V8. Not towing. RPM's around 1900 at 65.

 

[stanleybb50]

I'm going for way below 220. Check out the chart at the link.
Transmission temperature/failure chart.
I have seen similar charts elsewhere. I'm going to try to keep mine as close to 175 under all conditions that I can.

I just installed a larger trans cooler (pic earlier in this thread), and once I tow our travel trailer up the long inclines from 1000 to 7000' in 120 miles in the Southern AZ summer heat, I will re-evaluate where my trans cooling is at. If it is still higher than I am comfy with, I will next install a 12 volt fan in front of my aftermarket trans cooler. I'd rather spend a few bucks on preventative measures than end up rebuilding a transmission.

I like your idea on the 12 volt fan. I may consider this with my stock cooler. I hit 203 in VERY stop n go driving on Friday. Would be nice to have the extra air flowing through when stopped as well.

 

[CXS]

I saw the cooler install Webby, my sympathies for the summer temps you get! Your trailer is heavy compared to my popup at 1200lbs but I want this tranny temps kept low too.

This is the info I find relevant: "Normal temperatures run about the same as the engine coolant temperature which is regulated by the thermostat to around 195 degrees F." which is what I'm seeing on my SCII. I spent yesterday wheeling in temps from 88 - 100+ and my water and t-fluid temps stayed very close to each other at the hottest of 190.

I have a long road trip with the popup ahead and am giving consideration to a larger cooler. Thanks!

 

[DC runner]

Meh. I don't trust those charts. Every transmission is different. Toyota's transmissions do not have a high failure rate.

1 Chart can't explain EVERY transmission around. It isn't the temp on the transmission... it is its impact on the fluid. Heat causes it to breakdown. Newer fluid is more advanced and works better, handles better heat.

WS fluid for example, is much tougher.

Try not to get too alarmist.

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

I'm going for way below 220. Check out the chart at the link.
Transmission temperature/failure chart.
I have seen similar charts elsewhere. I'm going to try to keep mine as close to 175 under all conditions that I can.

I just installed a larger trans cooler (pic earlier in this thread), and once I tow our travel trailer up the long inclines from 1000 to 7000' in 120 miles in the Southern AZ summer heat, I will re-evaluate where my trans cooling is at. If it is still higher than I am comfy with, I will next install a 12 volt fan in front of my aftermarket trans cooler. I'd rather spend a few bucks on preventative measures than end up rebuilding a transmission.

I'm guessing you're going to see the low 200's no matter how you slice it if the converter is unlocked but this shouldn't bother you. I know the chart says transmission fluid life drops in half for each 20 deg of rise but if someone put together the same chart for your engine regarding RPM you'll likely find a somewhat similar curve as RPMs rise above some nominal number. Our saving grace is the fact that we're not ALWAYS running our transmission this hard so while we try to minimize excess wear and reduce the maintenance interval (change fluid more frequently) we really will have to accept the fact that during these hard pulls our vehicles are wearing more quickly than if we never ventured in to the mountains or towed anything.

 

[webby]

Meh. I don't trust those charts. Every transmission is different. Toyota's transmissions do not have a high failure rate.

1 Chart can't explain EVERY transmission around. It isn't the temp on the transmission... it is its impact on the fluid. Heat causes it to breakdown. Newer fluid is more advanced and works better, handles better heat.

WS fluid for example, is much tougher.

Try not to get too alarmist.

I spent $66 incl shipping for an aftermarket trans cooler that almost doubled the cubic inches of cooling capacity over my OEM V8 cooler. I installed it myself. If I should decide to add a 12 volt fan in front of the trans cooler to further lower the trans temp under load and high heat, I can buy those for less than $20 shipped. It will be a pretty simple install. So for well under a C-note, if I lower my trans operating temp, particularly under heavy load in the summer, I consider it pro-active mods that are well worth the sheckels. Having a shop flush and refill the trans and change the filter will cost me more than that, and these mods should extend the life of my tran fluid, if nothing else.

I have lived in Phoenix for several decades. When the summer temps exceed 110, over the years, I have noticed a LOT more vehicles by the side of the road broken down. The problem is usually overheating of the engine or transmission. Excessive heat is very hard on mechanical devices -- I think Einstein said that. Knock on wood, but in several decades driving in these extreme summer temps, I never break down. I attribute that to the preventative maintenance I do every year to try to avoid summer breakdowns.

You may think spending $66 or $86 for the purpose of lowering transmission operating temps, and incidentally, extending the life of the trans fluid to be "alarmist". , but I just consider it a low cost investment in trouble-free motoring plus peace of mind. Others may choose to spend that small amount of money on other things, which I respect. To each his own.

 

[DC runner]

Difference between caution and alarm. I don't fault anyone of caution.

As for heat, actually, heat outside of engineered norms is the issue. Saying heat = bad is an incorrect assumption as most mechanical devices, as well as the lubrication that is in them, has a range that has been engineered. Too cold, bad, too hot also bad.

My comment was directed at that graph. That incredibly horrid graph. That graph that tries to put 100 years of transmission into 1 graph. That graph the ignores the pretty intense chemical science developments of the last 30 years.

It is the same as oil. That was my point. The flash point on these new fluids is like 450 degrees. 250 degrees by itself doesn't mean anything. What does it mean in relation to both the trans and the fluid? At what point does the fluid degrade?

I haven't heard of an abnormal amount of these era transmissions failing... and you would assume that for Toyota to even suggest "lifetime" fluid; it is pretty hearty and tested stuff.

Thats my point. By all means, add whatever gizmos you desire. It is, after all, your vehicle and your right. When I say "Alarmist" I was simply joking about the fact that by all accounts, not adding an aftermarket cooler to the V8, which already has one, doesn't appear to be the end of the world.